Shahnameh: stories from the Book of Kings
Heroes, kings, demons and the wonder-bird Simorgh: Iran has told these stories for a thousand years. Here are the best known, simply retold.
Ferdowsi and his work
The Shahnameh (Book of Kings) is Iran’s national epic. The poet Abolqasem Ferdowsi from Tus in Khorasan worked on it for about thirty years and completed it around the year 1010. With some 50,000 couplets it is one of the longest poems in the world. It tells the history of Iran from the first legendary kings through heroes such as Rostam to the end of the Sasanian Empire. Ferdowsi wrote in a Persian with very few Arabic words and is therefore regarded as the saviour of the Persian language.
Famous verses
به نام خداوند جان و خردکزین برتر اندیشه برنگذرد
توانا بود هر که دانا بودز دانش دل پیر برنا بود
بسی رنج بردم در این سال سیعجم زنده کردم بدین پارسی
میازار موری که دانه‌کش استکه جان دارد و جان شیرین خوش است
The stories
Jamshid and the first Nowruz
How a king made the world flourish, founded Nowruz and was broken by his pride.
2 ضحاک و کاوهZahhak and Kaveh the blacksmith
A tyrant with snakes on his shoulders and a blacksmith who turns his leather apron into a banner of freedom.
3 زال و سیمرغZal and the Simorgh
An abandoned child with white hair and the wondrous bird who raises him.
4 زال و رودابهZal and Rudabeh
The great love story of the Shahnameh and the miraculous birth of Rostam.
5 هفت‌خوان رستمThe seven labours of Rostam
Lion, desert, dragon, witch, demons: Rostam’s most dangerous journey.
6 رستم و سهرابRostam and Sohrab
Persia’s most famous tragedy: a father and son who recognise each other only when it is too late.
7 سیاوشSiavash and the trial by fire
An innocent prince rides through fire to prove his honour.
8 بیژن و منیژهBijan and Manijeh
An Iranian hero, a Turanian princess and a dungeon under a giant stone.
9 رستم و اسفندیارRostam and Esfandiar
Two heroes who do not want to fight, and an arrow of tamarisk wood.
10 مرگ رستمThe death of Rostam
The greatest hero does not fall in battle but through betrayal in his own family.
The characters
-
Rostam رستم
Iran’s greatest hero, son of Zal and Rudabeh, rider of Rakhsh.
Zal and RudabehThe seven labours of RostamRostam and SohrabBijan and ManijehRostam and EsfandiarThe death of Rostam As a first name
-
Rakhsh رخش
Rostam’s loyal, clever horse, who often saves him.
The seven labours of RostamRostam and SohrabRostam and EsfandiarThe death of Rostam
-
Zal زال
Rostam’s father, born white-haired and raised by the Simorgh.
Zal and the SimorghZal and RudabehRostam and EsfandiarThe death of Rostam As a first name
-
Sam سام
A great hero, father of Zal and grandfather of Rostam.
-
Rudabeh رودابه
Princess of Kabul, Zal’s beloved and Rostam’s mother.
-
Simorgh سیمرغ
A giant, wise wonder-bird, protector of Zal’s family.
-
Tahmineh تهمینه
Princess of Samangan, Rostam’s wife and Sohrab’s mother.
-
Sohrab سهراب
Rostam’s son, who unknowingly fights his father.
-
Jamshid جمشید
Legendary king, founder of Nowruz, brought down by his pride.
-
Zahhak ضحاک
A tyrant with two snakes on his shoulders, the embodiment of evil.
-
Kaveh کاوه
The blacksmith who leads the uprising against Zahhak.
-
Fereydoun فریدون
A just king who defeats Zahhak and divides the world among his sons.
-
Kay Kavus کیکاووس
A capricious king who often needs rescuing by Rostam.
-
Siavash سیاوش
An innocent prince who passes the trial by fire and is killed in Turan.
-
Sudabeh سودابه
Wife of Kay Kavus and stepmother of Siavash.
-
Farangis فرنگیس
Daughter of Afrasiab, wife of Siavash and mother of Kay Khosrow.
-
Kay Khosrow کیخسرو
Son of Siavash, one of the most just kings, owner of the world-revealing cup.
Siavash and the trial by fireBijan and Manijeh As a first name
-
Afrasiab افراسیاب
King of Turan and Iran’s most powerful enemy.
Rostam and SohrabSiavash and the trial by fireBijan and Manijeh
-
Bijan بیژن
A young hero imprisoned in a pit for love of Manijeh.
-
Manijeh منیژه
Afrasiab’s daughter, who stays loyal to Bijan.
-
Esfandiar اسفندیار
An invulnerable prince, son of Goshtasp, Rostam’s tragic opponent.
-
Gordafarid گردآفرید
A warrior woman who fights Sohrab in armour and outwits him.