Jamshid was one of the first kings of the world and possessed the farr, the divine radiance that surrounds rightful rulers. He taught people to forge weapons, weave cloth, build houses and make medicines. He divided the people into classes so that everyone had their task, and under him the world knew neither sickness nor want for three hundred years.
One day he had a jewelled throne built, which the demons lifted into the sky. He floated above the world like a second sun. It was the first day of the month of Farvardin, and the people celebrated this new day with music and wine. Ever since it has been called Nowruz, the new day, and is celebrated every spring.
But success went to Jamshid’s head. He gathered the great men of the realm and declared that all the good in the world came from him alone; they should worship him as their creator. At that moment the farr left him. The nobles turned away, the land fell into chaos and the tyrant Zahhak seized power. Jamshid had to flee and was finally captured. Ferdowsi draws a lesson from it that is still quoted today: arrogance destroys even the greatest king.