Shahnameh
The Persian Book of Kings

The Shahnameh is a collection of stories and myths from ancient Iran, filled with kings, heroes, princesses, magical animals and demons. Written as an epic poem by the poet Ferdowsi in the 10th century, it is one of the great classics of Persian literature. The tales include the Simurgh, the giant bird who brings up an orphaned king in her nest on a craggy rock, wicked King Zahhak with his man-eating snakes, and above all the story of the great hero Rustam and his son Sohrab.
Elizabeth Laird is passionate about bringing this great epic poem to the children of western cultures, as well as retelling it for Iranian children living in the West.

Contents

AT THE BEGINNING OF TIME

King Hushang, the Master of Fire

King Tahmuras, the Tamer of Animals

Jamshid the Glorious, Master of the World

THE WICKED KING ZAHHAK

Zahhak Murders his Father

Greedy Zahhak and his Loathsome Snakes

The Death of the Great Jamshid Faranak Hides her Little Son

Feridun Learns the Truth Kaveh, the Courageous Blacksmith

Feridun Rides to War The Triumph of Feridun

SAM, THE FIRST CHAMPION OF KINGS

The Champion Sam, and Zal, his White-Haired Son

Sam Searches for his Son Zal Goes Hunting

King Mehrab's Beautiful Daughter

Rudabeh's Companions Set their Trap

The Falcon Catches the Dove

The Marriage of Zal and Rudabeh

RUSTAM THE HERO

A Champion is Born The Miraculous Baby

Rustam and the White Elephant Trouble Comes to Iran

Rustam Finds his Marvellous Horse Rustam Seeks for a King

The Noble Kay Kobad

THE FOOLISH KING KAY KAVUS

The White Demon of Mazanderan

Zal Hears the News

THE SEVEN TRIALS OF RUSTAM

Rustam's First Trial Rustam's Second Trial

Rustam's Third Trial

Rustam's Fourth Trial Rustam's Fifth Trial

Rustam's Sixth Trial Rustam Finds the King

Rustam's Seventh Trial Ulad Wins his Kingdom

KAY KAVUS THE FOOLISH

Rebellion in Barbary The King of Hamaveran's Daughter

The King of Hamaveran Takes his Revenge

Kay Kavus Flies with the Eagles

THE STORY OF RUSTAM AND SOHRAB

Rustam Loses Rakhsh The King of Samagan's Daughter

Tahmineh The Birth of Sohrab

Afrasyab Plots and Plans Sohrab and the White Fortress

Gordafarid, the Warrior Girl

RUSTAM IS SUMMONED

King Kavus Sends for Rustam The Anger of Kay Kavus

Kay Kavus and Rustam March to War

Rustam Spies on Sohrab Sohrab Looks for Rustam

THE BATTLE OF SOHRAB AND RUSTAM

Sohrab Makes his Challenge

The First Battle Between Sohrab and Rustam

Sohrab and Rustam Return to their Camps

Sohrab Throws Rustam to the Ground

The Final Battle The Grief of Rustam

The Death of Rustam

Kaveh, the Courageous Blacksmith



Zahhak sat hunched on his ivory throne, with his crown of turquoise

pressing down on his head, brooding about Feridun, while the snakes

writhed on his shoulders.

"I must be protected," he thought. "I must gather armies of men,

with demons and angels in the ranks, to save me from this boy."

One day, as he sat scowling in his audience hall, there was a commotion

at the door of the palace.

"I want justice!" a man was shouting. "I demand to see the king!"

"Who is it? Who's there?" asked Zahhak fearfully.

A furious man entered the audience chamber, beating his head with

his hands."I am Kaveh, the blacksmith," he called out in his deep voice.

"And you, O king, are an evil tyrant! Eighteen sons I had, good men all

of them. Seventeen have been sacrificed to feed your loathsome snakes,

and now the last, my youngest, waits for death. What have I done to

deserve this? Let my last son go! You owe me this, at least."

Zahhak listened, frightened and astonished. Then he smiled a false

smile.

"You will see what a good and noble king I am," he said. "Your

son is free to go. But first sign this document, which my elders have

prepared, telling the world how merciful I am."

The sight of the document made Kaveh more furious than ever.

"Give that thing to me," he bellowed. "I'll show you how I'll sign it!"

He snatched the document from Zahhak's hands, and tore it in two.

The king's servants and courtiers stared in wonder as Kaveh strode

away to rescue his imprisoned son.

"Why did you let him go, sire?" they asked Zahhak. "No one has

ever dared to speak to you like that before."

Zahhak shook his head, puzzled. "When he entered my hall," he said,

"I seemed to see a mountain of iron rise up between us, and when he

beat his hands against his head, I felt that my own heart was bruised."

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The blacksmith's son leaps from the tyrant's cage

And the streets echo to his cries of rage,

While on the throne the serpents writhe and hiss.

Threatening Zahhak with their deadly kiss.

Outside the palace, a crowd gathered around the blacksmith and his son.

Kaveh ripped off the leather apron which he wore when working in his

forge, and fixed it to a lance to make a banner.

"Men of honour!" he cried. "Follow me! We'll go to Feridun. He'll

deliver us from the tyrant Zahhak!"

A cheer went up. The people flocked to Kaveh's leather banner. They

followed him all the way to Feridun's palace, and when the young hero

came out to greet them, they raised a deafening shout.

"You are the man to lead us!" they cried. "You'll be our king!"

Feridun took the leather apron and decorated it with cloth of gold

and sparkling jewels. On the tip of Kaveh's lance, he placed a moonwhite

globe. "This will be my royal banner," he declared.

A humble apron, with its leather string,

Is now the sign and symbol of a king.