Zahhāk or Zohhāk (in Persian: ضحاک) is a figure of Persian mythology, evident in ancient Iranian folklore as Aži Dahāka, the name by which he also appears in the texts of the Avesta. In Middle Persian he is called Dahāg or Bēvar-Asp, the latter meaning "[he who has] 10,000 horses". Farsi redirects here. ... The beliefs and practices of the culturally and linguistically related group of ancient peoples who inhabited the Iranian Plateau and its borderlands, as well as areas of Central Asia from the Black Sea to Khotan (modern Ho-tien, China), form Persian mythology. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... See Avesta Municipality for the Swedish town Yasna 28. ... Pahlavi is a term that refers: (1) to a script used in Iran derived from the Aramaic script, and (2) more broadly, to Middle Persian, the Middle Iranian language written in this script. ...

Etymology and derived words

Aži (nominative ažiš) is the Iranian Avestan word for "serpent" or "dragon". It is cognate to the Vedic Sanskrit word ahi, "snake", and without a sinister implication. Azi and Ahi are distantly related to Greek ophis, Latin anguis, both meaning "snake". Avestan is an Eastern Old Iranian language that was used to compose the sacred hymns and canon of the Zoroastrian Avesta. ... Look up cognate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Vedic Sanskrit is the language of the Vedas, which are the earliest sacred texts of India,. The Vedas were first passed down orally and therefore have no known date. ... For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ...

The meaning of dahāka is uncertain. Among the meanings suggested are "stinging" (source uncertain), "burning" (cf. Sanskrit dahana), "man" or "manlike" (cf. Khotanese daha), "huge" (cf. Pashto lōy) or "foreign" (cf. the Scythian Dahae and the Vedic dasas). In Persian mythology, Dahāka is treated as a proper name, and is the source of the Ḍaḥḥāk (Zahhāk) of the (cf. Shāhnāme). Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... relating to Khotan, in particular the Kingdom of Khotan Khotanese, a Saka dialect Category: ... Pashto (پښتو; also known as Afghan, Pushto, Pashto, Pashtoe, Pashtu, and Pukhto) is the language spoken by the ethnic Afghan otherwise known as the Pashtun people who inhabit Afghanistan and the Western provinces of Pakistan. ... Ideograms for Ta-Hsia. ... The Dāsa are a tribe identified as the enemies of the Aryan tribes in the Rigveda. ...

Aži Dahāka is the source of the modern Persian word azhdahā or ezhdehā اژدها (Middle Persian azdahāg) meaning "dragon", often used of a dragon depicted upon a banner of war. Farsi redirects here. ...

The Azhdarchid group of pterosaurs are named from an Uzbek word for "dragon" that ultimately comes from Aži Dahāka. Genera Zhejiangopterus Arambourgiania Azhdarcho Doratorhynchus Montanazhdarcho Hatzegopteryx Quetzalcoatlus Azhdarchids (from the Uzbek word for dragon) were a family of pterosaurs known primarily from the Late Cretaceous period which included some of the largest known flying animals of all time. ... Suborders Pterodactyloidea Rhamphorhynchoidea * Pterosaurs (, from the Greek πτερόσαυρος, pterosauros, meaning winged lizard, often referred to as pterodactyls, from the Greek πτεροδάκτυλος, pterodaktulos, meaning winged finger ) were flying reptiles of the clade Pterosauria. ...

The Ahi / Aži in Indo-Iranian tradition

Stories of monstrous serpents who are killed or imprisoned by heroes or divine beings may date back to prehistory, and are found in the myths of many Indo-European peoples, including those of the Indo-Iranians, that is, the common ancestors of both the Iranians and Vedic Indians. For other uses, see Mythology (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The most obvious point of comparison is that in Vedic Sanskrit ahi is a cognate of Avestan aži. However, In Vedic tradition, the only dragon of importance is Vrtra, but "there is no Iranian tradition of a dragon such as Indian Vrtra, who guards the cosmic waters and is defeated by the gods themselves." (Boyce, 1975:91-92) Moreover, while Iranian tradition has numerous dragons, all of which are malevolent, Vedic tradition has only one other dragon besides Vṛtra - ahi budhnya, the benevolent 'dragon of the deep'. In the Vedas, gods battle dragons, but in Iranian tradition, this is a function of mortal heroes. Vedic Sanskrit is the language of the Vedas, which are the earliest sacred texts of India,. The Vedas were first passed down orally and therefore have no known date. ... Avestan is an Eastern Old Iranian language that was used to compose the sacred hymns and canon of the Zoroastrian Avesta. ... In the early Vedic religion, Vritra (Sanskrit: वृत्र (DevanāgarÄ«) or (IAST)) the enveloper, was an Asura and also a serpent or dragon, the personification of drought and enemy of Indra. ...

Thus, although it seems clear that dragon-slaying heroes (and gods in the case of the Vedas) "were a part of Indo-Iranian tradition and folklore, it is also apparent that India and Iran developed distinct myths early." (Skjaervø, 1989:192)

Other dragons in Iranian tradition

Besides Aži Dahāka, several other dragons and dragon-like creatures are mentioned in Zoroastrian scripture:

• Aži Sruvara - the 'horned dragon', Aži Zairita - the 'yellow dragon', that is killed by the hero Kərəsāspa, Middle Persian Kirsāsp. (Yasna 9.1, 9.30; Yasht 19.19)
• Aži Raoiδita - the 'red dragon' conceived by Angra Mainyu's to bring about the 'daeva-induced winter' that is the reaction to Ahura Mazda's creation of the Airyanem Vaejah. (Vendidad 1.2)
• Aži Višāpa - the 'dragon of poisonous slaver' that consumes offerings to Aban if they are made between sunset and sunrise (Nirangistan 48).
• Gandarəβa - the 'yellow-heeled' monster of the sea 'Vourukasha' that can swallow twelve provinces at once. On emerging to destroy the entire creation of Asha, it too is slain by the hero Kərəsāspa. (Yasht 5.38, 15.28, 19.41)

Garshāsp (گرشاسپ) is the name of a monster-slaying hero in Persian mythology. ... Angra Mainyu is the Avestan language name of the hypostasis of the destructive spirit. The Middle Persian equivalent is Ahriman. ... The Daeva are a fictional clan of vampires in the role-playing game Vampire: The Requiem, published by White Wolf Game Studio . ... Ahura Mazda () is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator, hence God. ... The Airyanem Vaejah or Airyana Waejah (Aryan Expanse) was the legendary home of the Aryan (Indo-Iranian) people, as described in writings in the Avesta, the holy book of Zoroastrians. ... In Persian mythology, Aban is the name of an angel who presides over iron. ... Garshāsp (گرشاسپ) is the name of a monster-slaying hero in Persian mythology. ...

Aži Dahāka (Dahāg) in Zoroastrian literature

Aži Dahāka is the most significant and long-lasting of the ažis of the Avesta, the earliest religious texts of Zoroastrianism. He is described as a monster with three mouths, six eyes, and three heads (presumably meaning three heads with one mouth and two eyes each), cunning, strong and demonic. But in other respects Aži Dahāka has human qualities, and is never a mere animal. See Avesta Municipality for the Swedish town Yasna 28. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ...

Aži Dahāka appears in several of the Avestan myths and is mentioned parenthetically in many more places in Zoroastrian literature.

In a post-Avestan Zoroastrian text, the Dēnkard, Aži Dahāka is identified as an Arab^{[citation needed]}, as the source of the writings of Judaism (in this context identified as a religion opposed to Zoroastrianism), and possessed of all possible sins and evil counsels, the opposite of the good king Jam. The name Dahāg (Dahāka) is punningly interpreted as meaning "having ten (dah) sins". His mother is Wadag (or Ōdag), herself described as a great sinner, who committed incest with her son. For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Jamshid (in Persian: ‎) is a common Persian male first name. ...

In the Avesta, Aži Dahāka is said to have lived in the inaccessible fortress of Kuuirinta in the land of Baβri, where he worshipped the yazatas Arədvī Sūrā (Anāhitā), divinity of the rivers, and Vayu, divinity of the storm-wind. Based on the similarity between Baβri and Old Persian Bābiru (Babylon), later Zoroastrians localized Aži Dahāka in Mesopotamia, though the identification is open to doubt. Aži Dahāka asked these two yazatas for power to depopulate the world. Being representatives of the Good, they of course refused. Temple of Anahita: goddess of ancient Persia, Iran. ... See Aryan Language or Old Persian For more information visit: *[Ancient Iranian Languages & Literature The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies (CAIS) ... For other uses, see Babylon (disambiguation). ...

In one Avestan text, Aži Dahāka has a brother named Spitiyura. Together they attack the hero Yima (Jamshid) and cut him in half with a saw, but are then beaten back by the yazata Ātar, the divine spirit of Fire. Jamshid (in Persian: ‎) is a common Persian male first name. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Zoroastrian angelology. ... See also Atar, Mauritania. ...

According to the post-Avestan texts, following the death of Jam ī Xšēd (Jamshid), Dahāg gained kingly rule. Another late Zoroastrian text, the Mēnog ī xrad, says that this was ultimately good, because if Dahāg had not become king, the rule would have been taken by the immortal demon Xešm (Aēšma), and so evil would have ruled upon earth until the end of the world. Jamshid (in Persian: ‎) is a common Persian male first name. ... Aeshma (AÄ“Å¡ma) is the Younger Avestan name of Zoroastrianisms demon of wrath. ...

Dahāg is said to have ruled for a thousand years, starting from 100 years after Jam lost his xvarənah, his royal glory (see Jamshid). He is described as a sorcerer who ruled with the aid of demons, the daevas (divs). or () is an Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept literally denoting glory or splendour but understood as a divine mystical force or power projected upon and aiding the appointed. ... Jamshid (in Persian: ‎) is a common Persian male first name. ... The Daeva are a fictional clan of vampires in the role-playing game Vampire: The Requiem, published by White Wolf Game Studio . ...

The Avesta identifies the person who finally disposed of Aži Dahāka as Θraētaona son of Aθβiya, in Middle Persian called Frēdōn. The Avesta has little to say about the nature of Θraētaona's defeat of Aži Dahāka, other than that it enabled him to liberate Arənavāci and Savaŋhavāci, the two most beautiful women in the world. Later sources, especially the Dēnkard, provide more detail. Frēdōn is said to have been endowed with the divine radiance of kings (xvarənah, New Persian farr) from birth, and was able to defeat Dahāg at the age of nine, striking him on shoulder, heart and skull with a mace and giving him three wounds with a sword. However, when he did so, vermin (snakes, insects and the like) emerged from the wounds, and the god Ormazd told him not to kill Dahāg, lest the world become infested with these creatures. Instead, Frēdōn chained Dahāg up and imprisoned him on the mythical Mt. Damāvand (later identified with Damāvand, one of the high mountains of the Alborz chain). FereydÅ«n (فریدون), also pronounced FarÄ«dÅ«n, in medieval Persian FirÄ“dÅ«n, Middle Persian FrÄ“dōn, and Avestan ΘraÄ“taona is the name of a mythical king and hero who is an emblem of victory, justice and generosity in the Persian literature. ... The Denkard is the largest encyclopedia of Zoroastrianism written in 9th century. ... or () is an Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept literally denoting glory or splendour but understood as a divine mystical force or power projected upon and aiding the appointed. ... Ahura Mazda () is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator, hence God. ... This article is about the volcano. ... Alborz Mountains Mount Damavand, Irans tallest mountain is located in Alborz mountain range. ...

The Middle Persian sources also prophesy that at the end of the world, Dahāg will at last burst his bonds and ravage the world, consuming one in three humans and livestock. Kirsāsp, the ancient hero who had killed the Az ī Srūwar, returns to life to kill Dahāg. Garshāsp (گرشاسپ) is the name of a monster-slaying hero in Persian mythology. ...

Zahhāk in the Shāhnāma

In Ferdowsi's epic poem, the Shāhnāma, written c. 1000 AD, the legend of Dahāg is retold with the main character given the name of Zahhāk or Zohhāk. The name is written with the Arabic characters ض and ح, which rarely appear in Persian words of non-Arabic origin, and may have been chosen to emphasize the allegedly Arabic ethnicity of the character. Tomb of Ferdowsi in Tus HakÄ«m Abol-Qāsem FerdowsÄ« TÅ«sÄ« (Persian: ), more commonly transliterated as Ferdowsi, (935–1020) was a highly revered Persian poet. ... Shâhnameh Shāhnāmé, or Shāhnāma (Persian: )(alternative spellings are Shahnama, Shahnameh, Shahname, Shah-Nama, etc. ...

Zahhāk in Arabia

According to Ferdowsi, Zahhāk (Arabic transliteration: Ḍaḥḥāk or Ḍuḥḥāk) was born as the son of an Arab ruler named Merdās. Because of his Arab origins, he is sometimes called Zahhāk-e Tāzi, "the Arabian Zahhāk". He was handsome and clever, but had no stability of character and was easily influenced by evil counsellors. Ahriman therefore chose him as the tool for his plans for world domination. Arabic redirects here. ... Angra Mainyu or Ahriman was the evil spirit in the dualistic strain of Zoroastrianism. ...

When Zahhāk was a young man, Ahriman first appeared to him as a glib, flattering companion, and by degrees convinced him that he ought to kill his own father and take over his territories. He taught him to dig a deep pit covered over with leaves in a place where Merdās was accustomed to walk; Merdās fell in and was killed. Zahhāk thus became both patricide and king at the same time. Patricide is (i) the act of killing ones father, or (ii) a person who kills his or her father. ...

Ahriman now took another guise, and presented himself to Zahhāk as a marvellous cook. After he had presented Zahhāk with many days of sumptuous feasts, Zahhāk was willing to give Ahriman whatever he wanted. Ahriman merely asked to kiss Zahhāk on his two shoulders. Zahhāk permitted this; but when Ahriman had touched his lips to Zahhāk's shoulders, he immediately vanished. At once, two black snakes grew out of Zahhāk's shoulders. They could not be surgically removed, for as soon as one snake-head had been cut off, another took its place.

Ahriman now appeared to Zahhāk in the form of a skilled physician. He counselled Zahhāk that the only remedy was to let the snakes remain on his shoulders, and sate their hunger by supplying them with human brains for food every day otherwise the snakes will feed on his own.

From a psychological point of view the snakes on Zahhak's shoulders could represent his lust for killing or a form of sadism which if left unsatisfied torment Zahhak. Also when Zahhak is defeated by Fereydun, he can not think of a better fitting punishment than to simply bound him in cave where the snakes (not being fed) will eat Zahhak's own brain symbolizing his inner agony and unsatisfied homicidal lust.

This story is Ferdowsi's way of reconciling the descriptions of Dahāg as a three-headed dragon monster and those stories which treat him as a human king. According to Ferdowsi, Zahhāk is originally human, but through the magic of Ahriman he becomes a monster; he does, in fact, have three heads, the two snake heads and one human head; and the snakes remind us of his original character as a dragon.

The characterization of Zahhāk as an Arab in part reflects the earlier association of Dahāg with the Semitic peoples of Iraq, but probably also reflects the continued resentment of many Iranians at the 7th century Arab conquest of Persia. The 7th century is the period from 601 - 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... The Islamic conquest of Persia (637-651 CE) led to the end of the Sassanid Empire and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia (modern day Iran). ...

Zahhāk the Emperor

About this time, Jamshid, who was then the ruler of the world, through his arrogance lost his divine right to rule. Zahhāk presented himself as a savior to those discontented Iranians who wanted a new ruler (reflecting the embracing of the Arab religion and culture by Persians after the Arab conquest of Persia and the subsequent oppression Persians faced). Collecting a great army, he marched against Jamshid, who fled when he saw that he could not resist Zahhāk. Zahhāk hunted Jamshid for many years, and at last caught him and subjected him to a miserable death -- he had Jamshid sawn in half. Zahhāk now became the ruler of the entire world. Among his slaves were two of Jamshid's daughters, Arnavāz and Shahrnavāz (the Avestan Arənavāci and Savaŋhavāci). Jamshid (in Persian: ‎) is a common Persian male first name. ...

Zahhāk's two snake heads still craved human brains for food, so every day Zahhāk's spies would seize two men, and execute them so their brains could feed the snakes. Two men, called Armayel and Garmayel, wanted to find a way to rescue people from being killed for the snakes. So they learned cookery and after mastering how to cook great meals, they went to Zahhāk's palace and managed to become the chefs of the palace. Everyday they saved one of the two men and put the brain of a sheep instead of his into the food, but they could not save the lives of both men.

Zahhāk's tyranny over the world lasted for centuries. But one day Zahhāk had a terrible dream – he thought that three warriors were attacking him, and that the youngest knocked him down with his mace, tied him up, and dragged him off toward a tall mountain. When Zahhāk woke he was in a panic. Following the counsel of Arnavāz, he summoned wise men and dream-readers to explain his dream. They were reluctant to say anything, but one finally said that it was a vision of the end of Zahhāk's reign, that rebels would arise and dispossess Zahhāk of his throne. He even named the man who would take Zahhāk's place: Fereydun. FereydÅ«n (فریدون), also pronounced FarÄ«dÅ«n, in medieval Persian FirÄ“dÅ«n, Middle Persian FrÄ“dōn, and Avestan ΘraÄ“taona is the name of a mythical king and hero who is an emblem of victory, justice and generosity in the Persian literature. ...

Zahhāk now became obsessed with finding this "Fereydun" and destroying him, though he did not know where he lived or who his family was. His spies went everywhere looking for Fereydun, and finally heard that he was but a boy, being nourished on the milk of the marvelous cow Barmāyeh. The spies traced Barmāyeh to the highland meadows where it grazed, but Fereydun had already fled before them. They killed the cow, but had to return to Zahhāk with their mission unfulfilled.

The Revolution against Zahhāk

Zahhāk now tried to consolidate his rule by coercing an assembly of the leading men of the kingdom into signing a document testifying to Zahhāk's righteousness, so that no one could have any excuse for rebellion. One man spoke out against this charade, a blacksmith named Kāva (Kaveh). Before the whole assembly, Kāva told how Zahhāk's minions had murdered seventeen of his eighteen sons so that Zahhāk might feed his snakes' lust for human brains – the last son had been imprisoned, but still lived. Statue of Kaveh in Isfahan My name is Kaveh, I am a Persian-American and live in San Diego. ...

In front of the assembly Zahhāk had to pretend to be merciful, and so released Kāva's son. But when he tried to get Kāva to sign the document attesting to Zahhāk's justice, Kāva tore up the document, left the court, and raised his blacksmith's apron as a standard of rebellion – the Kāviyāni Banner, derafsh-e Kāviyānī (درفش کاویانی). He proclaimed himself in support of Fereydun as ruler. The Derafsh-e Kavian (DerafÅ¡-e Kāvīān, Middle Persian) was the legendary royal standard of the Sassanid kings. ...

Soon many people followed Kāva to the Alborz mountains, where Fereydun was now living. He was now a young man and agreed to lead the people against Zahhāk. He had a mace made for him with a head like that of an ox, and with his brothers and followers, went forth to fight against Zahhāk. Zahhāk had already left his capital, and it fell to Fereydun with small resistance. Fereydun freed all of Zahhāk's prisoners, including Arnavāz and Shahrnavāz.

Kondrow, Zahhāk's treasurer, pretended to submit to Fereydun, but when he had a chance he escaped to Zahhāk and told him what had happened. Zahhāk at first dismissed the matter, but when he heard that Fereydun had seated Jamshid's daughters on thrones beside him like his queens, he was incensed and immediately hastened back to his city to attack Fereydun.

When he got there, Zahhāk found his capital held strongly against him, and his army was in peril from the defense of the city. Seeing that he could not reduce the city, he sneaked into his own palace as a spy, and attempted to assassinate Arnavāz and Shahrnavāz. Fereydun struck Zahhāk down with his ox-headed mace, but did not kill him; on the advice of an angel, he bound Zahhāk and imprisoned him in a cave underneath Mount Damāvand, binding him with a lion's pelt tied to great nails fixed into the walls of the cavern, where he will remain until the end of the world. Thus, after a thousand years' tyranny, ended the reign of Zahhāk. This article is about the volcano. ...

Kelileh va Demneh Persian manuscript copy dated 1429, from Herat, depicts the Jackal trying to lead the Lion astray. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Shâhnameh Shāhnāmé, or Shāhnāma (Persian: )(alternative spellings are Shahnama, Shahnameh, Shahname, Shah-Nama, etc. ... Tomb of Ferdowsi in Tus HakÄ«m Abol-Qāsem FerdowsÄ« TÅ«sÄ« (Persian: ), more commonly transliterated as Ferdowsi, (935–1020) was a highly revered Persian poet. ... Statue of Arash in Borujerd Âraŝ, the Archer (Persian: Ä€raÅ¡-e KamāngÄ«r) is a heroic archer of the Persian mythology. ... Afrasiab, near Samarkand, Uzbekistan is both a historical city and its legendary founder. ... Akvan, meaning Evil Mind, is a Persian div with great powers and strength. ... Bijan and Manijeh (also Bizhan and Manizheh, Persian بيژن Ùˆ منيژه) is a love story in Ferdowsis Shahnameh (Shāh-Nāmeh, The Epic of Kings). ... Esfandiar or Esfandyar (in Persian: ) is an Iranian legendary hero. ... FereydÅ«n (فریدون), also pronounced FarÄ«dÅ«n, in medieval Persian FirÄ“dÅ«n, Middle Persian FrÄ“dōn, and Avestan ΘraÄ“taona is the name of a mythical king and hero who is an emblem of victory, justice and generosity in the Persian literature. ... Garshāsp (گرشاسپ) is the name of a monster-slaying hero in Persian mythology. ... Goodarz is a character in Shahnameh. ... Gurdāfarǐd (Persian: ) is one of the heroines in Shahnama (The Book of Kings or The Epic of Kings), an enormous poetic opus written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi around 1000 AD. She was a champion who fought against Sohrab (another Iranian hero who was the commander of Turanian... Haoma is the Avestan language name of a plant and its divinity, both of which play a role in Zoroastrian doctrine and in later Persian culture and mythology. ... Statues of two head Homa in Persepolis ruins, Iran A relief of Armenian tribute bearer carrying a metal vessel with Homa (griffin) handles. ... Hushang (in Persian: ), older Persian Hōšang, was the second Shāh to rule the world according to Ferdowsis Shāhnāma. ... Iraj (Persian: ) is a character in Persian epic Shahnameh. ... Jamshid (in Persian: ‎) is a common Persian male first name. ... Statue of Kaveh in Isfahan My name is Kaveh, I am a Persian-American and live in San Diego. ... Kai Kavoos is a character in Persian epic Shahnameh. ... Kai Khosrow is a character in Persian epic book, Shahnameh. ... Keyumars (کیومرث), Arabic transliteration KayÅ«marṯ, older Persian Kayōmart, was the first Shāh of the world according to the poet FirdausÄ«s Shāhnāma. ... ManÅ«chehr (in Persian: ), older Persian Manōčihr, Avestan Manuščiθra, is the name of the first of the legendary Shāhs who ruled Iran after the breakup of the world empire of ManÅ«chehrs great-grandfather, FereydÅ«n. ... Bijan and Manijeh is a classical love story in the Persian literature epic of Shahnameh. ... Poshng, King of Turan, was according to Ferusis epic the Shahnama, of the race of Tur (called his sire) and the father of Afrasiab. ... Rakhsh (in Persian: meaning luminous) is the stallion of main protagonist Rostam in the Persian national epic, Shahnameh of Ferdowsi. ... Roham or (Rohum,Rohaam) ( رﻭهام in Persian, means the guardian ) is a hero in Ferdosis Shahnama, He is son of Goodarz ( گودرز in Persian ) who defeated Baarmaan( بارمان in Persian ) in the battle of Davazdahrokh ( دوازده رخ in Persian ). He is from the city of Ardebil. ... Rostam Slaying the Dragon- A miniature Painting by Master Mahmoud Farshchian. ... Rostam Farrōkhzād (رستم فرّخزاد in Persian) was the commander of the Sāsānian Empires armed forced under the reign of Yazdgird III, r. ... Rudaba or Roodabeh (رودابه in Persia) was Daughter of Mehrab Kaboli. ... Salm is a character is Persian epic Shahnameh. ... Saam (سام) is a mythical hero of ancient Persia, and an important character in the Shahnameh epic. ... Shaghad was the brother of Rostam, the mighty Iranian hero of the Shahnameh, who killed Rostam by dropping him into a hole full of swords or other sharp things. ... Siāmak (Persian: ‎ , IPA: ), also transcribed as Siyamak, is a Persian given name, and a character (Kiumars son) in the Shahnameh. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Siavash. ... Sassanid silk twill textile of a Simorgh in a beaded surround, 6-7th c. ... For other uses, see Sohrab (disambiguation). ... Tahmineh is one of female characters of the epic of Shahnameh. ... Tahmuras or Tahmures (Persian: ), New Persian transliteration , older Persian Tahmurat, is the third Shāh of the world according to Ferdowsis Shāhnāma. ... Tur is a character in the Persian epic Shahnameh. ... ZÃ¥l (زال in Persian) was a mythical warrior of ancient Iran. ... Here are the list of places represented/mentioned in the Persian epic poem Shāhnāma by Ferdowsi: This literature-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Harā BÉ™rÉ™zaitÄ« is the name given in the Avestan language to a legendary mountain or mountain range around which the world is structured. ... Motto: Esteqlāl, āzādÄ«, jomhÅ«rÄ«-ye eslāmÄ« 1 Independence, freedom, Islamic Republic Anthem: SorÅ«d-e MellÄ«-e Īrān Â² Capital (and largest city) Tehran Official languages Persian, Constitutional status for regional languages such as Azeri and Kurdish [1] Demonym Iranian Government Islamic Republic  -  Supreme Leader  -  President... Mazandaran (Persian: مازندران) is a province in northern Iran, bordering the Caspian (Mazandaran) Sea in the north. ... Samangan (Persian: سمنگان) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. ... For other uses, see Turan (disambiguation). ... Zabulistan (Persian: ) or Zabolestan is a historical region in the border area of todays Iran and Afghanistan, around the city Zabol. ... For other places with the same name, see Kabul (disambiguation). ... Birjand (Persian: Storm city) is the capital of South Khorasan province (formerly a subprovince named Birjand or Quhestan, a part of Khorasan province) in the east Iran, known for its saffron, barberry, rug and handmade carpet exports. ... Entrance to the Ark fortress. ... Abu Mansur Ali ibn Ahmad Asadi Tusi (born: Tus, Iranian province of Khorasan - died: 1072 Tabriz, Iran) is arguably the second most important Persian poet of Iranian national epics, after Ferdowsi who also happens to come from the same town of Tus. ... The Derafsh-e Kavian (DerafÅ¡-e Kāvīān, Middle Persian) was the legendary royal standard of the Sassanid kings. ... Shâhnameh Shāhnāmé, or Shāhnāma (Persian: )(alternative spellings are Shahnama, Shahnameh, Shahname, Shah-Nama, etc. ... Bijan and Manijeh (also Bizhan and Manizheh, Persian بيژن Ùˆ منيژه) is a love story in Ferdowsis Shahnameh (Shāh-Nāmeh, The Epic of Kings). ... Abu Mansur Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Daqiqi Balkhi (935/942-976/980[1]), (in Persian: ) sometimes referred to as Daqiqi (also Dakiki, Daghighi, Persian: دقیقی), was an early Persian (TājÄ«k) poet from Balkh[2], currently one of the cities of Afghanistan. ... Sadeh is an ancient Iranian tradition celebrated 50 days before nowrouz. ... The Cup of Jamshid (Cup of Djemscheed or Jaam-e Jam, in Persian: جام جم) is a cup of divination which, according to legend, was long possessed by the rulers of ancient Persia. ... Jamshid (in Persian: ‎) is a common Persian male first name. ... Shâhnameh Shāhnāmé, or Shāhnāma (Persian: )(alternative spellings are Shahnama, Shahnameh, Shahname, Shah-Nama, etc. ... Keyumars (کیومرث), Arabic transliteration KayÅ«marṯ, older Persian Kayōmart, was the first Shāh of the world according to the poet FirdausÄ«s Shāhnāma. ... FereydÅ«n (فریدون), also pronounced FarÄ«dÅ«n, in medieval Persian FirÄ“dÅ«n, Middle Persian FrÄ“dōn, and Avestan ΘraÄ“taona is the name of a mythical king and hero who is an emblem of victory, justice and generosity in the Persian literature. ...

Place names

"Zahak Citadel" is the name of an ancient ruin in East Azarbaijan, Iran which according to various experts, was inhabited from the second millennia BC until the Timurid era. First excavated in the 1800s by British archeologists, Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization has been studying the structure in 6 phases.[1] East Azarbaijan province enjoys some of Irans most favorable climatic conditions. ... Iran Cultural Heritage Organization (سازمان میراث فرهنگی) is an educational and research institution overseeing numerous associated museum complexes throughout Iran. ...

See also

• List of dragons in mythology and folklore

This is a list of dragons in mythology and folklore. ...

Bibliography

• Boyce, Mary (1975). History of Zoroastrianism, Vol. I. Leiden: Brill. 
• Skjærvø, P. O (1989). "Aždahā: in Old and Middle Iranian". Encyclopedia Iranica 3. New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. 191-199. 
• Khaleghi-Motlagh, DJ (1989). "Aždahā: in Persian Literature". Encyclopedia Iranica 3. New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. 199-203. 
• Omidsalar, M (1989). "Aždahā: in Iranian Folktales". Encyclopedia Iranica 3. New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. 203-204. 
• Russell, J. R (1989). "Aždahā: Armenian Aždahak". Encyclopedia Iranica 3. New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. 204-205.