The Book of Kings by Firdausi Brought fire from stone; founded fire-worship
Tahúmers
Saiámuk
Sám
Arnawáz
T H E H ER
1000 years of tyranny
by c
Mahafríd
500 years
Minúchihr
Nauder
Decapitated by evil brother, Túr
Legend
King of Rúm and Kháwer
Poshín
Kai-káús
Poshang
Evil Nemesis parent - child
royal succession
female
Walked into a mysterious fountain and vanished
Gúlshaher
Ferúd
Saiáwush
Kai-khosráu
150 years
INS OF TÚRÁN A L L I V RCH Aghríras THE A
E
One of the greatest Persian generals, companion of Rustem; had 78 sons and grandsons
Gúdarz
Sarkhá
Pírán-wísah
Shydah-Poshang
Afrásiyáb
Maníjeh Byzun
Hujír Rehám
O TH
ER HER
Gíw
OS OF Z Á B U L Kai-káús
male
Ferangís
N a p po Á T IS
i n te
l nci cou y db
of
s sa ior r r wa
al re e th
Afrasiab Farangis Fereydun Vishtaspa Homai Hushang Esfandiyār
© 2013 Mikael Onsjö
Jemshíd Kai-káús Kai-khosráu Kaiúmers Kavah Lohurásp Minúchihr
Jamshid Kay Kāvus Kai Khosrow Keyumars Kaveh Lohrasp Manuchehr
Nauder Rustem Saiáwush Tahúmers Zau Zohák
Nowzar Rostam Siyâvash Tahmuras Zaav Zahhak
Rustem is the most renowned hero of the Sháh Námeh, perhaps of all Persian culture. He slew a variety of monsters and saved the Persian Kings countless times. Famously, he endured seven heroic labors during a march to Mázinderán where he slew the White Demon and freed king Kai-káús from captivity.
Rustem
Afrásiyáb was a notorious king of the villainous Túránians.
Afrásiyáb Through nearly two thirds of the poem he was trying to invade Persia or commit mischief. The final straw, however, was drawn when Afrásiyáb executed the beloved prince Saiáwush in a sacrificial manner. Kai-khosráu took legendary vengeance for his father’s death (then later became king).
as rw i he
Isfendiyár was a legendary and holy hero and prince of Persia
Isfendiyár who did much conquering for his country. He nearly defeated
no
Rustem in a prolonged duel; the Zábulistán hero only prevailed with the help of sorcery and the aid of the mythological bird Símúrgh. Even so, killing Isfendiyár was such an offence to the Zoroastrian God that Rustem and his whole house became cursed for the remainder of their lives. Sikander is the Persian name for Alexander of Macedon, who
Sikander we popularly refer to as Alexander the Great. At odds with
Western traditions, he is recorded in the Sháh Námeh as being the son of a Persian King and he didn’t so much conquer Persia as he by happenstance claimed his birthright while merely traveling through there, his the real ambition being to explore the world.
Zarír Ardshír
adoption
Failakús
Lohurásp
the daughter of Kaid of Ind
Shydasp Gushtásp
Alternative English spelling for the kings and other major characters
60 years
Feridún
daughter of Kai-káús
120 years
Afrásiyáb Ferangís Feridún Gushtásp Húmaí Húsheng Isfendiyár
9 years
Aramín 100 years
spouses
Sadly killed by his own father in a duel
Zohák was a supremely evil character. The demon Iblís inspired him to kill his own father to become the king of the Arabs. He had two snakes that he fed with the brains of his subjects. He usurped Persia by capturing the wandering king Jemshíd and having him saw in two. Zohák was finally slain by the prophesied hero Feridún, who then married a descendant of the ancient kings and became one of the most important and revered of the old Persian Kings.
Garshásp
tence e to incompe replaced du
Kai-kobád
Kárun
5 years
Zau
Fríburz
Barzú
A selection of frequently mentioned characters Zohák
Tahmasp
Arish
Shahpúr
ancestor - descendant
Sohráb
Tús
t
o h 7 years o y eir ou s
Sílim
Túr
G T H E M YT HIC A L A
Tahmíneh
ng
Power hungry king of Túrán
Shírúeh
Sháh-rú
Giant; almost killed Rustem in a duel staged by Afrásiyáb
the victim in turn pinned a tree to the traitor with an arrow
Gustahem
t
Kobád
Kavah
Feridún
Faránuk
Rustem
N ÁBULISTÁ Z F O S O Betrayer of Rustem, killed when
120 years
Pishung
Irij
Shahrnáz
Abtín
Legendary blacksmith who forged the legendary cow-headed mace for Feridún and begat legendary heroes
Ferámurz
en oug h
ues onq
Had snakes that fed on brains
maid servant
sister of Gíw
Shughad
Zohák
Mirtás-Tázi
Zál
Legendary warrior and advisor to Feridún
Jemshíd 700 years
by conquest
Arabian king who died in a pit trap dug by his own son
Rúdábeh
Wise but succumbed to hubris, became a wandering king; was sawn in two
30 years
Húsheng
30 years
Kaiúmers
Ultimate Hero
Zúára
Síndokht
Binder of demons
40 years
Mihráb
Narímán
tg oo d
Came down from the mountains clad in the skins of beasts
Legendary beauty, epic love story
180 years
Kitabún
Bashútan
Isfendiyár
Nahíd
Bahman
8 years Húmaí
32 years
Avir
Holy warrior, conquered the Brazen Fortress; killed in duel by Rustem who had to resort to magic
Núsháhder Mihrbús
Dáráb
Sikander 34 years
Dárá
Abandoned by power hungry mother in basket in a river
Roshung
Betrayed and assassinated by his ministers Alexander “the Great” of Macedon
Sources: Firdusi (J. Atkinson), “The Sháh Námeh” in “Persian Literature, Volume 1” published by The Project Gutenberg, online 2013.