The+shah-nameh

The Shahnameh

 * By: Laura Baker and Carly Scorziello **



// "As this famous book comes to an end the country will be full of talk about me whoever has intelligence, judgement and religion will pour blessings on me after I die. But I will not die after this, I will remain alive, as I have scattered the seeds of speech." -// Ferdowsi

The Shahnameh, literally meaning **'Book of Kings,**' is structured according to the historical reign of 50 Persian Kings. The epic can be divided into three parts: the first part tells of the mythical creation of Persia and its earliest mythical past; the second part tells of the legendary Kings and the heroes Rostam and Sohrab; the third part blends historical fact with legend, telling of the semi-mythical adventures of actual historical Kings. ** In //The Kite Runner:// **
 * This book of stories is important because in //The Kite Runner// the **Book of Kings** is what is given to Amir by Hassan and Ali for his birthday. The following is a quote from the book of the scene where the Shanahmeh is given to Amir:
 * "A lump was rising in my throat. 'Thank you, Ali,' I said. I wished they hadn't bought me anything. I opened the box and found a brand new Shahnameh, a hardback with glossy colored illustrations beneath the passages. Here was Ferangis gazing at her newborn son, Kai Khosrau. There was Afrasiyab riding his horse, sword drawn, leading hsi army. And, or course Rostam inflicting a mortal wound onto his son, the warrior Sohrab. 'It's beautiful,' I said"( page 103).

**// The Shahnameh //** is a three volume book that tells the story of acient Persia. The Shahnamhe was created by the poet Ferdowsi between 980 and 1010 AD. **// The Lion and the Throne //** is the very first volume of The Shahnameh. Some of the stories included in volume I are //The First Kings, Feraydun and His Three Sons, The Story of Iraj, The Vengeance of Manuchehr, Iran and Turan, Rostam and His Horse, Kay Qobad and Afrasyab, War Against the Demons of Mazandaran, The Seven Trials of Rostam; The King of Hamaveran and His Daughter Sudabeh, The Tragic Tale of Sohrab.
 * Fathers and Sons **// is the second volume of The Shahnameh. Volume two consists of tragic stories about kings and their sons. //Prince Seyavash// and //Prince Esfandyar// are the two man stories in volume two.
 * // Sunset of Empire //** is the third and final volume of The Shahnameh. The final volume consists of characters who are made to appear larger than life. Bahram Gur, Bozorjmehr, Bahram Chubineh, Gordyeh are a few of the characters who are in the third and final volume.

// Rostam and Sohrab // The tragic tale of Sohrab also known just as Rostam and Sohrab tells a tragic story of the hero Rostam and his son Sohrab. In //The// Kite Runner you hear them refer to Rostam and Sohrab many times.

This is also a story of four generations, of fathers and sons, courage and skill, love and honour, war and grief, and of fathers making mistakes – sometimes putting their mistakes right, sometimes forgetting. This theme of fathers and sons reoccurs throughout the epic.

__**Rostam and Sohrab's Family Tree: **__ code Sam --- Unnamed Palace Courtier           King of Karbol |                                      |                            |                                       |                           Zal--Princess Rudabeh |                                           |                               Rostam--- Princess Tahmina |                                           |                                          Sohrab code

The whole story of Rostam and Sohrab begins with a hero named **Sām**. Sām is a mythical hero of ancient Persia and an important character in the Shahnameh epic. He was Iran's champion during the rule of Fereydun, Manuchehr, and Nowzar. Sām was asked to rule Iran but he declined. He is the father of Zal.
 * Where it all began... **


 * Zal** was born to Sām and an unnamed palace courtier but Zal was an albino born baby with white hair. Sām thinks his son is either an old man or a demon and orders the baby to be taken to the foothills of the Alborz mountains, mountains made of jewels, and left there. Once on the mountain, Zal is found by the magical Simorgh, the phoenix like bird with red and gold feathers who has her nest on the summit of the mountain. She carries the baby to her next and raises him as if he were her own son.

A few years later Sām is reminded in a haunting dream how badly he had behaved towards his son. Sam feels remorse and sets out to the Alborz mountains to see if his son might still be alive. He finds Zal, a grown handsome young man, well brought up by the bird Simorgh. Once Sām asks Zal to come back home with him, Zal doesn't want to leave the Simorgh, but she gives him one of her feathers and tells him if he is ever in trouble he must burn the feather and she will come to his aid.

Picture shows Sām on horseback searching for his son at the top of the Alborz mountains

Zal hears a description of **Rudabeh**, daughter of King of Karbol. Zal falls in love with the description and Rudabeh also hears equal praise of Zal and his "mammoth strength." They meet, but Rudabeh friends tease her about falling for a man with white hair brought up in a bird's nest. Zal is equally worried because Rudabeh is an ancestor of the evil serpent King Zahhak. (Zahhak grows a serpent on each of his shoulders which must be fed with human brains.) Despite these issues, they vow to meet, Rudabeh offers to let her hair down just like Rapunzal from her tower so that Zal can climb up and see her. Zal doesn't wish to hurt her and so they use a rope instead.(The subject of many many paintings.) They promise each other their hearts and can love no other. All the families agree to their marriage, which overcomes the negative influence of the past. Their wedding lasts 30 days.

Rudabeh becomes pregnant, and while in labor she is in great pain and unable to give birth. Zal remembers the Simorgh's feather. He burns it and the Simorgh appears. The bird orders and arranges the first caesarean birth, giving Rudabeh healing herbs and stroking her with her feathers. Rudabeh gives birth to a huge son, "a lion cub", **Rostam**. Rostam is a miracle baby and has grown into a boy within 5 days and to the height and strength of a young man within weeks. As a child he is the only one able to kill a white elephant that is rampaging unstoppable through the palace.

Rudabeh trying to give birth to Rostam

Throughout rostams childhood he repeatedly proves his strength. On one occasion Rostam is sent to the White Mountain to get rid of rebels. He overcomes the rebel fortress single-handedly and is hailed a champion.

Rostam needs a horse and so all the horses in the kingdom are brought to him. He places his hand on each horse's back and each horse buckles under his strength. Then he sees a young foal, "brave as a lion, as tall as a camel, as strong as an elephant." No one is able to catch him. Rostam is the only one who can catch and saddle the foal. He make this horse is "war horse" and names is Rakhsh also known as Lightning.

Rostam sets off to fee King Kay Kavus from demons. On the way he undergoes seven tests. These are known as the seven heroic trials and are the subjects of many paintings.

1. While Rostam and Raksh are resting and a lion appears. Rakhsh kills the lion while Rostam sleeps. 2. Rakhsh and Rostam get lost in a dry desert and nearly die of thirst. Their prayers bring a sheep who leads them to a stream.

3. While Rostam sleeps a dragon appears. They fight, Rakhsh bites the dragon and Rostam cuts off its head.

4. A beautiful woman appears welcoming them. Rostam praises her beauty and God for creating her. But she changes shape into a hideous terrifying witch. Rostam catches her and kills her.

5. While Rostam sleeps. Rakhsh wanders into a field and starts eating the crops. The farmer is furious. Rostam fights the farmer and pulls off his ears. The farmer gets the hero Ulad to represent him. Ulad arrives with a whole army. Rostam destroys the whole army single-handedly. He then asks Ulad if he knows where King Kavus is being held. Ulad is so impressed with Rostam he offers to be his guide and protector.



6. WhileRostam and Rakhsh are on their journey to King Kavus they come across the demon king Arzhang. They kill him and the other demons run away.

7. King Kavus's castle is being taken over by demons. Rostam waits until dawn comes and the demons fall asleep. He kills them. They capture the White Demon and cut out his liver.



Rakhsh is caught by Turkish horsemen while Rostam is asleep. Rostam goes to the King of Samangan for help. Tahmina, the King's daughter has heard about Rostam and fallen in love with his description. Rostam asks her father for her hand in marriage, and they marry. Tahmina helps get Rakhsh back. Rostam doesn't stay long and leaves. Before he leaves Rostam gives Tahmina a bracelet of gems, and if they have a child she is to give it to the baby. If it is a boy he should wear it on his arm. Rostam leaves and Tahmina never sees him again.

Tahmina gives birth to a boy, Sohrab. Sohrab has great strengths like his father. At ten years old Sohrab asks who his father is. Tahmina tells him it is the champion Rostam, and gives Sohrab the bracelet. Sohrab receives a wonderful horse who is the son of Rakhsh. His strength becomes widely known and the King sends him to war, little does he know the war is against Rostam.

Sohrab and Rostam meet on the battle field and don't know each other. Rostam is amazed by Sohrab's strength. Sohrab is about to kill Rostam, so Rostam thinks fast and tells him that a true hero never kills at the first strike and Sohrab lets him go.

They fight again, but Sohrab is nervous this time. He doesn't want to fight and Rostam kills Sohrab. As Sohrab dies he describes how he has been looking for his father and shows Rostam the bracelet. Rostam realises this is his own son. Sohrab dies and Rostam is overwhelmed with grief. When Tahmina hears of her sons death she is mortified and dies so her soul can be with her son.


 * Comparison to //The Kite Runner//** The story of Rostam and Sohrab actually relates to the //The Kite Runner// in a significant way. Both stories involve is a story within itself of mistakes made by fathers and of a great warrior's journey. Even Rostam's father Zal is neglected by his own father, Sām. Sām leaves his son at the foot of a mountain to be raised by a phoenix. Later, in a disturbing dream, he was reminded of how badly he treated his son and once he awakes he goes to the mountain to find him. This occurs in the novel as well when, in Amir's dreams he is reminded of the wrong acts he has committed like not helping Hassan when Assef was raping him. In both stories dreams help to illustrate internal thoughts.

**Why Stories Are Important to Children ** These stories in the Shahnameh help children understand deep meanings in an easier way such as the story of Rostam and Sohrab. They help children identify the differences between heroes and enemies as well as the consequences of regret. Slowly but surely even in //The Kite Runner//, Amir became aware of his consequences after his friend had already been hurt. Sometimes children are unclear in how to handle a situation, so the intent of these stories will hopefully guide them in the right direction to make good decisions.

Tips on How to Make a Beatiful Rostam and Sohrab Painting
**1. Use the ENTIRE page. 2. Use earth tons as your base colors. Lots of tans, browns, and oranges. 3. Use all other colors to fill in the details. 4. Creat a scene that is full of colors and is meaningful.**