THE
HEROIC ERA
Overview
:
The Era of Heroes :
The struggle between Iran and Turan continues. Heroes like
Sam, Zal and Rustam battle against the evil Afrasiyab of Turan.
![](turan_map.jpg)
Iran
and Turan
Manuchehr
:
A
descendant of Iraj's daughter, brought up by his grandfather Feraydun.
Tur
and Salm :
The
Iranian world at this stage was divided into three: Eran (Iran and
Arabia), Turan (Transoxiana and points east - including China),
and Rom (Anatolia and the eastern Mediterranean). The arrival of
Rome as an enemy had forced the Iranian tradition to expand from
a dual system (Eran v Turan) into a triple one. Tur is the ancestor
of the Turanians, Salm originally of the Sarmatians, later extended
to include all Westerners including the Romans.
Other
versions :
Deriving
from the Alexander Romance of the 4th century.
Sohrab
:
The
tragic tale of Sohrab and Rustam is a highpoint of the Shahnameh.
IRANIAN
NATIONAL HISTORY
THE SECOND ERA
THE HEROES OF IRAN
Manuchehr
:
Iraj had no son to avenge him - but when MANUCHEHR becomes king
of Iran, he tracks down and kills TUR AND SALM, his elder brothers
and murderers, with the help of his general Karen, a son of Kaveh
the blacksmith. But the forces of evil return, in the person of
Tur's grandson, Afrasiyab, ruler of Turan. With his magical powers
and skill as a warrior, he becomes the arch-enemy of Iran. But peace
is concluded, when both sides agree to recognise a frontier: wherever
an arrow shot from Tabaristan (south of the Caspian) lands. With
the help of the gods, it reaches the Oxus.
![](amudaryasunset.jpg)
Looking
across the Oxus from Turan to Iran. The Amu Darya (modern name of
the Oxus) is now in Turkmenistan
Naudhar,
son of Manuchehr :
Afrasiyab invades Iran again, and despite heroic exploits by Karen
and Zal (and Vesa and Barman on the Turanian side), captures Naudhar
and kills him. He devastates Iran and makes himself king.
The
kings of Sistan: Sam, Zal and Rustam :
Sam, king of Sistan, was Manuchehr's chief warrior, and performed
heroic deeds for Iran. He's ashamed, though, when he produces a
son, Zal, an albino, and abandons him in the wilderness. Zal is
rescued by a magical bird, Simurgh, who rears him in her nest, until
it becomes time to return him to his now remorseful father.
![](simurgh.jpg)
Simurgh
on the portal of Nadir Divan-Beghi Madrasah, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
(photo Alaexis)
Zal
grows into a mighty warrior, and marries Rodaba, daughter of Mihrab,
king of Kabul (and descended from Zahhak). Their son is Rustam -
greatest of all Iranian heroes. As a child, he kills a mad elephant
with a single blow, and tames the horse Raksh, who becomes his trusty
steed. Rustam, during his divinely prolonged life, performs numerous
heroic deeds, most famous being the Seven Labours to save king Kavus
from the White Demon. In a tragic duel, he kills his son SOHRAB,
whom he doesn't recognise.
Source
:
https://www.the-persians.co.uk/
heroic.htm