The Book of Kings by Firdausi

Legendary beauty,
Brought fire from stone; epic love story
Came down from the Mihráb Ultimate Hero
founded fire-worship Narímán Zúára
mountains clad in the Síndokht Giant; almost killed
skins of beasts Binder of demons Rúdábeh Rustem in a duel staged
40 years Wise but succumbed to hubris, sister of Gíw Ferámurz
by Afrásiyáb
30 years Húsheng 30 years became a wandering king; Sám
Kaiúmers Tahúmers was sawn in two Zál Rustem Sháh-rú
Saiámuk Barzú
Jemshíd 700 years Legendary warrior and maid servant
Tahmíneh Sohráb
advisor to Feridún
by conquest
Arnawáz Sadly killed by his own
Arabian king who died Shughad father in a duel
N
ÁBULISTÁ
in a pit trap dug by his
own son Mirtás-Tázi Zohák
O S O F Z
1000 years T H E H ER Betrayer of Rustem, killed when
of tyranny the victim in turn pinned a tree to
Gustahem
Had snakes that the traitor with an arrow

by c
Mahafríd 120 years
fed on brains Pishung Minúchihr Nauder

onq
Irij o ht Tús A selection of frequently mentioned characters
Shahrnáz 7 years o y eir

ues
ou s Zohák was a supremely evil character. The demon Iblís
ng Zohák

t
Feridún inspired him to kill his own father to become the king of the
Abtín 500 years Sílim 5 years Arabs. He had two snakes that he fed with the brains of his
Tahmasp
Legendary blacksmith Zau Garshásp subjects. He usurped Persia by capturing the wandering king
who forged the legendary Faránuk Decapitated by Jemshíd and having him saw in two. Zohák was finally slain by
9 years
cow-headed mace for Legend evil brother, Túr King of Rúm tence
Feridún the prophesied hero Feridún, who then married a descendant
e to incompe
Feridún and begat legendary and Kháwer replaced du of the ancient kings and became one of the most important and
revered of the old Persian Kings.
heroes
Walked into a mysterious Rustem
Rustem is the most renowned hero of the Sháh Námeh,
Kobád fountain and vanished perhaps of all Persian culture. He slew a variety of monsters
Arish
Kavah Power hungry Fríburz and saved the Persian Kings countless times. Famously, he
king of Túrán endured seven heroic labors during a march to Mázinderán
Shírúeh Poshín where he slew the White Demon and freed king Kai-káús from
Gúlshaher Ferúd captivity.
Túr
Aramín
Shahpúr Afrásiyáb was a notorious king of the villainous Túránians.
Kai-kobád
Kai-khosráu
60 years Afrásiyáb Through nearly two thirds of the poem he was trying to invade
Saiáwush
100 years Kai-káús
Persia or commit mischief. The final straw, however, was drawn
150 years

h
Kárun when Afrásiyáb executed the beloved prince Saiáwush in a
INS OF TÚRÁN

oug
- VIL LA Ferangís sacrificial manner. Kai-khosráu took legendary vengeance for
RCH his father’s death (then later became king).
THE A

en
Aghríras

d
Isfendiyár was a legendary and holy hero and prince of Persia
G E Sarkhá

oo
T H E M YT HIC A L A
Isfendiyár who did much conquering for his country. He nearly defeated

tg
Poshang Pírán-wísah Shydah-Poshang no Rustem in a prolonged duel; the Zábulistán hero only prevailed
as with the help of sorcery and the aid of the mythological bird
irw
Afrásiyáb Maníjeh he Símúrgh. Even so, killing Isfendiyár was such an offence to the
Evil Nemesis al Zoroastrian God that Rustem and his whole house became
e re
th cursed for the remainder of their lives.
Byzun s
sa
parent - child Hujír
rrior Sikander is the Persian name for Alexander of Macedon, who
Sikander we popularly refer to as Alexander the Great. At odds with
Gúdarz
of wa
One of the greatest Persian l
ancestor - descendant Rehám nci Western traditions, he is recorded in the Sháh Námeh as being
generals, companion of y cou the son of a Persian King and he didn’t so much conquer Persia
db
i n te
spouses as he by happenstance claimed his birthright while merely
Rustem; had 78 sons and O TH Gíw
grandsons ER HER TÁN a p po traveling through there, his the real ambition being to explore
royal succession
OS OF Z Á B U L IS daughter of Kai-káús
Zarír
the world.

Ardshír
female male Kai-káús Lohurásp Failakús
adoption the daughter of Kaid of Ind
Shydasp
120 years Nahíd
180 years Bahman
Gushtásp Bashútan Sikander
8 years
Dáráb Dárá
Húmaí 34 years Roshung
Kitabún Isfendiyár
Alternative English spelling for the kings and other major characters 32 years
Afrásiyáb Afrasiab Jemshíd Jamshid Nauder Nowzar Avir Betrayed and
Ferangís Farangis Kai-káús Kay Kāvus Rustem Rostam Abandoned by assassinated by
Feridún Fereydun Kai-khosráu Kai Khosrow Saiáwush Siyâvash
Holy warrior, conquered the Brazen Núsháhder power hungry his ministers
Gushtásp Vishtaspa Kaiúmers Keyumars Tahúmers Tahmuras
Húmaí Homai Kavah Kaveh Zau Zaav Fortress; killed in duel by Rustem mother in basket
Húsheng Hushang Lohurásp Lohrasp Zohák Zahhak who had to resort to magic Mihrbús in a river
Isfendiyár Esfandiyār Minúchihr Manuchehr Alexander “the Great”
of Macedon

Sources: Firdusi (J. Atkinson), “The Sháh Námeh” in “Persian Literature, Volume 1”
© 2013 Mikael Onsjö published by The Project Gutenberg, online 2013.