Rostam

Rostam and Esfandiyar

Rostam Slaying the Dragon. Artwork by Adel Adili

For the historical general who fought at the Battle of al-Qādisiyyah for the Sassanid Empire, also mentioned in the Shahnameh, see Rostam Farrokhzād.

Rostam (in Persian رستم Rostæm ) is a mythical hero of ancient Persia, son of Zal and Rudaba. In some ways, the position of Rostam in the historical tradition is curiously parallel to that of Surena, the hero of the Carrhae. His figure was endowed with many features of the historical personality of Rostam. The latter was always represented as the mightiest of Iranian paladins, and the atmosphere of the episodes in which he features is strongly reminiscent of the Arsacid period. He was immortalized by the 10th century poet Ferdowsi of Tus in the Shahnameh or Epic of Kings, which contain pre-Islamic folklore and history.

Background

In Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, Rostam is the champion of champions and is involved in numerous stories, constituting some of the most popular (and arguably some of most masterfully created) parts of the Shahnameh. As a young child, he slays the maddened white elephant of the king Manuchehr with just one blow of the mace owned by his grand father Sam, son of Nariman. He then tames his legendary stallion, Rakhsh.

Birth

In Persian mythology, Rudaba's labor of Rostam was prolonged due to the extraordinary size of her baby. Zal, her lover and husband, was certain that his wife would die in labor. Rudaba was near death when Zal decided to summon the Simurgh. The Simurgh appeared and instructed him upon how to perform a caesarean section, thus saving Rudaba and the child.

Haft Khan-e Rostam (Rostam's Seven Labours)

Rostam Slaying the Dragon- A miniature Painting by Master Mahmoud Farshchian.

He passes through a hero's journey to save his sovereign, Key Kavus who is captured by the demons (Divs) of Mazandaran. This journey is called "Rostam's Seven Labours" (Persian: Haft Khan-e Rostam):

1. Rakhsh slays the Lion of Neyestan, defending Rostam while he is sleeping.
2. Rostam and Rakhsh cross the Desert.
3. Slaying of the Dragon.
4. Rostam foils the plot of the Witch, slaying her.
5. Rostam punishes the Horse Master of Mazani hero, Olad. The Horse Master calls on his Lord, Olad. Olad then combats Rostam to avenge the humiliation of his Horse Master. Rostam captures Olad, sparing his life on the condition of Olad helping him to track down the "Div-e Sepid" (White Demon), the chieftain of Divs.
6. Rostam battles Div-e Sepid's castellan, Arjhang-e Div, slaying the demon. He recovers the key to the stronghold of the White Demon.
7. Rostam battles the Div-e Sepid in an epic battle, slays him, and frees Key Kavus. He then installs Olad as the king of Mazandaran.

The combat of Rostam and Esfandiar, two mythical characters in Shahnameh

By far, the most famous and popular story of Rostam in the Shahnameh is the one in which he kills his own son Sohrab, while the two are unaware of the identity of their opponent until after Rostam wounds his son and during their final conversation the two realize they were father and son.

Another of Rostæm's most famous exploits was his struggle against the dēw (modern Persian div "demon") named Akvan, who had initially transmogriphied as a beautiful Onager, ravaging the horse-herds of Persia. When the king was informed of this on-going problem, he realizes that it is not just an onager and it has to be Ahrimanic disguise to damage Iran-Shahr (Aryan Land). After thinking long about who he wants to assign to this task, the king finally decides that nobody other than Rostam can handle the matter. So he commissions Rostam to take care of this problem. Various parts of this exploit are the subject of many beautiful illustrations. The story is fully allegorical but at the same time quite entertaining on the face value.

There are some interesting similarities between the legends of Rostam and those pertaining to the great Irish hero, Cúchulainn. They both defeat a ferocious beast as a very young man, slay their sons in combat, are virtually invincible in combat, and are murdered by treachery while killing their murderer on their last breath.

Two Iranian heroes, Rostam and Esfandyar, share Labours stories with Hercules.

The comic adaptation of the tales of Rostam (in English) was created by Hyperwerks Comics and took 5 years to complete.

See also

• Surena
• Shahnameh Characters

External links

• Shahnameh (The Epic of Kings)CAIS
• Shahnameh: The Stronghold of Persian Identity - CAIS
• Iranian Mythology - CAIS
• Hyperwerks' Rostam Series

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