In the Persian epic of Shahnameh Div-e Sepid ( Persian : دیو سپید , lit. White Div), is the chieftain of the Divs (demons) of Mazandaran . He is a huge being. He possesses great physical strength and is skilled in sorcery and necromancy . He destroys the army of Kay Kavus by conjuring a dark storm of hail , boulders, and tree trunks using his magical skills. He then captures Kay Kavus, his commanders, and paladins; blinds them, and imprisons them in a dungeon. The greatest Persian mythical hero Rostam undertakes his " Seven Labors " to free his sovereign. At the end, Rostam slays Div-e Sepid and uses his heart and blood to cure the blindness of the king and the captured Persian heroes. Rostam also takes the Div's head as a helmet and is often pictured wearing it.
20-599: In the Shabrangnama [ fa ] it is revealed that the white demon sired a son. The Shabrangnama is a heroic epic that follows the story of Shabrang, son of the White Div, seeking revenge on the Iranians for his father's death by Rostam. Born with div-like features, Shabrang grows up and attacks Mazandaran, killing many, including Aulad, who ruled Mazandaran by Rostam's decree. With his mother, Mahyar, as
40-529: A feather, saying: "Burn this if ever you have need of me, and may your heart never forget your nurse, whose heart breaks for love of you." The mighty and wise simurgh gave Zāl this one feather to burn when in trouble. She would appear as soon as the feathers were lit. After reuniting with his son, Sam made every effort to redress past wrongs. Manuchehr , too, gave the young man due regard. When Sam went off to wage war in Mazandaran , Zal, recommended by
60-521: A general and advisor to the king. He became famous for his military victories against the Turanians and against many barbarians. Zal lived for more than three centuries, outliving his wife, Rudabeh. He sired a son, Shagad, with a servant woman. Although he was warned by counselors that the child was evil, Zal refused to abandon, lest he commit the same mistake his father, Sam, did. When Esfandiyar challenged Rostam, Zal warned his son not to fight, as he
80-475: A letter to his father and requested him to agree to his marriage, reminding him of the oath he had made to fulfill all his wishes. Sam and the Mubeds, knowing that Rudabeh's father, chief of Kabul, was Babylonian from the family of Zahhak, did not approve of the marriage. Finally, the ruler Sam referred the question to astrologers, to know whether or not the marriage between Zal and Rudabeh would be prosperous. He
100-482: A noble young man in the bird's nest, with a mountain of silver on his chest and a reed for a waist. Rumor of this remarkable presence finally reached Sam, who was encouraged by his wise men to hasten to the scene. There, looking up, he saw his son, but when he tried to climb toward him, he couldn't find a way to the lofty perch. He then prayed to God, asking for forgiveness and help. When the simurgh saw Sam, she knew that he had come for her charge. The devoted bird gave Zaal
120-430: A rope. However, he had brought his own, with which he scaled the walls. In a heat of passion, the lovers made love to each other and Rudabeh conceived. When her father learned of this, he was outraged. Zal rightly feared that his father and Manuchehr would disapprove of his marrying a descendant of Zahhak, and while Mehrab generally approved of the young prince, some of Zal's actions made him bristle. Zal accordingly wrote
140-464: Is the eighth Shah of the Pishdadian dynasty of Persia according to Shahnameh . He is the first of the legendary Iranian Shahs who ruled Iran after the breakup of the world empire of Manūchehr's great-grandfather, Fereydūn . Manūchehr was the grandson of Iraj , who was the son of Fereydūn, and he avenged the death of Īrāj at the hands of Fereydūn's other two sons, Salm and Tur . From
160-762: The Shahnameh . It is written in the Journal of the Royal Central Asian Society that the struggle between Rostam and the white demon represents a struggle between Iranians and invaders from the north, from the Caspian provinces. The Div-e Sepid is believed by Joseph J. Reed to have been a northern prince. Warner believes that he is a personification of the Mazandaranians, who were believed to have skin of an unhealthily pale colour caused by
180-539: The Persian army as great generals. His father, Sām and, later, his son, Rostam were also great heroes of Persia. Zāl was born with white hair. Because of this, his parents called him Zāl. In the Persian language , zal refers to those who have albinism . Zāl was the son of Sām and the grandson of Nariman , both heroes of ancient Persia and protectors of "Land of Iran" ( Iran-zamin ). Because of his appearance, Zāl
200-466: The White Div is given the name of Eridu (اریدو or ارندو) and is said to have been a descendant of Ham , son of Noah . He is described as having "a body like a camel and a white hide, his strength inspired fear and hope. The Nubians spoke much about him, they call him the White Demon. The men of that land had never seen anyone with such strength in times of battle and trials of honor. His upper body
220-403: The climate of their homeland Some scholars hold the opinion that these divs of Mazandaran are merely wild people of the forest. Others are of the opinion that they are a group of enemy kings of ancient Mazandaran (which might have been different from its modern location) and Tabaristan. Alexander Krappe theorized that Ahriman himself was believed to have white skin. P. Molesworth Sykes believes that
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#1732776706491240-496: The elders, was given Sam's kingdom. Setting forth on a royal progress to view his eastern provinces, Zal at every stage held court and called for wine, harp, and minstrelsy. In Kabul , Mehrab , a vassal king descended from the evil Zahhak , paid homage with gifts of horses and slaves. Learning of Rudabeh , Mehrab's beautiful daughter, Zal lost his heart in love. But the affair was to progress slowly. Once even, Zal came near Rudabeh's palace where Rudabeh gave her tresses to Zal as
260-447: The feathers he received from the simurgh when his wife Rudabeh was in a difficult labor, and it looked like she would lose her life as well as the unborn baby. The simurgh appeared and instructed him to run a feather across his wife's belly like a knife. That is how Rostam was born. Zal brought up and trained Rostam. He had another son with Rudabeh, named Zawara. He sent Rostam on many campaigns. Zal later ruled Zabulistan and served as
280-583: The name "White Div" represents a white nation. According to one source Zal spoke of the horrid race of white-skinned people. This however contradicts with the fact that Zal was an albino himself. Zal means albino in Persian language. According to the Georgian Chronicles , the one who blinded K'ekapos (Kay Kavus) was the chief of the Laks . In the Kush Nama written by the poet Iranshah ,
300-428: The throne's figurehead, Shabrang leads an army against Iran. Rostam, summoned by Kay Kavus, confronts Shabrang with a group of Iranian heroes. In the ensuing battles, Shabrang uses magic to his advantage, but the Iranians ultimately defeat the divs' army, and Shabrang flees to Turan for help. The epic highlights Shabrang's unique characteristics and the use of magic in battles, providing an engaging narrative different from
320-470: Was able to impale three shields at once. Finally, Zal succeeded in defeating Menuchehr's warriors and lifted an enemy warrior off his horse with complete ease. Impressed, Menuchehr gave his approval of Zal and Rudabeh's marriage. After a while, the marriage of Zal and Rudabeh was celebrated in Kabul, where they first met each other. Rostam , the great Persian hero, was born from their wedlock. Zal used one of
340-853: Was aware that Esfandiyar's murderer would be doomed. When Rostam returned, grievously wounded, Zal healed him and summoned the Simurgh, to find out a way to defeat Esfandiyar. Later, Zal lived to see his sons kill each other, and the fall of his family. Esfandiyar's son, Bahman, avenged his father's death by invading Zabulistan. Zal was too old to fight, and Bahman threw the ageing king in prison, and took his treasures. Bahman then however released him after own uncle, Pashotan, intervened on Zal's behalf. Bahman later withdrew to Iran, and Zal once again ruled as king. The great king died later of natural causes, and his dynasty splintered. Manuchehr Manūchehr [ mænuː'tʃer ] ( Persian : منوچهر , older Persian Manōčihr, Avestan 𐬨𐬀𐬥𐬎𐬱𐬗𐬌𐬚𐬭𐬀 Manuščiθra ),
360-612: Was informed that the offspring of Zal and Rudabeh would be the conqueror of the world. When Zal arrived at the court of Manuchehr, he was instructed by the Emperor to showcase his skills. Zal was asked highly difficult questions and riddles by the emperor's wisest men, which Zal proceeded to answer correctly. The emperor then held a tournament for Zal to prove himself against the royal warriors. Zal proved himself unparalleled in marksmanship (archery) and in fighting from horseback. The great warrior hurled his javelin with such strength that he
380-534: Was like the branches of trees, his neck and shoulders like a savage elephant." Zal Zāl ( Persian : زال , pronounced [zɒːl] ), alternatively spelled as Zaal , is a legendary Iranian king from Sistan , and is recognized as one of the greatest warriors of the Shahnameh epic. He is the father of the equally legendary Iranian hero, Rostam . Zāl came from a family whose members were legendary warriors, who – for generations – served in
400-534: Was rejected by his father, who blamed the evil spirit, Ahriman , for the appearance of his son. Zāl was abandoned when only an infant in the Alborz Mountain , which has the highest geographic peak in Iran. The mythical simurgh (a very large and wise bird which darkens the sky when flying, said to be related to the phoenix ) found the baby and took him to her nest. After some time, passing caravans noticed
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