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Rostam
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:For the historical general who fought at the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah for the Sassanid Empire, also mentioned in the Shahnameh, see Rostam Farrokhzad.
Rostam () is a mythical hero of Iran and 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.
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:For the historical general who fought at the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah for the Sassanid Empire, also mentioned in the Shahnameh, see Rostam Farrokhzad.
Rostam () is a mythical hero of Iran and 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. The etymology of the name Rostam is from Raodh+Takhma, where Raodh means growth, reaped, developed and Takhma means brave. In the Avesta, the form is *Raosta-takhma and in Pahlavi *Rodastahm.
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 "Rostamzad" (Persian equivalent for caesarean section), thus saving Rudaba and the child.
Haft Khan-e Rostam (Rostam's Seven Labours)
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 Quests" (Persian: Haft Khan-e Rostam):
1.THE FIRST STAGE How Rakhsh fought with a Lion:
Then Rostam, that world brightening paladin, Departed from his sire and, treating night Like day, made two days' journey into one, not giving Rakhsh repose. Now as his body Failed him through lack of food he reached a plain Where onager abounded, and urged Rakhsh To whom their speed was slow: no beast could ' scape From Rostam's lasso and his horse's feet. The Lion with his royal lasso caught A gallant onager and, striking sparks Upon an arrow's point, enkindled fire With stubble, thorns, and wood to roast the beast. He ate the flesh and threw away the bones; The onager itself was pot and tray. He spied some pasture, slipped off Rakhsh's bridle, Turned him out loose upon the meadow land, And made himself a couch within a reed bed; He deemed it safe though it was fear's own door, For in it was a lion's lair; no elephant Dared pluck a reed. One watch passed, then the lion Came boldly forth and was amazed to see An elephantine form among the reeds, Reposing with a charger standing by. " First," said the lion," I must maim the steed, Then I can take the rider when I please." He sprang at glossy Rakhsh, who raged like fire And lashed out at the lion's head, then firmed His sharp teeth in its back and dashed the beast To pieces by a shift that made it shiftless. When Rostam, deft of hand, awoke and saw How earth was straitened to that ravening beast He said:" O foolish Rakhsh! who bade thee fight A lion? Hadst thou perished ' neath its claws Could I have carried to Mazandaran My helmet, tiger skin, bow, lasso, sword, And massive mace? Had my sweet sleep been broken Thy combat with the lion had been brief." He slept and rested long, and when the sun Rose o'er the darksome hills awoke still drowsy; He rubbed down Rakhsh and saddled him, then prayed To God, the Author of all good, for aid. And continued his way.
2.THE SECOND STAGE How Rostam found a Spring:
He had to face all dizzy as he was A desert waterless, a heat intense That dried the birds to powder. plain and waste Were as they had been scorched thou wouldn't have said.
Rakhsh was exhausted, while his rider's tongue Failed through the heat and drought, and Rostam, clutching A double headed dart, went staggering Like one bemused, and saw no means of safety.
He looked up saying:" O all righteous Judge! Thou bring'st all toil and hardship on my head, And if Thou findest pleasure in my pains My hoard is great indeed! I fare in hope That God will grant deliverance to the Shah, And that the Ruler of the world will free The Iranians from the clutches of the Div, Unscathed. They sinned, and Thou hast cast them out, But still they are your slaves and worshippers." This said, that elephantine form became Weak and distraught with thirst, and fell, with tongue All cracked and blistered, on the burning dust.Anon a well fed ram passed by. The hero On seeing thought:" Where is its watering place? In sooth God's mercy is extended to me!" Then in the Worldlord's strength rose to his feet And followed up the ram, with scimitar In one hand while the other grasped the reins, Until lie saw the spring, for thither went That stately yarn. Then Rostam looked toward heaven, And said:" O Judge, that ever speakest sooth! The ram hath left no tracks about the spring! It is no desert sheep of flesh and blood!" When hardships press on thee, in your concern Flee unto God, the Just One; they who turn Away from Him have wisdom still to learn.
He blessed that ram and said:" Ne'er may mishap From circling heaven be thine; green be your pastures, May cheetah never mark thee for its prey; Snapped be the bow and dark the soul of him That shooteth at thee who hath rescued Rostam, Else were he thinking of his shroud; but now He is not in the mighty dragon's maw As yet, or in the clutches of the wolf, So that the fragments of his clothes and limbs Should serve as tokens to his enemies." His praises offered he unsaddled Rakhsh, Washed him, and made him shining as the sun.Then Rostam much refreshed filled up his quiver And as he hunted dropped an onager Huge as an elephant, removed the entrails, The hide, and feet, lit up a blazing fire, And having washed the carcase roasted it.
This done he feasted, breaking up the bones, And having quenched his thirst prepared for sleep.
He said to Rakhsh:" Fight not and make no friends. If any foe approacheth run to me, But venture not to counter divs and lions." He lay and slept, his lips in silence bound, While Rakhsh till midnight grazed and strayed around.
3.THE THIRD STAGE How Rostam fought with a Dragon:
A dragon, such an one as, thou hadn't said, No elephant could ' scape, came from the waste. Its haunt was there; no div dared pass thereby.
It came, beheld the atheling asleep, A charger near him, and was wroth. It thought:" What do I see? Who dareth to sleep here?" Because no lions, divs, or elephants Dared pass that way or, if they did, escaped not The clutches of that dragon fierce and fell.It turned on glossy Rakhsh, who ran to Rostam, Stamped with his brazen hoofs upon the ground, Whisked with his tail, and gave a thundering neigh.
The hero woke up furious, looked about Upon the waste, perceived not that fell dragon, And wreaked his wrath on Rakhsh for waking him.He slept again, again the worm approached Out of the gloom; Rakhsh ran to Rostam's couch, And kicked the earth about and trampled it.The sleeper woke, his cheeks rose red with passion, Looked round and, seeing nothing but the gloom, Said to affectionate and watchful Rakhsh:" Thou canst not blink the darkness of the night Yet wakest me again impatiently! If thou disturb me more I will behead thee With my sharp scimitar, and carry it, My helmet, and my massive mace, on foot.I said: ' Should any lion come at thee I will encounter it. ' I never said: Rush on me in the night! ' Leave me to slumber." Then for the third time with his tiger skin Upon his breast he set himself to sleep.
The fearsome dragon roared and, thou hadn't said, Breathed fire. Rakhsh left the pasturage forthwith, But dared not to approach the paladin.Yet was his heart distracted by his fears For Rostam with that dragon, till at length, O'ermastered by affection for his lord, He rushed swift as a blast to Rostam's side And neighed and fretted, pawed upon the ground, And stamped the earth to pieces with his hoofs.Then Rostam, wakened from his sweet repose, Raged at his docile steed; but now the Maker Willed that the dragon should be seen, and Rostam, Perceiving it amid the gloom, unsheathed The keen sword at his girdle, thundered out Like spring clouds, and filled earth with battle fire.
Then said he to the dragon:" Tell your name; Earth is no longer thine, yet must not I Rob your dark form of life, your name untold." The laidly dragon said:" None scapeth me.
For centuries this waste hath been my home, And mine its firmament; no eagle dareth To fly across or star to dream thereof." It further said:" What is your name, for she Will have to weep that bare thee?"" I am Rostam," He answered," sprung from Zal the son of Sam And Nariman withal. I am myself A host, and trample earth ' neath dauntless Rakhsh.
Thou shalt behold my prowess; I will lay your head in dust." The dragon closed with him, And in the end escaped not though it strove So fiercely with the elephantine hero That thou hadst said:" He will be worsted." Rakhsh, On seeing the dragon's might, and how it battled With Rostam, laid his ears back, joined the fray, Bit at the dragon's shoulders, tore its hide As though he were a lion, and amazed The valiant paladin, who with keen glaive Smote off the dragon's head; blood jetted out In rivers, and its carcase hid the earth.The matchless one, astonied at the sight, Invoked God's name and bathed him in the spring.
Desiring conquest through God's strength alone He said:" O righteous Judge! me Thou hast given Grace, might, and wisdom; what care I for lion, Div, elephant, parched desert, and blue sea? When I am wroth all foes are one to me.
4.THE FORTH STAGE Rostam foils the plot of the Witch, slaying her.
5.THE FIFTH STAGE 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.THE SIXTH STAGE 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.THE SEVENTH STAGE 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.
By far, the most famous and popular story of Rostam in the Shahnameh is Rostam and Sohrab, 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 Rostam's most famous exploits was his struggle against the dew (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.
It is thought that the tale of Rostam and Sohrab is somehow related to the Lay of Hildebrand.
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.
Popular esteem
A popular tale of Rostam told to author Afshin Molavi concerns "a friendly wrestling match" between Rostam and the Imam Ali. The two men are equally matched and the contest is about to end in a draw. At the last moment, Imam Ali asks God for help and with divine intervention Imam Ali is victorious in the match. The two heroes shake hand and embrace. Thus, at least for tellers of this tale, Rostam is so dear to the hearts of Iranians he rates only a cut below the sacred Imam Ali, and even Ali needs God to tip the balance against Rostam.
Alternate views
It is written by the Royal Central Asian Society in the Journal of the Royal Central Asian Society that the struggle between Rostam and the white demon represents a struggle between Persians and invaders from the north, from the Caspian provinces.
See also
External links
- Web Resources
- Shahnameh, by Hakim Abol-Qasem Ferdowsi Tusi, the complete work (64 Epics), in Persian (). This work can be freely downloaded (File size, compiled in the form of an HTML Help File: 1.4 MB).
- Iraj Bashiri, Characters of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, , 2003.
- , English comic book adaptation of tales from the Shahnameh.
- , English translation by Helen Zimmern.
- . Helen Zimmern translation.
- , Arthur and Edmond Warner translation.
- from NPR, and , from the New York Times. Also, on 14 May 2006, Washington Post Pulitzer Prize winning book critic Michael Dirda reviewed Dick Davis's translation "Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings" . The illustrated three-volume slipcase edition of this translation is ISBN 0-934211-97-3
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