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The Shahnameh

487 statements
94 feature instances
51 referencing feature instances

The Shahnameh	type	TVTItem
The Shahnameh	label	The Shahnameh
The Shahnameh	page	TheShahnameh
The Shahnameh	comment	The Shahnameh is a 50,000 verse epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi, started in 977 and finished in 1010. Its name translates as Book of Kings, and that's basically what it is: A recounting of the Persian kings from the creation of the world to the Arab conquest. Most of these kings are mythical, though. The closer the narrative gets to the time of Ferdowsi's writing, the more historically accurate it becomes.Ferdowsi made a point of writing his poem in Persian when most literature at the time was in Arabic. He also refused to adapt the pre-Islamic legends to accommodate Muslim beliefs. The popularity of The Shahnameh pretty much revived the Persian language, and it continues to be revered as a classic of Persian literature.The Shahnameh is Older Than Print, having been written a few centuries before the printing press. However, since a good chunk of it comes from Sassanid-period historiographies (224-651 CE), many episodes of the work are probably Older Than Feudalism, at least in outline.
The Shahnameh	fetched	2023-11-05T15:45:02Z
The Shahnameh	parsed	2023-11-05T15:45:02Z
The Shahnameh	processingComment	Dropped link to EvilVizier: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
The Shahnameh	processingComment	Dropped link to GoodVersusGood: Not a Feature - ITEM
The Shahnameh	processingComment	Dropped link to PropheticDream: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
The Shahnameh	processingComment	Dropped link to TheDeterminator: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
The Shahnameh	processingComment	Dropped link to TheMentor: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
The Shahnameh	processingUnknown	EvilVizier
The Shahnameh	processingUnknown	PropheticDream
The Shahnameh	processingUnknown	TheDeterminator
The Shahnameh	processingUnknown	TheMentor
The Shahnameh	isPartOf	DBTropes
The Shahnameh / int_14a8974a	type	Love Potion
The Shahnameh / int_14a8974a	comment	Love Potion: Non-literal. Zahhak uses mind control magic on Arnavaz and Shahrnaz and rapes them.
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The Shahnameh / int_19769f50	type	Defeat Means Friendship
The Shahnameh / int_19769f50	comment	Defeat Means Friendship: On his fifth Labor to save the Persian king and army, Rostam fights multiple Mazandarani warriors and captures their leader, Oolad. He makes Oolad his guide in Mazandaran and gets information about the White Demon from him. Oolad comes to admire and respect Rostam and Rostam in turn warms up to his captive for his help and promises him Mazandaran. When it is all over Rostam keeps his promise and makes Key Kavous appoint Oolad as the ruler of Mazandaran
The Shahnameh / int_19769f50	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_19e41d8f	type	And This Is for...
The Shahnameh / int_19e41d8f	comment	And This Is for...: Two examples involving Rostam: Rostam cuts queen Soodabeh in half, for her role in Siavash leaving Iran for Turan and his eventual death. Rostam impales his half-brother Shoqad to the tree he's hiding behind with an arrow for essentially killing Rostam himself! That's right, Rostam is so badass he avenges his own death right before he dies!
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The Shahnameh / int_1c445e86	type	Poor Communication Kills
The Shahnameh / int_1c445e86	comment	Poor Communication Kills: Through a combination of accidents, deception, and well-intentioned mistakes, Rostem ends up killing Sohrab, an outcome neither of them wanted.
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The Shahnameh / int_1cc527d7	type	Asskicking Leads to Leadership
The Shahnameh / int_1cc527d7	comment	Asskicking Leads to Leadership: Not as common as you might think in an epic about kings, in the second part of the book there clearly is a difference between warriors and kings. Siavash is the crown prince but never shows any interest in the throne as he is more suited for the Heroic lifestyle. The kings often lead their military campaigns but very few are actually mentioned on battlefields. But there are some examples: Freydun, the hero who rids the world of the tyrant Zahhak is crowned after the revolution and rules justly for years. Esfandyar is the crown prince of Iran who actually wants to be king. He's also the invincible badass who even Rostam can't kill while sticking to his code of honor. Bahram Gur (real-life emperor of Iran from 420 to 438). Like in tradition, he is depicted as the greatest archer of his time, a true master of the art of falconry, and an insanely good military commander.
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The Shahnameh / int_1d2400e9	type	Green-Eyed Monster
The Shahnameh / int_1d2400e9	comment	Green-Eyed Monster: Shoqad is this toward his half brother Rostam whom he thinks Zal favors because Zal sends Shoqad away at a young age to Kabol and generally keeps him away from the rest of the family and Iran. In reality, Zal loves Shoqad very much, but when Shoqad was born it was foretold that he would bring about the end of Zal's legacy and a great loss to Iran. Ironically this perceived favoritism and abandonment coupled with Rostam's achievements and standing is what fuels Shoqad's deep hatred and jealousy.
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The Shahnameh / int_2280a9a1	type	Ancient Persia
The Shahnameh / int_2280a9a1	comment	Ancient Persia: Naturally, as it recounts the history of Persia from the very beginning until the Islamic conquests. Enforced considering the author made a point by writing the myths as they were before Islam.
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The Shahnameh / int_270c1778	type	Blood Magic
The Shahnameh / int_270c1778	comment	Blood Magic: After hearing his doom prophecy Zahhak performed a ritual where he killed enough people to fill a pool with their blood and bathed in it. You know, just in case people didn't already know he was a psycho.
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The Shahnameh / int_28836bbd	type	Saving the World With Art
The Shahnameh / int_28836bbd	comment	Saving the World With Art: Talhand and Gav, two half-brothers, vie for the throne of Hind, but Talhand dies in battle against a mutual enemy without a wound. Their mother suspects that Gav killed him and threatens to start a civil war. But then the sages of the court invent the game of Chess and use the piece movements to reenact the battle, ending with the King capturing several pieces and then ultimately being checkmated, thus representing how the half-brother died of battle fatigue. In the end, the mother was appeased and the game of Chess averted civil war. In a Meta example, the Shahnameh essentially saved the entire Iranian culture from being completely subsumed by Arab traditions. Ferdowsi made it cool to write in Persian again.
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The Shahnameh / int_2ae29c0d	type	The Dreaded
The Shahnameh / int_2ae29c0d	comment	The Dreaded: Zahhak and Afrasiab are this to the Persians. Zahhak is an abomination in appearance and deed and Afrasiab's name literally means 'the terrifying one'. Sahm is this to the Turanians. As soon as Sahm dies Afrasiab suggests invading Iran because he was the only thing holding them back. Fortunately by the time they attack Rostam has matured and replaced his grandfather as the dreaded. Rostam is so dreaded among the enemy that when he finally meets an opponent he thinks can beat him, Rostam keeps his identity secret so that if he dies the Turanians will still have something to be afraid of. Rostam is this to foe AND friend! Bahman knows his father Esfandiar can rip through chains as if they were threads, kill wild animals and a dragon, that he has never lost a fight ever and is literally invincible, meaning weapons have little to no effect on him. Despite all this Bahman STILL fears for his father's life in his battle against Rostam and tries to assassinate Rostam before he fights Esfandiar.
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The Shahnameh / int_35a13198	type	World's Best Warrior
The Shahnameh / int_35a13198	comment	World's Best Warrior: Rostam is a One-Man Army/Genius Bruiser who regularly kills wild beasts, monsters, multiple foes, and seemingly unbeatable challenges and ALWAYS comes out on top.
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The Shahnameh / int_3763bcf8	type	False Rape Accusation
The Shahnameh / int_3763bcf8	comment	False Rape Accusation: Sudabeh accuses her stepson Siavash of sexual assault.
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The Shahnameh / int_3bc88a7f	type	Foregone Conclusion
The Shahnameh / int_3bc88a7f	comment	Foregone Conclusion: At least for Persian readers. One of Ferdowsi's main sources for his material was oral traditions. The stories were passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years (hence the hyperbole), so when people read the Shahnameh for the first time, they already had a pretty good idea how the stories were going to end. Ferdowsi was aware of this and has no qualms about spoilers. Even today most Iranian children know the more famous stories before they're old enough to read the book.
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The Shahnameh / int_3cb1d38d	type	Bad Boss
The Shahnameh / int_3cb1d38d	comment	Bad Boss: Afrasiab decapitates his soldiers who won't fight against Key Khosrow with a dagger when it's become evident that the Persians Roaring Rampage of Revenge is unstoppable. The Turanians Mostly know that Key Khosrow is a just king and he's only after Afrasiab and those directly responsible for Siavash's death.
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The Shahnameh / int_3e8d9cd3	type	Historical Hero Upgrade
The Shahnameh / int_3e8d9cd3	comment	Historical Hero Upgrade: Ferdowsi believed he was simply putting history to verse. The second part of the book (the epics) is based on characters that might have existed in real life, though everything has been exaggerated to extremes (mostly to make a point). The third part of the book (starting at the birth of Alexander the Great) is nothing but exaggerated history. It's very unlikely that Alexander the Great killed a dragon in real life or that Bahram V won his throne back from a usurper by winning a lion taming match. Purandokht ruled for less than two years in real life but Ferdowsi, who had a thing for strong independent women depicts her as one of the most badass rulers ever.
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The Shahnameh / int_40bb59d0	type	Blatant Lies
The Shahnameh / int_40bb59d0	comment	Blatant Lies: Years after killing their brother Iraj, Salm and Tur send a message to their father Freydun, claiming that they're both ever so sorry for the whole fratricide thing, and ask that Iraj's grandson Manuchehr be sent to them so they can properly express their contrition. Freydun, not being an idiot, doesn't take the bait, and responds with a pointed "The Reason You Suck" Speech.
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The Shahnameh / int_42002878	type	I Am X, Son of Y
The Shahnameh / int_42002878	comment	I Am X, Son of Y: On his third Labor, Rostam encounters a murderous talking dragon. When the Dragon asks Rostam's name so he knows who he's about to kill, Rostam proudly gives him not only his own name but also his father Zal, grandfather Sahm, and great grandfather Nariman's names.
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The Shahnameh / int_44fc28e8	type	Honor Before Reason
The Shahnameh / int_44fc28e8	comment	Honor Before Reason: Many characters are praised for this, most famously Rostam who fights Esfandyar to the death simply because he doesn't want to be seen in chains and wakes up a sleeping Div so he can fight him fair and square.
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The Shahnameh / int_479d4e5a	type	Would Hurt a Child
The Shahnameh / int_479d4e5a	comment	Kaveh is a 70 something-year-old blacksmith. He and his wife had 12 sons and they had to stand by and watch as 11 of them were taken to the palace to have their brains fed to Zahhak's snakes. When Karen, their 12th son (who at the time was 5 years old) is taken Kaveh just can't take it anymore and goes to the palace in an unstoppable rage, screams insults to Zahhak so loudly he draws a crowd to the gate and keeps boasting until Zahhak has no choice but to let him in. Coincidentally, this is the day Zahhak has invited all of the richest and most powerful and influential people in the world to have them pledge allegiances to his cause, and for the sake of keeping up appearances sets the child free. Zahhak then asks Kaveh to sign the contract as a representative of the common folk. Kaveh, upon reading it, delivers a brutal "The Reason You Suck" Speech to all of the powerful people who have signed it and tears it in half, then grabs his child and storms out. Everybody sees, and the people start a riot. Kaveh takes off his leather smith's apron and waves it around on a spear as a flag and the people rally behind him. He leads the people to Mount Damavand and talks Freydun into becoming their leader.
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The Shahnameh / int_48078a7	type	Cool Versus Awesome
The Shahnameh / int_48078a7	comment	Cool Versus Awesome: Rostam vs. Esfandyar. Easily the most badass character in the entire epic versus the invincible prince.
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The Shahnameh / int_4832a3bb	type	Always Chaotic Evil
The Shahnameh / int_4832a3bb	comment	Always Chaotic Evil: The Divs, Ahriman's monstrous servants.
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The Shahnameh / int_485eb589	type	Sealed Evil in a Can
The Shahnameh / int_485eb589	comment	Sealed Evil in a Can: Tahmureth is nicknamed the Divband (meaning captor of Divs) because, well, he imprisoned Divs. The Divs are later freed by Zahhak, and they wreak havoc on humanity for centuries. Zahhak himself is never killed, just imprisoned inside the Damavand Volcano. In the Avesta, it is mentioned that he will be freed and eventually defeated for good.
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The Shahnameh / int_4da6ac	type	Rated M for Manly
The Shahnameh / int_4da6ac	comment	Rated M for Manly: This is a book full of tough warriors battling each other, wild beasts and mythical creatures. Optimized in Rostam, a towering muscular man with a long beard, who wears tiger skin under his armor plates, and (according to tradition, not the Shahnameh) the skull of a Div he killed as his helmet while riding a huge horse and carrying a mace shaped like a bull's head.
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The Shahnameh / int_504a1991	type	Body Horror
The Shahnameh / int_504a1991	comment	Body Horror: The devil, disguised as a young cook, asks Zahhak permission to kiss him on the shoulders and when Zahhak grants the request, the disguised devil vanishes and from Zahhak's shoulders grow two hideous snakes. They try cutting the snakes off but they just grow back and would only leave Zahhak alone if they are fed the brains of young men. Eventually, when Freydun defeats Zahhak, he decides the most fitting punishment for Zahhak is to lock him up in a cave in mount Damavand and let the snakes do the rest.
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The Shahnameh / int_5530e11b	type	Founder of the Kingdom
The Shahnameh / int_5530e11b	comment	Founder of the Kingdom: Keyumars, the first king to rise among humanity, and the first Shah of Iran.
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The Shahnameh / int_5552929	type	Albinos Are Freaks
The Shahnameh / int_5552929	comment	Albinos Are Freaks: Zal is born an albino. His father abandons him on the mountainside, but the Simurgh, a wise and kindhearted (and semi-divine) bird finds him and raises him as his own. Zal eventually leaves the Simurgh to find his place in the human world and to find his father.
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The Shahnameh / int_559db5c1	type	TheUriahGambit
The Shahnameh / int_559db5c1	comment	The Uriah Gambit: Esfandyar's entire adult life is just a series of impossible missions his father assigns to him to get him killed. During his seven labors, he faces two giant man-eating wolves, two giant man-eating lions, a dragon, a witch, two baby Simorqs (a devastating fight not only because the enormous mother bird shows up, Simorqs are sacred and The Paladin Esfandyar really doesn't want to hurt them), survives a three-day-long storm and crosses a Thirsty Desert. Goshtasp then orders him to capture Afrasyab's castle Ruyin Dej (the name literally means impregnable fortress), which he does. Then, the desperate Goshtasp orders him to bring Rostam to him in chains, almost starting a civil war. Esfandyar is finally killed by Rostam but on his last breath he tells Rostam not to worry about the Curse as his death can be blamed only on his father.
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The Shahnameh / int_5ad80bf8	type	It's All My Fault
The Shahnameh / int_5ad80bf8	comment	It's All My Fault: Rostam feels this way about Sohrab's death — he is somewhat right. Losing his son like that is why he's so attached to Siavash and why he goes on a rampage when he is killed.
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The Shahnameh / int_5b6e57e	type	Required Secondary Powers
The Shahnameh / int_5b6e57e	comment	Required Secondary Powers: Rostem actually had to pray to make his legs weaker so he wouldn't dig himself in the ground up to his waist with every step.
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The Shahnameh / int_6136e02f	type	Brain Food
The Shahnameh / int_6136e02f	comment	Brain Food: What Zahhak's cursed shoulder snakes do, requiring sacrifices to prevent them from eating his.
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The Shahnameh / int_6411dac8	type	BadassNormal
The Shahnameh / int_6411dac8	comment	Badass Normal: Most of the characters are royalty, local rulers or war heroes, but a few of the most badass ones are just normal people whose normal lives have been ruined. Kaveh is a 70 something-year-old blacksmith. He and his wife had 12 sons and they had to stand by and watch as 11 of them were taken to the palace to have their brains fed to Zahhak's snakes. When Karen, their 12th son (who at the time was 5 years old) is taken Kaveh just can't take it anymore and goes to the palace in an unstoppable rage, screams insults to Zahhak so loudly he draws a crowd to the gate and keeps boasting until Zahhak has no choice but to let him in. Coincidentally, this is the day Zahhak has invited all of the richest and most powerful and influential people in the world to have them pledge allegiances to his cause, and for the sake of keeping up appearances sets the child free. Zahhak then asks Kaveh to sign the contract as a representative of the common folk. Kaveh, upon reading it, delivers a brutal "The Reason You Suck" Speech to all of the powerful people who have signed it and tears it in half, then grabs his child and storms out. Everybody sees, and the people start a riot. Kaveh takes off his leather smith's apron and waves it around on a spear as a flag and the people rally behind him. He leads the people to Mount Damavand and talks Freydun into becoming their leader. Freydun's mother Faranak also qualifies. She has royal ancestry but she lives a normal life in the city of Varena until her life is turned around when her infant son gets a massive target painted on his back because of a mad King's Prophetic Dream. She refuses to give up even after they kill her husband. She spends most of her time hiding Freydun in places with different caretakers to ensure his safety and has a crucial role as his chief advisor when he starts leading the revolution.
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The Shahnameh / int_64e975cf	type	Manly Tears
The Shahnameh / int_64e975cf	comment	Manly Tears: Happens a lot considering it's an emotionally packed story featuring a whole bunch of insanely manly warriors. Most prominent would be Rostam, the manliest character in the entire book, bitterly crying when he realizes he's just killed his own son. Bijan cries as he is led to the gallow to be hanged by the Turanians, but not because he's about to die... he cries because he was tricked into giving up his weapon and captured under the pretense of a parley, and he's worried that because his body is unharmed people will say he surrendered without a fight and he would bring shame to his family! Goodarz kills his long time rival and Turanian counterpart Piran, then sheds tears for him out of respect. Piran had been a decent and compassionate adversary. He had also previously saved Goodarz's grandson Bijan from hanging at the hands of Afrasiab's men.
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The Shahnameh / int_680bb6b1	type	Hot-Blooded
The Shahnameh / int_680bb6b1	comment	Hot-Blooded: Sohrab fits the trope. He angrily smacks down a captured Persian when he (rightfully) suspects the soldier is giving him false information, then he rides alone to the Persian army, demands single combat, and vows to hang their king.
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The Shahnameh / int_688afa6a	type	Evil Uncle
The Shahnameh / int_688afa6a	comment	Evil Uncle: Salm and Tur are evil great-uncles, who murder their brother Iraj and try later to do the same thing to Iraj's grandson.
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The Shahnameh / int_6bda9a30	type	Meaningful Name
The Shahnameh / int_6bda9a30	comment	Meaningful Name: Pretty much everyone, some meanings are somewhat more obvious to a Persian speaker while some are not. Rostam: Tall and powerful Zal: White Hair Sohrab: Rosy complexion Siavash: (Rider of the) Black stallion Afrasiab: The terrifying one Kioomars: The mortal Siamak: Black hair Hooshang: (builder of) Good houses Rudaba: Of the river water Esfandyar/Spandyar: Friend of the Sacred Zahhak: The man who laughs Arnavaz: Good speaker
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The Shahnameh / int_6c07693b	type	Carry a Big Stick
The Shahnameh / int_6c07693b	comment	Carry a Big Stick: While he is a master at wrestling, sword fighting, and archery, Rostam prefers to carry around his mace.
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The Shahnameh / int_73f8d546	type	Working-Class Hero
The Shahnameh / int_73f8d546	comment	Working-Class Hero: Kaveh is a notable early example, as he is instrumental to the downfall of Zahhak and the first one to truly strike out in rebellion against him, despite being nothing more than a blacksmith. In fact, his initial standard is just his blacksmith apron tied to a spear. It's said that this standard would go on to become the Derafsh Kāviān, the royal standard of the Sassanid Empire.
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The Shahnameh / int_73f8d546	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_73f8d546
The Shahnameh / int_75d6bf40	type	Belligerent Sexual Tension
The Shahnameh / int_75d6bf40	comment	Belligerent Sexual Tension: Sohrab and Gordafarid.
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The Shahnameh / int_75d6bf40	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_75d6bf40
The Shahnameh / int_77480c5e	type	God Is Good
The Shahnameh / int_77480c5e	comment	God Is Good: The Zoroastrian creator god Ohrmazd and his angels care deeply about the world, and aid the righteous heroes in their struggles.
The Shahnameh / int_77480c5e	featureApplicability	1.0
The Shahnameh / int_77480c5e	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_77480c5e
The Shahnameh / int_7ab81664	type	Kick Them While They Are Down
The Shahnameh / int_7ab81664	comment	Kick Them While They Are Down: More like 'stab' them while they are down... Sohrab pins Rostam to the ground in their first wrestling match and takes out his dagger. Rostam tells him that the Persian custom is to kill one’s opponent the second time he is defeated. Sohrab accepts due to the affection he feels for the man, his naiveté and his code of honor. In the next fight, Rostam gains the upper hand and does not hesitate to stab Sohrab in the side. Although he does this to save Iran, this the only instance in which Rostam resorts to trickery to win a fight.
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The Shahnameh / int_7ab81664	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_7ab81664
The Shahnameh / int_7c0bfb83	type	Obviously Evil
The Shahnameh / int_7c0bfb83	comment	Obviously Evil: The wicked king Zahhak. He has a snake growing from each shoulder! Oh, and he feeds them human brains.
The Shahnameh / int_7c0bfb83	featureApplicability	1.0
The Shahnameh / int_7c0bfb83	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_7c0bfb83
The Shahnameh / int_7d89315b	type	"The Reason You Suck" Speech
The Shahnameh / int_7d89315b	comment	"The Reason You Suck" Speech: Some of the most impressive verbal smackdowns in literature. Any villainous character will be called out and condemned for their crimes, in detail.
The Shahnameh / int_7d89315b	featureApplicability	1.0
The Shahnameh / int_7d89315b	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_7d89315b
The Shahnameh / int_80cd1f62	type	God of Evil
The Shahnameh / int_80cd1f62	comment	If you wanna get really nitpicky, in the Shahnameh the names "Ahriman" and "Eblis" are used interchangeably while the Zoroastrian God of Evil and the Abrahamic corrupter are drastically different. However, the name "Eblis" is only used in Zahhak's backstory, which takes place in an Arab vassal kingdom of the Persian Empire. He may have just been trying to get more authentic with the Arab theme.
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The Shahnameh / int_80cd1f62	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_80cd1f62
The Shahnameh / int_8409a385	type	Exactly What It Says on the Tin
The Shahnameh / int_8409a385	comment	Tahmureth is nicknamed the Divband (meaning captor of Divs) because, well, he imprisoned Divs. The Divs are later freed by Zahhak, and they wreak havoc on humanity for centuries.
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The Shahnameh / int_8409a385	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_8409a385
The Shahnameh / int_86b21114	type	Badass Boast
The Shahnameh / int_86b21114	comment	Badass Boast: Appropriately for an epic, the Shahnameh is full of these. See the quotes page for specific examples.
The Shahnameh / int_86b21114	featureApplicability	1.0
The Shahnameh / int_86b21114	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_86b21114
The Shahnameh / int_890d4ef2	type	Humiliation Conga
The Shahnameh / int_890d4ef2	comment	Then there's the other main villain, Afrasiyab the Turanian/Turk. The Turks had by this point overrun large parts of Persia and had been enemies of the Persians since before Islam. Afrasiyab gets subjected to a near-endless Humiliation Conga all through the story of Rustam. This lead to trouble for Ferdowsi when he was taken prisoner by the ferocious warlord Mahmud of Ghazna, who was Turkish.
The Shahnameh / int_890d4ef2	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_8976acda	type	Civil War
The Shahnameh / int_8976acda	comment	Rostam vs. Esfandyar. A Civil War arc right after a series of very patriotic stories that pits two old friends against each other while the obvious villain is sitting comfortably in his palace. Esfandyar's son tries to sneak into Rostam's camp and drop a boulder on him but gets himself killed, making it personal and Rostam has to use magic to heal himself and a poisoned arrow to stand a chance against the invincible prince. Before the final fight, Rostam is rehearsing his "we don't have to fight speech" with teary eyes but can't bring himself to spit it out because they're both in way too deep to stop at that point.
The Shahnameh / int_8976acda	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_8976acda
The Shahnameh / int_8a817c2a	type	Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil
The Shahnameh / int_8a817c2a	comment	Also the reaction of the whole world after Zahhak's revolution. Jamshid was arrogant enough to claim to be a god, but he never oppressed his people, and arts and sciences were flourishing under his patronage. The leader of the revolution who quickly crowned himself as the new Shahanshah turned out to be a rapist, completely incapable of love, and the host of two snakes which had to be fed human brains every day.
The Shahnameh / int_8a817c2a	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_8e20979	type	Wham Episode
The Shahnameh / int_8e20979	comment	Wham Episode: Happens every once in a while The first (and possibly most intense) would be Jamshid's fall from grace and Zahhak's revolution Iraj's murder (at the hands of his brothers no less) is a pretty tragic end to the happy streak that began with Freydun's coronation. Rostam vs. Esfandyar. A Civil War arc right after a series of very patriotic stories that pits two old friends against each other while the obvious villain is sitting comfortably in his palace. Esfandyar's son tries to sneak into Rostam's camp and drop a boulder on him but gets himself killed, making it personal and Rostam has to use magic to heal himself and a poisoned arrow to stand a chance against the invincible prince. Before the final fight, Rostam is rehearsing his "we don't have to fight speech" with teary eyes but can't bring himself to spit it out because they're both in way too deep to stop at that point. Ferdowsi himself titled Sohrab's story the "Gham Nameh" (meaning "The Chapter of Sorrows"). It starts with Rostam falling in love with and immediately (and secretly) getting married to Tahmineh. Then the happy couple have to split up. Then Afrasiab's army takes over Tahmineh's castle. Sohrab is born and raised, showing immense talent in the art of war, so much that anyone who sees him believes him to be Rostam's equal. Afrasiab manipulates Sohrab into leading the Turanian army into Iran and after a series of complicated conspiracies Rostam ends up killing his own son. Siavash's death is so brutal that in Real Life, people in the city of Shiraz mourn its anniversary every year. Khosrow and Shireen is described by many as the most beautiful Love Story in Persian literature (Nizami's telling of the story, not Ferdowsi's but still). It is also one of the craziest Tear Jerkers in the entire book.
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The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_8e20979
The Shahnameh / int_90b66e22	type	Femme Fatale
The Shahnameh / int_90b66e22	comment	Femme Fatale: Sudabeh is the very attractive wife of Key Kavous who tries to seduce her stepson, Siavash. When Siavash turns her down twice, she claims Siavash sexually assaulted her. Even though the evidence is against her, she uses the aborted deformed babies of a witch to cast doubt on Siavash, who finally proves his innocence by riding through a huge fire and coming out unharmed. Even then she tries to frame Zal for losing the babies which doesn't work and Key Kavous sentences her to be hanged. Siavash knows his father will soon regret having her killed and will hold Siavash in contempt for her death, so he asks for Sudabeh to be pardoned. And despite all that she's done, she bewitches her husband once again and starts poisoning his mind against Siavash. When Afrasiab wages war on Iran, Siavash volunteers to go to battle to get away from Sudabeh and her schemes and this ultimately leads to his tragic death.
The Shahnameh / int_90b66e22	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_970c790a	type	Big Bad
The Shahnameh / int_970c790a	comment	Big Bad: The most famous examples would be: Zahhak, a tyrant with two snakes growing out his shoulders to which he must feed human brains. The White Div, a cave-dwelling demon who rules Mazandaran. Afrasiab and his brother Garsivaz who commit many atrocities including the execution of Siavash, which sends Rostam and the Persians on a Roaring Rampage of Revenge.
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The Shahnameh / int_9b06e314	type	Greater-Scope Villain
The Shahnameh / int_9b06e314	comment	Greater-Scope Villain: Ahriman, the source and representation of all evil.
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The Shahnameh / int_9b06e314	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_9b06e314
The Shahnameh / int_9e943076	type	One-Man Army
The Shahnameh / int_9e943076	comment	One-Man Army: Rostam singlehandedly conquered the land of Mazandaran where Key Kavous fails to do so with an army and frees the captured king and Persians.
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The Shahnameh / int_a0c55654	type	The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized
The Shahnameh / int_a0c55654	comment	The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized: The uprising against Jamshid is brutal, mainly because Zahhak is hijacking it. After capturing Jamshid, Zahhak saws him in half. The revolution against Zahhak isn't exactly civilized either. At some point, arrows and spears rain down from rooftops. Civilian rooftops. Rostam and Zal's campaign to put Kay Cobad on the throne averts this.
The Shahnameh / int_a0c55654	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_a0c55654
The Shahnameh / int_a0db7803	type	It's Personal
The Shahnameh / int_a0db7803	comment	It's Personal: Rostam has gone to war against the Turanians on many occasions, simply as a patriotic Persian defending his country. But when the Turanians kill the innocent Siavash (Rostam's surrogate son) he goes to war for the sole purpose of killing everyone responsible. The same can be said about king Key Khosro who was Siavash's son and the Persians in general.
The Shahnameh / int_a0db7803	featureApplicability	1.0
The Shahnameh / int_a0db7803	featureConfidence	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_a18d407b	type	Samus Is a Girl
The Shahnameh / int_a18d407b	comment	Samus Is a Girl: When Sepid Dejh’s (the white fortress) champion Hojhir challenges Sohrab to single combat, is beaten and taken prisoner, the fortresses chief, Gazhdahm and his daughter Gordafarid realize that the fort will eventually fall. Gazhdahm sends a messenger to Key Kavus, the Shah of Persia through a secret passage and starts to evacuate the city through it, while Gordafarid wears armor, hides her hair under a helmet and challenges Sohrab to buy time. A fierce and long clash ensues and the fight gets closer and closer, culminating in hand to hand combat on horseback. Finally, in the heat of battle, Sohrab tears the helmet from Gordafarid’s head and is astonished to realize he’d been fighting a beautiful girl.
The Shahnameh / int_a18d407b	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_a1b141f4	type	My God, What Have I Done?
The Shahnameh / int_a1b141f4	comment	My God, What Have I Done?: This is Rostam's reaction when he realizes he's killed his son Sohrab. Also the reaction of the whole world after Zahhak's revolution. Jamshid was arrogant enough to claim to be a god, but he never oppressed his people, and arts and sciences were flourishing under his patronage. The leader of the revolution who quickly crowned himself as the new Shahanshah turned out to be a rapist, completely incapable of love, and the host of two snakes which had to be fed human brains every day.
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The Shahnameh / int_a1b76006	type	Nerves of Steel
The Shahnameh / int_a1b76006	comment	Nerves of Steel: Rostam displays this on multiple occasions including: He goes to battle against the mounted and heavily armed Ashkboos with only a bow and two arrows. He shoots down Ashboos's horse with one arrow. The thoroughly rattled Ashkboos fires a barrage of arrows at Rostam who doesn't even move. Then Rostam shoots his only remaining arrow with dead accuracy. When Esfandyar arrives to arrest Rostam they shake hands and Esfandyar squeezes Rostam's hand so hard the veins under his nails pop and start to bleed. Not only does this not faze Rostam, but he also delivers some good-humored badass boasts and goes home to prepare for battle. When he sneaks into the Div-e Sepid's cave, he finds the demon sleeping. Instead of taking the opportunity to slay the monster in his sleep, he lets out a battle cry and fights him only when he's fully awake. Bahman fearing for his father Esfandiar's life in his battle against Rostam tries to assassinate him by hurling a boulder from a hill to crush Rostam. The hunting party accompanying Rostam drop what they're carrying and dive out of the way. Rostam simply kicks the rolling rock away from him!
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The Shahnameh / int_a3dc4ab0	type	Worm in an Apple
The Shahnameh / int_a3dc4ab0	comment	Worm in an Apple: The tale of Haftvad starts with Haftvad's one daughter, who takes a break from spinning to eat an apple. Inside, she finds a small worm (interpreted but not identified as a silkworm) which she keeps with her the rest of the day. From that day on, she spins more and finer thread than ever before, making her family rich and powerful. The worm is well taken care of and becomes huge. Eventually, Haftvad draws the attention of Ardashir I, the future Sasanian emperor, who wants to break his power. He succeeds by pretending to be a travelling merchant and killing the worm by feeding it molten lead.
The Shahnameh / int_a3dc4ab0	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_a588c1cf	type	Cool Horse
The Shahnameh / int_a588c1cf	comment	Cool Horse: Quite a few, here are the most important ones: Rakhsh, the only horse strong enough to carry Rostam and his mace at the same time. He accompanies Rostam on all of his journeys and through all of his battles, and they eventually die in each other's arms. Siavash's horse Shabrang Behzad also qualifies. Siavash's name literally means "rider of the black horse" and Shabrang means "the color of the night" Shabdiz, the noble steed of Shah Khosrow Parviz (real-life horse of the real-life Shah) has a whole lot of personality for a horse. So does Bucephalus, the horse only Alexander the Great could (and was crazy enough to try and) tame
The Shahnameh / int_a588c1cf	featureApplicability	1.0
The Shahnameh / int_a588c1cf	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_a588c1cf
The Shahnameh / int_a675997a	type	Scaled Up
The Shahnameh / int_a675997a	comment	Scaled Up: King Faridun turns into a dragon. Notably, this isn't for fighting; it's to test his sons, and the son who he believes is worthy is the one who doesn't attack the dragon right away and talks to him instead.
The Shahnameh / int_a675997a	featureApplicability	1.0
The Shahnameh / int_a675997a	featureConfidence	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_aba8065b	type	Fatal Flaw
The Shahnameh / int_aba8065b	comment	Fatal Flaw: From a modern psychological standpoint, it could be said that big egos and endless need for praise are what ruined everything for both Jamshid and Zahhak. Jamshid declared himself a god and demanded worship from the people which ended badly for literally everyone and Zahhak was such an easy target for the devil because he wanted to sit on a throne and be worshipped, so much that he killed his own father because his friend had told him that he was worthy of rule. Zahhak gets his infamous shoulder-snakes because he just doesn't get how fake the chef is with his compliments and his flattering request to kiss him on the shoulders as a reward. Esfandyar's obsession with becoming king is how he's manipulated into fighting his tutor Rostam, even though he knows it's the wrong thing to do. Going up against Rostam is as fatal as it gets. Also, Sohrab's Hot Bloodedness gets him killed.
The Shahnameh / int_aba8065b	featureApplicability	1.0
The Shahnameh / int_aba8065b	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_aba8065b
The Shahnameh / int_b11ac9f5	type	Abusive Parents
The Shahnameh / int_b11ac9f5	comment	Abusive Parents: Numerous examples and almost always the father: Sahm abandons his infant son Zal in the mountains because Zal was born with platinum white hair. Goshtasb tries to get his son Esfandiar killed so he can remain king. Siavash's (unnamed) mother had run away from home because her father was a violent drunk, before marrying Key Kavous. Afrasiab disowns his daughter Manijeh when he finds out she'd been fooling around with Bijan.
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The Shahnameh / int_b53077b3	type	Take That!
The Shahnameh / int_b53077b3	comment	Take That!: The fact that Ferdowsi wrote in Persian instead of Arabic and that some of the villains in the tale (including the aforementioned brain-eating Zahhak) come from Arabia might suggest Ferdowsi was a little peeved about the Arabs conquering his country. Then there's the other main villain, Afrasiyab the Turanian/Turk. The Turks had by this point overrun large parts of Persia and had been enemies of the Persians since before Islam. Afrasiyab gets subjected to a near-endless Humiliation Conga all through the story of Rustam. This lead to trouble for Ferdowsi when he was taken prisoner by the ferocious warlord Mahmud of Ghazna, who was Turkish.
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The Shahnameh / int_b53077b3	featureConfidence	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_b5b4b077	type	The Ace
The Shahnameh / int_b5b4b077	comment	The Ace: Rostam obviously. Esfandiar and many other heroes qualify as well, but especially Siavash who is at the same time strong, brave, athletic, virtuous, humble, considerate, intelligent, patriotic, charming, and on top of all that incredibly handsome.
The Shahnameh / int_b5b4b077	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_b7c53a22	type	Blood Knight
The Shahnameh / int_b7c53a22	comment	Blood Knight: Ashkbus the Koshani. He isn't even from Turan, the only reason he is fighting with them is his thirst for blood. Rostam actually describes him as a "Bihode mard e parkhash juy" which is Persian for "man who pointlessly seeks violence"
The Shahnameh / int_b7c53a22	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_b7d85d68	type	Healing Potion
The Shahnameh / int_b7d85d68	comment	Healing Potion: Key Kavous is in possession of this but refuses to share it with Rostam when he sends Giv to get it for the mortally wounded Sohrab. Key Kavous's paranoia sets in and he fears that if Sohrab is healed he will go through with his oath to kill Kavous and usurp his throne and now that Rostam knows Sohrab is his son they will join forces! Granted this was actually Sohrab's intent, Key Kavous should have known that Rostam was too loyal to ever let it happen, especially after all Rostam had done for Kavous.
The Shahnameh / int_b7d85d68	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_bb18a227	type	It's All About Me
The Shahnameh / int_bb18a227	comment	It's All About Me: Goshtasp is willing to send his son Esfandyar to his death to stay king. Unfortunately, the prince takes after his father in this regard. Esfandyar is willing to dishonor Rostam to become king, even after all Rostam has done for Iran. Esfandiar is decidedly the more honorable of the two though.
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The Shahnameh / int_bb18a227	featureConfidence	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_bb53d08	type	Tear Jerker
The Shahnameh / int_bb53d08	comment	Khosrow and Shireen is described by many as the most beautiful Love Story in Persian literature (Nizami's telling of the story, not Ferdowsi's but still). It is also one of the craziest Tear Jerkers in the entire book.
The Shahnameh / int_bb53d08	featureApplicability	1.0
The Shahnameh / int_bb53d08	featureConfidence	1.0
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	The Shahnameh / int_bb53d08
The Shahnameh / int_bbf11c0	type	Genius Bruiser
The Shahnameh / int_bbf11c0	comment	Genius Bruiser: Rostam, Siavash, Esfandiar, and many other heroes are not only strong fighters and good tacticians, but they're also quite eloquent, witty, and knowledgeable. Rostam is mentioned to have played the tambour and he could sing.
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The Shahnameh / int_bbf11c0	featureConfidence	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_bdb5c651	type	Real Men Love Jesus
The Shahnameh / int_bdb5c651	comment	Real Men Love Ohrmazd: Esfandyar was raised by Zoroaster himself, but the other heroes aren't that much less pious. Jamshid fell from grace simply because he declared himself God (to be fair, he had a ridiculously long lifespan and his wife had invented wine)
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The Shahnameh / int_be0ad6b7	type	Used to Be a Sweet Kid
The Shahnameh / int_be0ad6b7	comment	Used to Be a Sweet Kid: Zahhak was a guileless and well-meaning prince before Ahriman corrupted him. Salm and Tur were also decent people before their jealousy of Iraj got the better of them.
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The Shahnameh / int_c2e295cd	type	Curse
The Shahnameh / int_c2e295cd	comment	Curse: Whoever kills Esfandiyār is cursed to die and suffer in this life and the next. Fortunately for Rostam it can take into account Uriah Gambits.
The Shahnameh / int_c2e295cd	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_c5c79ad3	type	And Your Little Dog, Too!
The Shahnameh / int_c5c79ad3	comment	And Your Little Dog, Too!: After Zahhak finds out where the Chosen One Freydun is hidden, he has his Mooks kill the cow that nursed him and all the other animals in the area.
The Shahnameh / int_c5c79ad3	featureApplicability	1.0
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The Shahnameh / int_c9d9a85f	type	Hot Witch
The Shahnameh / int_c9d9a85f	comment	Hot Witch: On his fourth Labor, Rostam comes across a witch disguised as a beautiful woman who entices him with food and wine. Just as he's about to put the food in his mouth though Rostam gives thanks to Mithra. Upon hearing god's name the witch instantly revert to her true form.
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The Shahnameh / int_cdd676a3	type	Hyper-Competent Sidekick
The Shahnameh / int_cdd676a3	comment	Hypercompetent Sidekick: Rostem is this to Kay Kavus, who keeps on getting the kingdom of Iran into problems and needing the ever-more reluctant Rostam to bail him out.
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The Shahnameh / int_ceec4df5	type	Roaring Rampage of Revenge
The Shahnameh / int_ceec4df5	comment	Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Rostam will not rest until EVERYONE responsible for Siavash's execution is dead, even his own king's wife.
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The Shahnameh / int_d1e3023	type	Reign of Terror
The Shahnameh / int_d1e3023	comment	Reign of Terror: Zahhak's rule, which lasted 1000 years.
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The Shahnameh / int_d52d28b6	type	Hypocrite
The Shahnameh / int_d52d28b6	comment	Hypocrite: When he was a prince, Goshtasb is anxious to become king and gives his father Lohrasb who (rightfully) believes he is not ready a hard time for it, going so far as abandoning Iran and going abroad for years in protest. When he finally gets what he wants and has been king for many years and prince Esfandyar's turn to rule is overdue, Goshtasb makes false promises to him, locks him up, sends him on suicide missions and finally resorts to a Uriah Gambit to remain king.
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The Shahnameh / int_d71af7a	type	Rescue Arc
The Shahnameh / int_d71af7a	comment	Rescue Arc: Rostam does his fair share of rescuing. The Seven Labors of Rostam is the most famous example wherein he saves the imprisoned Key Kavous and Persian army from the demons of Mazandaran.
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The Shahnameh / int_d7639dba	type	Achilles' Heel
The Shahnameh / int_d7639dba	comment	Achilles' Heel: Esfandiyar bathed in a pool of invincibility, except he closed his eyelids, leaving him vulnerable to Eye Scream. The Persian expression for 'Achilles Heel' is literally "Esfandiar's eye".
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The Shahnameh / int_d965507b	type	Tragic Mistake
The Shahnameh / int_d965507b	comment	Tragic Mistake: Being an epic, there are many examples. Some of the more famous ones are: Sohrab's naivete causes him to keep his identity and the armband that Rostam had given to his wife (Sohrab's mother) specifically so that he would be able to identify his child, hidden. This eventually leads father and son to unknowingly face each other in battle with tragic consequences. Rostam is cautious and untrusting to a fault when it comes to fighting the Turanian champion who unknown to him is his son. Considering Sohrab's immense strength and fighting prowess and considering his own age, Rostam denies his true identity even when Sohrab repeatedly asks him if he is indeed Rostam because Rostam fears that he might lose and the Turanians would be unstoppable if they no longer feared the threat of Persia’s greatest warrior. Lying mortally wounded in Rostam's arms Sohrab tells his father, "I gave you every hint there was, your love did not budge an inch"
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The Shahnameh / int_dae5c997	type	Action Girl
The Shahnameh / int_dae5c997	comment	Action Girl: Gordafarid, who manages to stalemate Sohrab.
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The Shahnameh / int_dbea254f	type	ChosenOne
The Shahnameh / int_dbea254f	comment	Chosen One: Freydun, destined to rid the world of Zahhak.
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The Shahnameh / int_dd3969b	type	Hijacked by Jesus
The Shahnameh / int_dd3969b	comment	Hijacked By Mohammad: Deliberately averted for the most part. Ferdowsi himself was still technically a Muslim living and hoping to publish his work in a Muslim state, but he was also a complete and total patriot working to preserve ancient Iranian wisdom which at that point, thanks to 300+ years of Islamic rule had already been hijacked to some degree. The conception of Sohrab is somewhat weird. Rostam has been hunting for sport all day and decides to rest his weary head in the nearby castle of Semnegan. The Castellan's daughter, Tahmina decides to check the famous hero out, and even though Rostam is hammered it's love at first sight for both of them. They elope the first chance they get, and then Rostam leaves. For ten years he never bothers telling any of his buddies or his King that he has a wife in a castle that is now behind enemy lines and that they were wondering if they had conceived a child together. In pre-Islamic Iran, the taboo against adultery was nowhere near as serious as the tradition of "Khoyduda" which dictated that the Bride and Groom must have known each other for at least two years before marriage. It really seems like the whole marriage thing was a late addition to the story. If you wanna get really nitpicky, in the Shahnameh the names "Ahriman" and "Eblis" are used interchangeably while the Zoroastrian God of Evil and the Abrahamic corrupter are drastically different. However, the name "Eblis" is only used in Zahhak's backstory, which takes place in an Arab vassal kingdom of the Persian Empire. He may have just been trying to get more authentic with the Arab theme.
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The Shahnameh / int_dd53c52b	type	Crushing Handshake
The Shahnameh / int_dd53c52b	comment	Crushing Handshake: Esfandyar gives one to Rostam. Rostam does not flinch but his hand is so badly crushed it bleeds! It does nothing to intimidate Rostam though.
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The Shahnameh / int_e16cd24e	type	Know When to Fold 'Em
The Shahnameh / int_e16cd24e	comment	Know When to Fold 'Em: When confronted with a terrible dragon (really Freydun in disguise) the son of Freydun who would later be named Salm wasted no time in retreating. Unusually for this kind of story, this isn't portrayed as an act of cowardice: Freydun outright says that anybody who charges blindly against monsters is foolhardy rather than courageous. At the same time, Tur is praised for his bravery in the face of the dragon, but Iraj is most highly regarded for warning the dragon away, thus demonstrating both prudence and courage.
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The Shahnameh / int_e5e6640b	type	Flanderization
The Shahnameh / int_e5e6640b	comment	Flanderization: Meta only. Most people's minds immediately go to Rostam when hearing "Shahnameh" while there's a whole lot more to the epic.
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The Shahnameh / int_eba6a077	type	Cain and Abel
The Shahnameh / int_eba6a077	comment	Cain and Abel: The person who is finally able to bring down Rostam is none other than his younger half-brother Shoqad.
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The Shahnameh / int_eda30d58	type	0% Approval Rating
The Shahnameh / int_eda30d58	comment	0% Approval Rating: Zahhak by the end of his reign is pretty deep in this territory. He's so hated by his subjects that when Freydun leads his army (in large part comprised of Kaveh's rebels) into Zahhak's capitol city, the only people mentioned as being killed are palace guards and Zahhak's bound demons. And when Zahhak leads his army back, not only is it noted to be mostly demons, but it's said that everyone in the city who was capable of fighting joined Freydun in the defense.
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The Shahnameh / int_f16da697	type	Undying Loyalty
The Shahnameh / int_f16da697	comment	Undying Loyalty: When Manijeh's father, Afrasiab learns of her relationship with the Persian warrior Bijan, she is degraded, roughed up, kicked out of her home and all her possessions are confiscated. The princess goes door to door each day begging for food so she can keep Bijan, who's chained at the bottom of a hole sealed by a giant boulder alive. No matter how much trouble and grief Key Kavous causes Rostam, including not helping him save Sohrab, Rostam is always loyal to his king even though he could easily abandon or even overthrow Key Kavous. Rostam and the Persian champions toward Persia. This is the most important theme of the whole book and applies to the author Ferdowsi too.
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The Shahnameh / int_f5eda11	type	Mix-and-Match Critters
The Shahnameh / int_f5eda11	comment	Mix-and-Match Critters: The Simurgh is a bird with the head of a dog and the claws of a lion.
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The Shahnameh / int_fe6c146e	type	The Corrupter
The Shahnameh / int_fe6c146e	comment	The Corrupter: Ahriman, in spades.
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The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

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The Shahnameh	hasFeature	Adopt the Food / int_cee5dc9d
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The Shahnameh	hasFeature	World's Best Warrior / int_cee5dc9d
The Shahnameh	hasFeature	Worm in an Apple / int_cee5dc9d

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