Sudabeh
Encyclopedia
Sudabeh is a character in Persian
epic Shahnameh
. She was princess of Hamavaran kingdom (Saka Haumavarga or Amyrgian) and later, she becomes the wife of Kay Kāvus, shah of Iran
, and stepmother of prince Siyavash
. She is most famous for her role in Siyavash choosing exile. When young Siavash, who was raised by Rostam
away from his father’s court, returns, Sudabeh sees him and falls in love. She tricks Siavash into going to her private palace in order to visit his sisters. There she reveals her real intention to him and tries to seduce him. Siavash resists her and refuses to betray his father. Sudabeh, who is disappointed, tries to manipulate her husband and turn him against his son. After much conflict Siavash decides to leave his father’s court for good and goes to Turan
. After Siavash is assassinated in Turan, Rostam, who blames Sudabeh for the incident, murders her.
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
epic Shahnameh
Shahnameh
The Shahnameh or Shah-nama is a long epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi between c.977 and 1010 AD and is the national epic of Iran and related societies...
. She was princess of Hamavaran kingdom (Saka Haumavarga or Amyrgian) and later, she becomes the wife of Kay Kāvus, shah of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and stepmother of prince Siyavash
Siyâvash
Siavash or Siyāvush, from Avestan Syāvaršan, is a major figure in Ferdowsi's epic, the Shahnameh. He was a legendary Persian prince from the earliest days of the Persian Empire...
. She is most famous for her role in Siyavash choosing exile. When young Siavash, who was raised by Rostam
Rostam
Rostam is the national hero of Greater Iran from Zabulistan in Persian mythology and son of Zal and Rudaba. In some ways, the position of Rostam in the historical tradition is parallel to that of Surena, the hero of the Carrhae. His figure was endowed with many features of the historical...
away from his father’s court, returns, Sudabeh sees him and falls in love. She tricks Siavash into going to her private palace in order to visit his sisters. There she reveals her real intention to him and tries to seduce him. Siavash resists her and refuses to betray his father. Sudabeh, who is disappointed, tries to manipulate her husband and turn him against his son. After much conflict Siavash decides to leave his father’s court for good and goes to Turan
Turan
Tūrān is the Persian name for Central Asia, literally meaning "the land of the Tur". As described below, the original Turanians are an Iranian tribe of the Avestan age. As a people the "Turanian" are one of the two Iranian peoples both descending from the Persian Fereydun but with different...
. After Siavash is assassinated in Turan, Rostam, who blames Sudabeh for the incident, murders her.