Zal
Encyclopedia
Zāl also transliterated Zaal, is a legendary Persian
warrior from the old Persian "The Book of Kings/ The king of books" or Shahnameh
.
and the grandson of Nariman, both heroes of ancient Persia and protectors of "Motherland Iran" or "Iran-zamin." Because of his defect, Zāl was rejected by his father. He was left when only an infant; upon the mountain Damavand
, 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. Then after a time, passing caravans saw a noble young man, his chest a mountain of silver, his waist a reed, in the bird's nest. 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 could find no way to the lofty perch. He then prayed to God, asking forgiveness and help. When the Simurgh
saw Sam, she knew that he had come for her charge. The devoted bird gave the youth a plume, 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 these three feathers to burn when in trouble. She would appear as soon as the feathers were lit.
, too, gave the young man due regard. When Sam went off to wage war in Mazandaran, Zal, recommended to 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
, Mihrab
, a vassal King descended from the evil Zahhak
, paid homage with gifts of horses and slaves.
Learning of Rudabeh, Mihrab's beautiful daughter, Zal lost his heart in love. But the affair was to progress slowly. Once even, Zal came near Rudaba's palace where Rudaba gave her tresses to Zal as a rope and he immediately climbed from base to summit.
Zal rightly feared that his father and Manuchihr would disapprove his marrying a descendant of Zahhak, and while Mihrab generally approved of the young prince, some of Zal's actions made him bristle. Zal accordingly wrote a letter to his father and requested him to agree to his marriage,reminded him of the oath he had made to fulfill all his wishes.
Sam and the Mubeds, knowing that Rudaba'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 the marriage between Zal and Rudaba would be prosperous or not and he was informed that the offspring of Zal and Rudabeh would be the conqueror of the world. When Zal arrived at the court of Manuchihr
, he was received with honour, and the letter of Sam being read, the Shah approved of the marriage.
The marriage was celebrated in Kabul, where Zal and Rudaba had first met each other.
After a while, Zal and Rudabeh get married. Rostam
, the great Persian hero, is born from their wedlock.
One of the feathers Simurgh gave Zal, he used when his wife Rudaba was in a difficult labour 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 Rustom was born.
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
warrior from the old Persian "The Book of Kings/ The king of books" or 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...
.
Background
An albino, Zāl was born with white hair. Because of this, his parents called him Zāl. In the Persian language, "Zaall" refers to those who suffer from albinism. Zāl was the son of SāmSam
-People:*Samuel , includes a list of people known as "Sam"*Samantha*Sām, a Persian folk hero, whose name means 'very dark'*Sam , the third son of Lehi and elder brother to the prophet Nephi-Animals:...
and the grandson of Nariman, both heroes of ancient Persia and protectors of "Motherland Iran" or "Iran-zamin." Because of his defect, Zāl was rejected by his father. He was left when only an infant; upon the mountain Damavand
Damavand
Damavand is a city in and the capital of Damavand County, Tehran Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 36,433, in 10,279 families....
, which has the highest geographic peak in Iran. The mythical Simurgh
Simurgh
Simurgh , also spelled simorgh, simurg, simoorg or simourv, also known as Angha , is the modern Persian name for a benevolent, mythical flying creature...
(a very large and wise bird which darkens the sky when flying, said to be related to the phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
) found the baby and took him to her nest. Then after a time, passing caravans saw a noble young man, his chest a mountain of silver, his waist a reed, in the bird's nest. 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 could find no way to the lofty perch. He then prayed to God, asking forgiveness and help. When the Simurgh
Simurgh
Simurgh , also spelled simorgh, simurg, simoorg or simourv, also known as Angha , is the modern Persian name for a benevolent, mythical flying creature...
saw Sam, she knew that he had come for her charge. The devoted bird gave the youth a plume, 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 these three feathers to burn when in trouble. She would appear as soon as the feathers were lit.
Zal and Rudabeh
After reuniting with his son, Sam made every effort to redress past wrongs. ManuchihrManuchehr
Manūchehr , older Persian Manōčihr, Avestan Manuščiθra, is a character in Shahnameh. He is the first of the legendary Shāhs who ruled Iran after the breakup of the world empire of Manūchehr's great-grandfather, Fereydūn....
, too, gave the young man due regard. When Sam went off to wage war in Mazandaran, Zal, recommended to 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
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, Mihrab
Mihrab
A mihrab is semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla; that is, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying...
, a vassal King descended from the evil Zahhak
Zahhak
Zahhāk or Zohhāk is an evil figure in Iranian mythology, evident in ancient Iranian folklore as Aži Dahāka, the name by which he also appears in the texts of the Avesta...
, paid homage with gifts of horses and slaves.
Learning of Rudabeh, Mihrab's beautiful daughter, Zal lost his heart in love. But the affair was to progress slowly. Once even, Zal came near Rudaba's palace where Rudaba gave her tresses to Zal as a rope and he immediately climbed from base to summit.
Zal rightly feared that his father and Manuchihr would disapprove his marrying a descendant of Zahhak, and while Mihrab generally approved of the young prince, some of Zal's actions made him bristle. Zal accordingly wrote a letter to his father and requested him to agree to his marriage,reminded him of the oath he had made to fulfill all his wishes.
Sam and the Mubeds, knowing that Rudaba'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 the marriage between Zal and Rudaba would be prosperous or not and he was informed that the offspring of Zal and Rudabeh would be the conqueror of the world. When Zal arrived at the court of Manuchihr
Manuchihr
Manuchihr was the ruler of the Ziyarids . He was the son of Qabus.During his father's reign Manuchihr was appointed as governor of Tabaristan. When, in the early part of the 11th century, a group of army conspirators rebelled against Qabus and took control of the capital Gurgan, invited Manuchihr...
, he was received with honour, and the letter of Sam being read, the Shah approved of the marriage.
The marriage was celebrated in Kabul, where Zal and Rudaba had first met each other.
After a while, Zal and Rudabeh get married. 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...
, the great Persian hero, is born from their wedlock.
One of the feathers Simurgh gave Zal, he used when his wife Rudaba was in a difficult labour 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 Rustom was born.