Hello one and all!
The Simurgh is a creatures that features prominently in Iranian legends. It is depicted as a composite being; made up of features from the peacock, lion and dog. At times is also shown with a human face. According to the stories, the Simurgh is female, and has lived for more than 1700 years.
Simurgh in the Shahnameh
Once there was a ruler of Sistan (province in Iran) named Sam. He had everything his heart could desire, but he was still childless. As such, he was overjoyed when his wife gave birth to a son. When he at last laid eyes on the baby he was appalled; the boy, named Zal, had pale skin and white hair like an old man. He ordered his soldiers to leave the baby on top of Mount Elburz.
The Simurgh saw all this from the perch of her nest atop the mountain. She saw the infant, who lay on the ground without food or clothing, and she swooped down and grasped him with her talons. She wanted to take him to her nest to feed to her young, but she felt sorry for the baby. The Simurgh decided once and for all to raise him as one of her own.
The baby grew into a strong and athletic young man under the tutelage of the magical being. His fame as an athlete and a scholar spread throughout the land. Sam heard of these tales, and he was filled with shame and sought to rescue his son. The Simurgh saw the ruler had returned with his army to the mountain, and though she had come to love the boy as her won, she urged him to go to his father. As they parted the bird gave Zal some golden feathers to burn whenever he needed help.
The young man returned to his father's kingdom. He fell in love with a beautiful princess, called Rudaba, and their affection for each other blossomed. They married and after a while their first son was to be born. The labour was prolonged though; more and more people became convinced that she would not survive it. Zal burned one golden feather, and the Simurgh appeared, as she promised she would. The creature instructed him, with great care, how to do a cesarean section, and saved the child and mother's lives.
Thank you for reading!
The Simurgh is a creatures that features prominently in Iranian legends. It is depicted as a composite being; made up of features from the peacock, lion and dog. At times is also shown with a human face. According to the stories, the Simurgh is female, and has lived for more than 1700 years.
Simurgh in the Shahnameh
Once there was a ruler of Sistan (province in Iran) named Sam. He had everything his heart could desire, but he was still childless. As such, he was overjoyed when his wife gave birth to a son. When he at last laid eyes on the baby he was appalled; the boy, named Zal, had pale skin and white hair like an old man. He ordered his soldiers to leave the baby on top of Mount Elburz.
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| Wall panel with a Simurgh. Iran, Chal Tarhan. 7th-8th c. |
The Simurgh saw all this from the perch of her nest atop the mountain. She saw the infant, who lay on the ground without food or clothing, and she swooped down and grasped him with her talons. She wanted to take him to her nest to feed to her young, but she felt sorry for the baby. The Simurgh decided once and for all to raise him as one of her own.
The baby grew into a strong and athletic young man under the tutelage of the magical being. His fame as an athlete and a scholar spread throughout the land. Sam heard of these tales, and he was filled with shame and sought to rescue his son. The Simurgh saw the ruler had returned with his army to the mountain, and though she had come to love the boy as her won, she urged him to go to his father. As they parted the bird gave Zal some golden feathers to burn whenever he needed help.
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| Ewer with a Simurgh. Iran, 6th - early 7th century. |
The young man returned to his father's kingdom. He fell in love with a beautiful princess, called Rudaba, and their affection for each other blossomed. They married and after a while their first son was to be born. The labour was prolonged though; more and more people became convinced that she would not survive it. Zal burned one golden feather, and the Simurgh appeared, as she promised she would. The creature instructed him, with great care, how to do a cesarean section, and saved the child and mother's lives.
Thank you for reading!
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