Shahnameh characters

Alexander III of Macedon, most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip II to the throne in 336 BC at the age of 20, and spent most of his reign conducting a lengthy military campaign throughout Asia and Egypt. By the age of 30, he had created one of the largest empires in history, stretching from Greece to northwestern India. He was undefeated in battle and is widely considered to be one of history's greatest and most successful military commanders.

Umar ibn al-Khattab (; ), also spelled Omar, was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () and is regarded as a senior companion and father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

last king of the Achaemenid Empire (r. 336–330 BC)

founder of the Sassanid Empire (224–242)

Shahanshah of the Sasanian Empire from 531 to 579

second Sassanid emperor (241–272)

The 24th Sassanid emperor (590–628)

The tenth Sasanian emperor (309–379)

The 27th and last Sasanian emperor (632–651)

The 15th Sassanid Emperor (421–438)

Muslim general (c. 595 – 674)

The simurgh (; ; also spelled senmurv, simorgh, simorg, simurg, simoorg, simorq or simourv) is a benevolent bird in Persian mythology and literature. It bears some similarities with mythological birds from different origins, such as the phoenix ( quqnūs) and the humā (). The figure can be found in all periods of Iranian art and literature and is also evident in the iconography of Georgia, medieval Armenia, the Eastern Roman Empire, and other regions that were within the realm of Persian cultural influence.

The 14th Sassanid Emperor (399–420)

The third Sasanian emperor (270–271)

Sasanian King of Kings (488–531)

eighth Sasanian emperor (302–309)

use both this parameter and |birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) --> | death_place = Kabulistan (present-day Kabul, Afghanistan) | death_cause = With the conspiracy of his half-brother Shaghad, he fell into a well full of poisoned spears and was killed in Kabulistan. | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | burial_place = | burial_coordinates = | monuments = | nationality = | other_names = RustamRustem | siglum = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | years_active = | era = | employ

The 18th Sasanian Emperor (459–484)

The fourth Sasanian emperor (271–274)

Mazdak (, , also known as Mazdak Bamdadan; died c. 524 or 528) was an Iranian mobad (priest) and social reformer who rose to prominence during the reign of the Sasanian emperor Kavadh I. He instituted a religious and social movement known as Mazdakism, which preached a dualistic cosmology and social welfare programs, including the communal ownership of property and, controversially, women (interpreted by some scholars as a reaction against the harem system).

Narseh (also spelled Narses or Narseus; ) was the seventh King of Kings of Sasanian Iran from 293 to 303. The youngest son of Shapur I (), Narseh served as the governor of Sakastan, Hind and Turan under his father. Shapur I was eventually succeeded by his son Hormizd I (), who died after a reign of one year. Shapur I's eldest son Bahram I, who had never been considered as a candidate for succession to the throne by his father, ascended the throne with the aid of the powerful Zoroastrian priest Kartir. He then made a settlement with Narseh to give up his entitlement to the throne in return for

The 11th Sassanid Emperor (379–383)

fifth Sasanian emperor (274–293)

Sasanian general and political leader (died 591)

The 16th Sassanid Emperor (438–457)

The 12th Sasanian emperor (383–388)

Balash (Middle Persian: 𐭥𐭥𐭣𐭠𐭧𐭱𐭩, ) was the Sasanian King of Kings of Iran from 484 to 488. He was the brother and successor of Peroz I (), who was defeated and killed by the Hephthalites.

sixth Sasanian emperor (293)

The 23th Sassanid Emperor (579–590)

The temporary ruler of the Sassanid Empire (628–630)

Shahrbaraz (also spelled Shahrvaraz or Shahrwaraz; New Persian: ) was shah (king) of the Sasanian Empire from 27 April 630 to 9 June 630. He usurped the throne from Ardashir III, and was killed by Iranian nobles after forty days. Before usurping the Sasanian throne he was a spahbed (general) under Khosrow II (590–628). He is furthermore noted for his important role during the climactic Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628, and the events that followed afterwards.

use both this parameter and |birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) --> | death_place = | death_cause = | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | burial_place = | burial_coordinates = | monuments = Shahr-e Zahuk (modern-day Hazarajat) | other_names = Azhi DahākaBēvar Asp | siglum = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | years_active = | era = | employer = | organization = | agent = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | net_worth = | height = | television = | title = | te

The 17th Sassanid Emperor (457–459)

The 13th Sassanid Emperor (388–399)

A daeva (Avestan: 𐬛𐬀𐬉𐬎𐬎𐬀 daēuua) is a Zoroastrian supernatural entity with disagreeable characteristics. In the Gathas, the oldest texts of the Zoroastrian canon, the daevas are "gods that are (to be) rejected". This meaning is – subject to interpretation – perhaps also evident in the Old Persian "daiva inscription" of the 5th century BC. In the Younger Avesta, the daevas are divinities that promote chaos and disorder. In later tradition and folklore, the dēws (Zoroastrian Middle Persian; New Persian divs) are personifications of every imaginable evil. Over time, the Daeva myth as Div be

Jamasp (also spelled Zamasp or Djamasp; ; Jāmāsp) was Sasanian King of Kings of Iran from 496 to 498/9. He was a son of Peroz I and younger brother of Kavad I. Jamasp was installed on the Sasanian throne upon the deposition of the latter by the nobility and clergy. Jamasp's mother's name is unknown.

Sasanian temporary emperor (628)

Sasan (Middle Persian 𐭮𐭠𐭮𐭠𐭭 Sāsān > Persian ساسان), considered the eponymous ancestor of the Sasanian (or Sassanid) Dynasty (ruled 224–651) in Persia, was "a great warrior and hunter" and a Zoroastrian high priest in Pars. He lived sometime near the fall of the Arsacid (Parthian) Empire in the early 3rd century.

use both this parameter and |birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) --> | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | burial_place = | other_names = Afereydun(آفریدون) | known_for = Victory over Azhi Dahaka | spouse = ArnavazShahrnaz | partner = | children = SalmTurIraj | parents = | mother = Faranak | father = Abtin | relatives =

legendary figure

use both this parameter and |birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) --> | death_place = | death_cause = | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | burial_place = | burial_coordinates = | monuments = | other_names = | siglum = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | years_active = | era = | employer = | organization = | agent = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | net_worth = | height = | television = | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | movem

In Iranian legend, Afrasiab ( afrāsiyāb; , ), also known as Fraŋrasyan, is the king and hero of Turan in Iranian national history. He is the main antagonist of the Iranians in the Persian epic Shahnameh, written by Ferdowsi.

thumb|Rostam and Esfandiyar Esfandiyār is a legendary hero from Iranian national history and one of the characters of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh (The Book of Kings). He was the son and the crown prince of the Kayanian King Goshtasp and Queen Katāyoun. He was the grandchild of Kay Lohrasp.

Legendary king of Iran and a character in Iranian/Persian epic

thumb|Depiction of the hero Siyâvash: Persian miniature from the illuminated [[Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp]]

Sasanian military officer (died 636)

Bozorgmehr-e Bokhtagan (Middle Persian: Wuzurgmihr ī Bōkhtagān), also known as Burzmihr, Dadmihr and Dadburzmihr, was an Iranian sage and dignitary from the Karen family, who served as minister (wuzurg framadār) of the Sasanian king (shah) Kavad I (), and the latter's son and successor Khosrow I (). He also served as the military commander (spahbed) of Khwarasan under Khosrow I and his successor Hormizd IV (). According to Persian sources, Bozorgmehr was a man of "exceptional wisdom and sage counsels" and later became a characterisation of the expression. His name appears in several important

mythical Persian dynasty

Pabag (, Pāpak/Pābag; ) was an Iranian prince who ruled Stakhr, the capital of Pars, from 205 or 206 until his death sometime between 207 and 210. He was the father, stepfather, grandfather, or father-in-law of Ardashir I, the founder of the Sasanian Empire. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Shapur.

Vishtaspa ( ; ; ; ) is the Avestan-language name of a figure appearing in Zoroastrian scripture and tradition, portrayed as an early follower of Zoroaster, and his patron, and instrumental in the diffusion of the prophet's message. Although Vishtaspa is not epigraphically attested, he is – like Zoroaster – traditionally assumed to have been a historical figure, although obscured by accretions from legend and myth.

fictional king from the Iranian/Persian epic

Sassanid Ruler

Barbad (; ) was a Persian musician-poet, music theorist and composer of Sasanian music. He served as chief minstrel-poet under the Shahanshah Khosrow II (). A barbat player, he was the most distinguished Persian musician of his time and is regarded among the major figures in the history of Persian music.

mythical character

In the Persian national epic Shahnameh by the poet Ferdowsi, Rakhsh (, meaning "luminous") is the stallion of the protagonist Rostam.

Sām (), also transliterated Saam, is a mythical hero of ancient Persia, and an important character in the Shahnameh epic. He was the son of Nariman, grandson of Garshasp and father to Zāl. Disheartened by his son Zāl being born with white hair, he ordered that Zāl be left at the Alborz mountains which were home to the Simurgh. The Simurgh cared for the young Zāl until Sām was influenced by a dream to reunite with his son. Sām was Iran's champion during the rule of Fereydun, Manuchehr and Nowzar. He was appointed by Manuchehr to rule Zabulistan (Sistan), and then Mazandaran. After Manuchehr, be

character in the Shahnameh

daughter of Byzantine emperor Maurice, and wife of Khosrau II

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