Iraj (Shahnameh)

A page from Shahnameh, in the gallery of Arthur M. Sackler, showing Iraj being slain by his elder brothers Salm and Tur

Iraj (Persian: ایرج - ʾīraj‎; Pahlavi: ērič; from Avestan: āiriyā) is a character in the Persian epic Shahnameh. Based on Iranian mythology, he is the youngest son of Fereydun. In the Avestan legends, Pahlavi literature, Sasanian-based Arabic and Persian sources, and particularly in Shahnameh, he is considered the name-giver of the Iranian nation, the ancestor of their royal houses, and a paragon of those slain in defense of just causes.[1]

When Fereydun divides his kingdom, he gives Iraj the farr, as well as the heartland of Iran. Salm and Tur conspire and kill Iraj. The revenge for the murder of the innocent king pits the clan of Iraj, supported by King Fereydun, against the clan of Tur. Subsequently, Manučehr, Iraj's grandson from a slave maiden, kills both Salm and Tur. As for Fereydun, he abdicated in favor of his grandson, Manučehr.[2]


Family Tree

 
 
 
 
 
 
Shahrnaz
 
 
 
Fereydun
 
 
 
 
 
Arnavaz
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fereydun's Brother
 
 
 
 
 
Iraj
 
 
Salm
 
 
 
Tur
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pashang
 
 
 
 
 
Iraj's daughter
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Manuchehr
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sources

  1. ↑ Shapour Shahbazi, Alireza. "IRAJ". Iranica website. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  2. ↑ Bashiri, Iraj. "Characters of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh". heritageinstitute.com. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
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