Mazandaran (Shahnameh)

Mâzandarân[1][2][3] (Persian: مازندران‎) is an important place in Shahnameh, the national epic of Greater Iran. It should not be confused with Mazandaran Province in northern Iran, formerly known as Tabarestan.[2] Besides the Shahnameh, there are also references to Mazandaran in Avesta.[2]

In Shahnameh

In Shahnameh, Mazandaran is the land of great Divs (demons). It is such a horrible place that no Shah of Iran dare to go there and conquer the land. One day a Div comes to Kai Kavus and reads a poem for him and describes the beauties of Mazandaran. Being impressed by the Div's description, Kai Kavus, who is an irrational and unwise man, decides to conquer Mazandaran. Everyone is opposed to this decision, because even great kings such as Jamshid and Fereydun didn't try to conquer the land, nonetheless, Kai Kavus insists on it. He goes there, but is defeated and imprisoned by the Divs of Mazandaran. He and two-thirds of his army are blinded by Divs. He writes a letter to Zāl and asks him to come to Mazandaran and rescue him. But Zāl is old and he can't go there himself. Instead, he sends Rostam, who is a child at the moment, to Mazandaran. Rostam has to pass Haft Khan in order to get to Mazandaran.

Prior to the above story, there are some references to Mazandaran in the story of Zāl and Rudaba. It seems that Sām, the grandfather of Rostam, had conquered Mazandaran at the time of Manuchehr.[2]

Mazandaran is inhabited by a population that are different to Iranians. They don't believe in God, instead they are magicians and for this reason, they could not be defeated by manpower, only God's power could defeat them.[3]

It is not clear where Mazandaran is located – various places have been suggested. Some scholars believe that Mazandaran is a region in India,[3] others believe that Mazandaran is in the Levant and Egypt,[2] but there is no consensus between scholars.

References

  1. ↑ "Mazndaran in Shahnameh". Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mazandaran and Alborz in Shahnameh". Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "The dream of conquering Mazandaran". Retrieved 15 February 2016.
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