FIRST KING

Keyumars was the world's first king. He made a castle amidst the mountains. He wore a garment, made of leopard's skin, and had animals at his service.

THE MARTYR

Siamak was Keyumars' son. He fought a war against Ahriman's son to defend his father's throne. He was defeated during the battle.

THE FOUNDER

Hushang was Siamak's son. While he was still young, he avenged his father's death. Then, he became the king. During his forty years of kingship, he discovered fire. Using fire, he extracted iron and made tools and weapons with it. Hence, he founded the first blacksmiths.

DOMINATOR OF DEEVS

Tahmoures was Hushang's son. He had a vizier named Sharasp. Having Sharasp by his side, Tahmoures found a divine force, and overpowered the Divs. He then learned writing in thirty languages from them; including Roman, Arabic, Chinese, and etc.

THE VIRTUOUS

Sharasp was Tahmoures' aged vizier. He was the symbol of innocence and purity. He had the divine force and helped Tahmoures to find this divine source as well.

THE BRILLIANT

Jamshid was Tahmoures' son and ruled for seven hundred years. He made many technological developments during his long reign. He was the founder of Nowruz. But eventually, he was overcome by arrogance. He thought of himself as a god. His people rebelled against him. Finally, after one hundred years of running, he was captured and eliminated by Zahhāk's order.

THE RIGHTEOUS

Mardas was the big-hearted king of the Arabian realm, and he was Zahhāk's father. Mardas was a merciful king. Once, Zahhāk was tempted by the Devil to set a trap and kill his father. Mardas fell in the hole that Zahhāk had made for him, and died. Then Zahhāk sat on the throne.

THE SERPENT KING

Zahhāk was Mardas' son. With the Devil's temptations, he set a trap and killed his own father to become the king of the the land of Taz. He ruled over the Seven Realms for a thousand years, and filled the world with his cruelty and wretchedness. When the Devil kissed his shoulders, two snakes grew on them.

THE COOK

Armayel was a commoner who learned cooking alongside, Garmayel, so that they could enter the royal kitchen of Zahhāk. They were fed up with seeing that young men were getting killed everyday, only to become Zahhāk's serpents' food. When they entered the royal kitchen, they managed to help many many people flee.

THE COOK

Garmayel was a commoner who learned cooking alongside, Armayel, so that they could enter the royal kitchen of Zahhāk. They were fed up with seeing that young men were getting killed everyday, only to become Zahhāk's serpents' food. When they entered the royal kitchen, they managed to save one of the two young men.

THE BLACKSMITH

Kave, a blacksmith, rebelled when Zahhak took his son for sacrifice. Confronting the tyrant, he tore up a testimony declaring Zahhak’s righteousness and raised his apron as a flag. Rallying the people, Kaaveh led them to Fereydoon to overthrow the king.

THE FEARLESS

Faranak was Fereydoun's mother and Abtin's wife. She had a crucial role in saving Fereydoun while he was still a child. If it wasn't for Faranak, Fereydoun would have been long dead, and could never defeat Zahhāk.

THE UPRIGHT

Abtin, Fereydoon’s father, was killed by Zahhak after a prophecy foretold his son would overthrow the tyrant. Faraanak escaped with infant Fereydoon, saving him from Zahhak’s wrath.

THE CONSPIRATOR

Parmayeh and Kianoush were Fereydoun's older brothers who helped him to make the bull-headed club. They also supported their brother in fighting against Zahhāk.

THE CONSPIRATOR

Kianoush and Parmayeh were Fereydoun's older brothers who helped him to make the bull-headed club. They also supported their brother in fighting against Zahhāk.

THE CURSED PRINCESS

Arnavaz and Shahrnaz were Jamshid's daughters. After Jamshid's death, they had to marry Zahhāk. But eventually, when Zahhāk was defeated, Fereydoun freed them from their captivation, and married them.

THE CURSED PRINCESS

Arnavaz and Shahrnaz were Jamshid's daughters. After Jamshid's death, they had to marry Zahhāk. But eventually, when Zahhāk was defeated, Fereydoun freed them from their captivation, and married them.

THE GIFTED

Fereydoun was Faranak and Abtin's son. He defeated Zahhāk and ruled for five hundred years. He was the one to found The Mehregan festival. He then divided the seven countries between his three sons. He gave Rome to Salm, Touran to Tur, and Iran to Iraj.

THE ELEGANT

Arezou was the princess of Yemen, and Sarv's daughter. She married Salm.

THE ALLURING

Azadeh was the princess of Yemen, and Sarv's daughter. She married Tur.

THE STUNNING

Sahi was the princess of Yemen, and Sarv's daughter. She married Iraj.

THE MAID

Mahafarid was Iraj's servant. When Iraj was killed, she was pregnant with his daughter.

THE BRILLIANT

Described as “Mahrokh”, meaning “face like the moon”, was Mahafarid and Iraj's daughter. She got married to Pashang and gave birth to Manouchehr.

THE LONG HAIRED

Rudaba, daughter of the king of Kabul, fell deeply in love with Zaal despite her servants’ doubts and the hardships they faced. Defying all obstacles, she stayed true to her love and became Zaal’s wife and the mother of Rustam.

THE SAGACIOUS

Sindokht was Rudaba's mother and the queen of Kabul. She is one the wisest women in the epic.

THE BREATHTAKING

Tahmine, daughter of the King of Samangan, fell in love with Rostam when he came searching for Rakhsh. They wed, and Rostam gave her a token to tie to their child—on the arm if a son, or in the hair if a daughter.

THE RUNAWAY

Siavash’s mother, of Garsivaz’s lineage, fled her home in fear. Found by Giv and Tous, their quarrel over her reached Kay Kavus, who married her himself.

THE TYRANT

Afrasiab, son of Pashang and king of Turan, was a tyrant who repeatedly waged war against Iran. He ordered Siavash’s death, sparking long conflicts between the two realms. Ultimately, he was killed by Kay Khosrow, Siavash’s son, avenging his father’s death.

THE VIGOROUS

Viseh was the namesake and patriarch of the great touranian House of Viseh. He was a warlord under Pashang, the Turanian King.

THE CHIEF

Barman was the son of Viseh, and a Turani warlord. He killed Ghobad, and was defeated by the hands of Gharen.

THE BLACK

Qarākhān was a Turani Warlord during the time of Nowzar, in the war between Iran and Turan.

THE STONEHEART

Khazabran was a Turani Champion during the reign of Pashang. Alongside Shamasas, he invaded Sistani. He was defeated by the hands of Zaal.

THE DESERTER

Shamasas was a Turani champion during the reign of Pashang. He invaded Sistan alongside Khazabran. Unlike Khazabran, he ran away from the battle. He was defeated by the hands of Gharen, during the reign of Kayghobad.