Shahnameh: Book Written 1000 Years Ago, Amazing Description of the Middle East TODAY

Shahnameh (The Persian Book of Kings) is one of Persia's (Iran's) classic cultural, historic books. The history, ethics, celebrations, culture, even the religious attitudes in this book define the "heart belief" and character of Iranians deeper than any other work.  

It is a book of poetry, songs, epic dramas of  wars, love stories, defeat and victory that "are" the essential character of Persia.  It may be the most powerful definition of Persians, than anything ever written. In this time of international diplomacy, peace and conflict with Iran every person dealing with Iranians, should be familiar with this epic piece.  Upon finishing this book, new insights into the Persian (Iranian) character were mine.  No doubt, leaders of the United States and the greater world should know what is to be learned here.  Golden thrones, giant warriors, demons on the battlefield, romance and love alliances, giant worms that rule entire villages, an albino prince raised by a nest of birds and even a king cursed with vipers that grow out of his shoulders emerge as vivid characters of this poem. Each has something to teach about life, integrity, persistence, glory, power and evil. 

The 886 page book, written by Abolqasem Ferdowsi, 1000 years ago tells the story of ancient Iran, it's leaders, it's wars, it's influence, it's motivations and it's greatest victory's and losses. One's ability to better understand Iran, Persia or Iranians will find multiple insights of enlightenment while reading Shahnameh. The author, Ferdowsi, took 30 years to complete this 10th century epic. Persian heroes, their motivations and development of their unique place on earth, they are all in Shahnameh.  

The book ends with the takeover of Persia by the Islamic Arabian conquerors.    Ironically, the book tells us much about today in Iran, as it describes control issues and the "different" culture that had different motivations, aspirations, self image and dream desires than Iranians.  Many Iranians around the world, prefer to call themselves "Persians" as if to say: "I identify best with the true heart character of my nation, not how outsiders have tried to redefine us, since the Arabian armies took our nation."

But modern, post revolution editions of the Shahnameh have been clipped, censored, or edited, leaving out one of the most powerful chapters of the book.  In the last chapter of the book,  Ferdowsi quoted  the great general Rostam as his nation was about to fall in defeat by the Islamic Arab army.  I say defeated, but not conquered.  Persia, the idea of Persia, will never be conquered as long as these ideals, stories and poems are told.

These stories are quoted, recited, and sung by Persians everywhere, often behind the locked doors of their homes, but they are alive. The stories are enlivened with artwork of the drama told.

We at BootheGlobalPerspectives quote and here republish some of "the last words" that have been censured out by the Islamic regime for the past 30 years. They are in the  last chapter of the Book of Kings (Shahnameh) of Persia, only in part. I recommend that you read them for yourself. The book is brilliantly  translated into English (free of censorship) by Dick Davis and published by Penguin Classic books.  I call this section: 

WHEN THE PULPIT REPLACED THE THRONE OF PERSIA

These are the words of Rostam, the son of Hormozd who was commanded by Yazdegerd to lead the Persian troops against the invading Arab armies. Rostam was an astute, intelligent man and a fine warrior, a very knowledgeable  astrologer, he  paid attention to the advice of priests....he took his astrolabe and observed the stars and when he saw the day of disaster that loomed he buried his head in his hands. He wrote a letter to his brother, beginning with praise of God, who brings forth good and evil fates to pass. Then he continues. 

 

"A wise man will be saddened when he learns

Of how the moving sphere of heaven turns.....

This house will lose all trace of sovereignty

Of royal glory, and of victory.

 

Ahead of us lie war and endless strife,

Such that my failing heart despairs of life...

 

But for the Persians I will weep, and for 

The House of Sasan ruined by this war:

Alas for their great crown and throne, for all

The royal splendor destined now to fall,

To be fragmented by the Arab's might;

The stars decree for us defeat and flight....

 

BUT WHEN THE PULPIT'S EQUAL TO THE THRONE

AND ABU BAKR'S AND OMAR'S NAMES ARE KNOWN, 

OUR LONG TRAVAILS WILL BE AS NAUGHT, AND ALL 

THE GLORY WE HAVE KNOWN WILL FADE AND FALL.

 

THE STARS ARE WITH THE ARABS, AND YOU'LL SEE

NO CROWN OR THRONE, NO ROYAL SOVEREIGNTY:

LONG DAYS WILL PASS UNTIL A WORTHLESS FOOL

WILL LEAD HIS FOLLOWERS AND PRESUME TO RULE:

 

THEY'LL DRESS IN BLACK THEIR HEADDRESS WILL BE MADE

OF TWISTED LENGTHS OF SILK OR BLACK BROCADE. 

JUSTICE AND CHARITY WILL DISAPPEAR,

AT NIGHT, THE TIME TO HIDE AWAY AND SLEEP, 

MEN'S EYES WILL GLITTER TO MAKE OTHERS WEEK.

 

STRANGERS WILL RULE US THEN, AND WITH THEIR MIGHT

THEY'LL PLUNDER US AND TURN OUR DAYS TO NIGHT.

THEY WILL NOT CARE FOR JUST OR RIGHTEOUS MEN,

DECEIT AND FRAUDULENCE WILL FLOURISH THEN.

 

WARRIORS WILL GO ON FOOT, WHILE PUFFED-UP PRIDE

AND EMPTY BOASTS WILL ARM THEMSELVES AND RIDE;

THE PEASANTRY WILL SUFFER FROM NEGLECT.

LINEAGE AND SKILL WILL GARNER NO RESPECT.

 

MEN WILL BE MUTUAL THIEVES AND HAVE NO SHAME,

CURSES AND BLESSING WILL BE THOUGHT THE SAME.

...NO MAN WILL TRUST HIS SON, AND EQUALLY 

NO SON WILL TRUST HIS FATHER'S HONESTY

 

A MISBEGOTTEN SLAVE WILL RULE THE EARTH,

GREATNESS AND LINEAGE WILL HAVE NO WORTH,

NO ONE WILL KEEP HIS WORD, AND MEN WILL FIND

THE TONGUE AS FILLED WITH EVIL AS THE MIND.

MEN WILL CONCEAL THEIR WEALTH, BUT WHEN THEY'VE DIED,

 

THEIR FOES WILL PILFER EVERYTHING THEY HIDE.

MEN WILL PRETEND THEY ARE HOLY, OR THEY ARE WISE

TO MAKE A LIVELIHOOD BY TELLING LIES....

 

THERE'LL BE NO FEASTS, NO FESTIVALS OF STATE,

NO PLEASURES, NO MUSICIANS, NONE OF THESE:

BUT THERE'LL BE LIES, AND TRAPS, AND TREACHERIES.

 

MEN WILL CHEAT EACH OTHER WHILE THEY CALMLY COUNTERFEIT RELIGIOUS FAITH....

THEY 'LL SPILL THE BLOOD OF FELLOW MEN...."

 

Rostam then goes on to say that this message and images from the heavens,

"HAVE DRIED MY MOUTH, MY CHEEKS TURN PALE,

FELL MY SICKENED HEART WITHIN ME FAIL."

 

Persians love poetry, music, dance and history. Young learn the stories from the old. They quote the history, poems and stories in private meetings,behind the locked doors of their homes, with tears they sing the songs of Persia's past glory, covered with darkness by non Persian interlopers. The politics of Persia has changed more times and even more often than most nations on earth. But the essential character of "Persia", what makes Iran unique, still exists. We at BootheGlobalPerspectives are pleased to share some of these words of Persian history and literature.  

 

Read the book, it is one of the greatest pieces of literature of (Iran). But get an uncut, uncensored version, we recommend:

 SHAHNAMEH, THE PERSIAN BOOK OF KINGS, By Abolqasem Ferdowsi. Penquin Classics, ISBN: 978-0-14-310493-3