The Shahnameh Volume III: A New English Translation

THE SHAHNAMEH was completed in the year 1010 by the Persian poet Ferdowsi. A monumental undertaking encompassing ancient myths, legends, and history, it is one of Iran's most cherished works of literature. Volume III opens with the battle of eleven Iranian heroes and their Tooranian counterparts during the reign of Kay Khosrow. Kay Khosrow completes his mission to kill Tooran's evil king, Afraasiyaab, and nominates a new King of Iran, Lohraasp. The attention shifts eastward toward the land of Rum. We witness the relationships between the Caesars and the rulers of Iran. We witness the fight between Esfandiar and Rostam. Soon after, Rostam, our hero and protagonist of the first three volumes, dies at the hands of his own brother, Shaghaad. This volume concludes with the reign of Eskandar, an adaptation of the life of Alexander the Great and his invasion and occupation of the Persian Empire. In his long poem, Ferdowsi spends a not insignificant amount of time with questions on human existence and destiny. He advises us to guard ourselves against greed and corruption, and to follow the path of truth, wisdom, and generosity.