Iranian mythology, or Persian mythology in western term, is the body of the myths originally told by ancient Persians and other Iranian peoples and a genre of ancient Persian folklore. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities of deities, heroes, and mythological creatures, and the origins and significance of the ancient Persians' own cult and ritual practices. Modern scholars study the myths to shed light on the religious and political institutions of not only present-day Iran but of the Persosphere, which includes regions of West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, and Transcaucasia where the culture of Iran has had significant influence. Historically, these were regions long ruled by dynasties of various Iranian empires, that incorporated considerable aspects of Persian culture through extensive contact with them, or where sufficient Iranian peoples settled to still maintain communities who patronize their respective cultures. It roughly corresponds to the Iranian Plateau and its bordering plains.
Siyâvash or Siyâvoš or Siavash is a major figure in Ferdowsi's epic, the Shahnameh. He was a legendary Iranian prince from the earliest days of the Iranian Empire. A handsome and desirable young man, his name literally means "the one with black stallions". Ferdowsi, the author of the Book of Kings (Shahnameh), names his horse Shabrang Behzād.
Bijan and Manijeh is a love story in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh. Bijan was the son of Giv, a famous Iranian knight during the reign of Kay Khosrow, the Shah of Iran, and Banu Goshasp, the heroine daughter of Rostam. Bijan falls in love with Manijeh, the daughter of Afrasiab, the king of Turan and the greatest enemy of Iran. The tale of his suffering and Manijeh’s constancy has been quoted by several others.
Kay Khosrow is a legendary king of Iran of Kayanian dynasty and a character in the Persian epic book, Shahnameh. He was the son of the Iranian prince Siavash who married princess Farangis of Turan while in exile. Before Kay Khosrow was born, his father was murdered in Turan by his maternal grandfather Afrasiab. Kay Khosrow was trained as a child in the desert by Piran, the wise vizier of Afrasiab. His paternal grandfather was Kay Kāvus, the legendary Shah of Iran who chose him as his heir when he returned to Iran with his mother. The name Kay Khosrow derives from Avestan 𐬐𐬀𐬎𐬎𐬌 𐬵𐬀𐬊𐬯𐬭𐬀𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬢𐬵𐬀 Kauui Haosrauuaŋha, meaning "seer/poet who has good fame".
Tous son of Nowzar is a mythological Iranian prince and hero from the Pishdadian dynasty, whose deeds and adventures were told in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh.
Piran son of Viseh is a Turanian figure in Shahnameh, the national epic of Greater Iran. Beside Shahnameh, Piran is also mentioned in other sources such as Tabari and Tha'ālibī. He is the king of Khotan and the spahbed of Afrasiab, the king of Turan. He is described as a wise and intelligent man, seeking to bring peace to Iran and Turan. In old Iranian writings, Piran and Aghrirat are the only Turanians that have been described positively. Piran plays a vital role in the story of Siavash, the story of Kay Khosro and the story of Bizhan and Manizhe. Piran was killed by Goudarz in the battle of Davazdah Rokh. Kay Khosro mourned the death of Piran and ordered to wash his body with Musk and Ambergris and ordered to be buried in the cave of Zibad. In Persian culture, Piran is a symbol of wisdom. It has been said that Karim Khan called Mohammad Khan Qajar "Piran Viseh". Piran is often compared to Bozorgmehr.
Goudarz is one of the main Iranian heroes in Shahnameh, the national epic of Greater Iran, and progenitor of one of its most prominent families. He is son of Kashvad, father of Giv and Roham and the grandfather of Bizhan. His first appearance is in the time of Kay Kavus and thereafter he appears almost in every story of the heroic age, sometimes he is the spahbed of Iranian Army. His personality is described very positively with traits such as loyalty, patience and altruism.
Giv or Gev is a legendary Iranian knight and one of the main heroes in the New Persian epic poem of Shahnameh, the national epic of Iran. A member of the House of Karen, he is the son of Godarz, brother of Roham and father of Bizhan, as well as a descendant of Kaveh the Blacksmith.
Fariburz is an Iranian hero in Shahnameh, the national epic, of Greater Iran. He is son of Kay Kavus and brother of Siyâvash. He appears in the story of Mazandaran, the story of Sohrab and the story of Siavash. But his most important role is when Giv brings Kay Khosrow back to Iran. Tous, another Iranian hero is opposed to the rulership of Kay Khosrow in favor of Fariburz, because Kay Khosrow is grandson of Afrasiab. Kay Kavus, unable to choose between Kay Khosrow and Fariburz, decides to give the rulership to the one who can successfully capture a fortress in Ardabil. Tous and Fariburz are unable to take the fortress, while Giv and Kay Khosrow are able to take it easily. Kay Khosrow thus becomes the king of Iran. Fariburz thereafter obeys Kay Khosrow and participates in the wars between Iran and Turan. Fariburz married Farangis, Kay Khosrow's mother. Fariburz is among those heroes that disappear in the snow after Kay Khosrow's ascend.
Hojir is an Iranian hero in Shahnameh, the national epic of Iran. Hojir is son of Goudarz and brother of Giv and Rohham. Hojir first appears in the story of Rostam and Sohrab.
Gostaham is the name of a number of Iranian heroes in Shahnameh.
Davāzdah Rokh is a story in Shahnameh. This relatively long story is described as one of the finest stories of Shahnameh in terms of "plot, dramatic description, and insight into human nature".
Humān not to be confused with Human, is one of the most famous Turanian heroes in Shahnameh, the national epic of Greater Iran. Humān is famous for his bravery, loyalty, and chivalry, such that even Iranians who are longtime enemies of Turanians admire his personality. He is a descendant of Tur, a son of Viseh and brother of Piran. Humān is the highest ranking Turanian commander and after Piran, he is the second leading member of Viseh clan. Human first appears in the story of Rostam and Sohrab, where Afrasiab sends him with an army of 12,000 men to accompany Sohrab in his journey to Iran. He has been instructed by Afrasiab to not let Sohrab recognize his father, Rostam, so that they fight together and one of them kill the other. Rostam on the deathbed of Sohrab, agreed to promise that he would not hurt Humān and his army.
House of Nowzar also known as Nowzarian (نوذریان) is an important Iranian clan in Shahnameh and Persian mythology. Nowzar ruled Iran for seven years. After his death, the grandees of Iran didn't recognize his sons Tous and Gostaham as the shahanshah of Iran and instead they gave the throne to Kayanian dynasty.
Biderafsh is a Turanian hero in Shahnameh, the national epic of Greater Iran. He fought in Arjasp's army against Iranians.
Zangay-i Shavaran is an Iranian hero at the time of Kay Khosrow. His fame is in relation to Wife Siyavash Jawira. After Siyâvash death, Iranians did not know about Siyavash family in Turan. Only two Iranians knew of Siavash and Jawira marriage, and Zangay-i Shavaran and Bahram were both.
Qaren is present in the Shahnameh during the period of Fereydoun. He is alongside gladiators, such as Nariman, Shapur, Nastooh, Shidoosh and Shirvy. All of these fighters are involved in the battle of Manuchehr because of Kane Iraj.
Qobád or Kawād is a mythical and inspiring personality. He is the brother of Qaren who was the ruler of Ray under Nowzar. Qobad was an old man killed in battle with Barman.
In the epic poem Shahnameh, Tageuo is one of the Turan heroes in charge of a border state between Iran and Turan. His state was the third province attacked by Iranians under the command of Tous after Chaeam and Kasa-Roud.
Nastihan is a Turanian hero who was involved in the Iran-Turan wars. He fled from the Battle of Homavn. Afrasiab sent Nastihan to the Iranian war after killing his other son Houman with 10,000 men.
