Kaveh
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Kāveh the Blacksmith (کاوه آهنگر in Persian; alternative spelling: Kāvah) is a mythical figure of ancient Iranian who leads a popular uprising of Iranians against a ruthless foreign ruler, Zahhāk. His story is narrated in the Epic of Shāhnāma by the 10th century poet Ferdowsi Tousi. Based on Avestan tradition, Zahhāk, or more correctly Azhi Dahāka, is from Babylonia and more or less a demon, not human. Ferdowsi masterfully recasts this mythical character as an evil and tyrannical Arab king.
Kaveh is the most famous mythological character in resistance against despotic foreign rule in Iran. After losing 18 of his sons to Zahhāk's serpents, he rebelled against the Tazi (Arab) ruler of the Iran and convened the people to overthrow the tyrant king and end his millennium-long rule. He then assembled Derafsh Kaviani which was his leather apron on a spear, called Iranians for the kingship of the Fereydun. Later on people decorated this flag with jewels and the flag became the symbol of Iranian independence, resistance, resilience and the revolutionary momentum of the masses revolt against evil invaders.
Jashn-e mehregan is the celeberation for the Fereydun's victory over Zahhāk; it is also the time when autumn rains begin to fall.
| Shahnameh by Ferdowsi |
|---|
| Characters |
| Abtin | Arash | Afrasiab | Esfandiyar | Fereydun | Goodarz | Gordafarid | Hushang | Jamshid | Kaveh | Kai Khosrow | Keyumars | Manuchehr | Rakhsh | Roham | Rostam | Rostam Farrokhzad | Rudaba | Saam | Shaghad | Simurgh | Siavash | Sohrab | Tahmineh | Tahmuras | Zal | Zahhak |
| Places |
| Iran | Mazandaran | Turan |
