The Fate of Jamshid and the Origins of Iran

In the ancient Iranian myths and legends, time seemed to have no beginning, and the universe was in chaos. It was not until the great benevolent god Ahura Mazda wielded his boundless divine power to dispel darkness that light, sky, earth, and oceans came into being in the world.​

Ahura Mazda then created the primordial man Keyumars, who became the first king on earth, leading humanity to embark on their journey in this world. Keyumars' descendants multiplied continuously, and among them, one particularly outstanding figure was Jamshid.​

Jamshid was endowed with extraordinary wisdom and strength from birth. After ascending to the throne, he demonstrated remarkable ruling abilities, governing the country in perfect order. At that time, the land was fertile with abundant produce, and people lived and worked in peace and contentment. Jamshid's fame spread far and wide. He also crafted a magical "Farrah" aura; whoever wore it could fathom the mysteries of all things and control the power of nature.​

Under Jamshid's wise rule, the country continued to prosper, and people's reverence for him grew day by day. However, as time passed, Jamshid became dazzled by victory and glory, gradually losing himself. No longer satisfied with his mortal status, he even dared to attempt to be on an equal footing with Ahura Mazda, the creator of all things.​

Jamshid's arrogant act enraged Ahura Mazda. The benevolent god decided to punish him severely by reclaiming the "Farrah" aura that symbolized supreme power and wisdom. Deprived of the aura's protection, Jamshid's national strength declined rapidly, and the country fell into chaos and upheaval.​

Meanwhile, Zahhak, the evil serpent king and Arab prince, heard of Jamshid's downfall and led his evil army to invade. Zahhak possessed extraordinary magic, and two terrifying venomous snakes coiled on his head, constantly shrieking and demanding human brains to devour. To satisfy the snakes' desires, Zahhak cruelly killed two innocent subjects every day, feeding their brains to the snakes. His atrocities were abhorrent, and the people lived in dire suffering.​

Jamshid led his army to resist fiercely, but after losing the "Farrah" aura, his strength was greatly diminished. Eventually, he was defeated in the brutal war. Zahhak took advantage of the situation to overthrow Jamshid's rule and began a cruel reign that lasted for a thousand years. During this long millennium, the land of Iran was shrouded in darkness, and the people suffered immensely, constantly hoping for a hero to stand up and save them from misery.​

The gears of fate turned silently, and Fereydun, a descendant of Jamshid, was born in adversity. Fereydun was inherently brave and fearless, with a heart full of justice. From childhood, he aspired to overthrow Zahhak's tyrannical rule and rescue the suffering people.​

To evade Zahhak's pursuit, Fereydun endured countless hardships and dangers during his growth. He wandered everywhere, learning various knowledge and skills, and made many like-minded companions. By a stroke of luck, Fereydun received help from the divine bird Simurgh. Simurgh bestowed magical powers upon him and guided him to find the "Farrah" aura that had been seized by Zahhak.​

Reacquiring the "Farrah" aura, Fereydun's strength greatly increased. He confidently began to assemble an army, preparing to launch a counterattack against Zahhak. After long and careful preparations, Fereydun led his army towards Zahhak's castle.​

The two armies confronted each other, and the battlefield situation changed in an instant. Relying on his magic and the deterrence of the venomous snakes, Zahhak took the upper hand initially. But Fereydun showed no fear. With the blessing of the "Farrah" aura, he skillfully used tactics and led his army to resist tenaciously. After days of fierce fighting, Fereydun finally found Zahhak's weakness, defeated the evil serpent king in one fell swoop, bound him tightly, and imprisoned him deep in Mount Damavand.​

After successfully overthrowing Zahhak's rule, Fereydun was hailed as the new king by the people. He know the value of peace and justice, so he formulated a series of fair laws, vigorously developed the national economy, and led Iran back to prosperity and strength. To remember the lessons of his ancestors, Fereydun constantly warned himself and his subjects never to violate justice due to arrogance and greed.​

During Fereydun's reign, he carefully divided the country, assigning different regions to his three sons. He hoped that through this, his sons would learn responsibility and commitment, jointly guarding this hard-earned land. Since then, under the rule of Fereydun and his descendants, Iranian civilization has continued to inherit and develop, gradually forming the rich and profound Iranian culture of today. And this legend about Jamshid, Zahhak, and Fereydun, like a bright star, shines in the long river of Iranian history, passed down from generation to generation by Iranians. It constantly reminds people that justice will ultimately prevail over evil, arrogance will bring disaster, and only by upholding justice and humility can prosperity be achieved.​