Darab Nama
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The ''Darab-nama'' ( fa, داراب‌نامه) (Book of Daaraab) is a
Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
prose romance, written by the 12th-century writer
Abu Tahir Tarsusi Abu Tahir Tarsusi ( fa, ابوطاهر طرسوسی) was an Iranian peoples, Iranian story-teller and writer of the 12th century. No information exists about his life. His ''Nisba (onomastics), nisba'' Tarsusi (also spelled Tartusi) indicates a co ...
, in which the adventures of the
Kayanid The Kayanians (Persian: دودمان کیانیان; also Kays, Kayanids, Kaianids, Kayani, or Kiani) are a legendary dynasty of Persian/Iranian tradition and folklore which supposedly ruled after the Pishdadians. Considered collectively, the Kay ...
Iranian King Darab are recounted.


Author

Not much is known about the author. His full name is given as Abu Taher Mohammad ben Hasan ben 'Ali ben Musa Tarsusi (or Tartusi).


Story

The story, written in prose, is about the adventures of the legendary king Darab, the son of Bahman, and Homay. Homay is the daughter of king Sam Čarash of
Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
and gives birth to Darab, but he sets him afloat in a box on the
Euphrates The Euphrates () is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Tigris–Euphrates river system, Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia ( ''the land between the rivers'') ...
. By the age of 13, Darab has already proven his power and youth. He is told by the launderer that he was a foundling and sets out to find his true parents. Finally, he meets his mother and they are reconciled. However, it was not yet time for Darab to assume the throne, so he sets off on series of adventures in the land and sea. In
Oman Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of t ...
, he falls in love with queen Tamrusia who was widowed and was of
Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
origin. They flee Oman together by ships for the islands of
Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
. The lovers encounter many obstacles including the storms of the sea, talismans, cannibals and sea monsters. But through prophetic dreams, magical cures, divine intervention and the heroic acts of Darab, they are saved. However, circumstances separate the two, and Darab, by this time thirty years old, reaches an island. In the island, he marries the former king's daughter and is crowned king. Meanwhile, Tamrusiya meets her brother Mehrasb, and they undergo adventures in the Greek islands. Circumstances lead to their separation and Mehrasb marries a mermaid (Dokhtar-e-Abi). Four year later, Tamrusiya returns to the sea. Mehrasb also sets sail, reaching an island of one-eyed people. Mehabs becomes their king and marries Gowharasa, the former king's widow, whose sister Zankalisa has married Darab. Gowharasa dies, and Mehrasb kills all her family. When Darab learns of the massacre of the family of Gowharasa, he conquers the island and takes Mehrasb as prisoner. Tamrusia reaches Darab's island, and they get married. Darab's other wife, Zankalisa, also arrives and kills her rival, but a new born son of Tamrusia survives. Darab names this son by his own name "
Darab Darab ( fa, داراب, translit=Dārāb) — formerly Darabkert, or Darábgerd ("city of Darius")— is a city and capital of Darab County, Fars Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 54,513, in 13,279 families. Historical ...
". Zankalisa later is poisoned by a snake bite and dies. Darab and his son set out to return to
Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. While passing through Oman, Darab learns that his mother Homay was defeated in the battle against the
Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman people, Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caes ...
of Rome, who is descendant from Shahnameh mythical hero Salm, the son of
Fereydun use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) --> , death_place = , death_cause = , resting_place = , resting_place_coordinates = , burial_place ...
(a hero from the
Shahnameh The ''Shahnameh'' or ''Shahnama'' ( fa, شاهنامه, Šāhnāme, lit=The Book of Kings, ) is a long epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi between c. 977 and 1010 CE and is the national epic of Greater Iran. Consisting of some 50,00 ...
). Thus the Caesar of Rome is also distantly related to Darab. Darab prepares to aid Homay, but before he can reach her, Homay is captured in Ray (ancient name for a part of modern
Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
). Darab rescues her, and she turns the throne to him. Caesar of Rome is eventually captured and is held in Estakhr (a place in modern Fars province). Further fighting results in the defeat of Filqus, the brother of the Caesar. He is captured by Darab, and Darab demands his daughter Nahid (Old Persian
Anahita Anahita is the Old Persian form of the name of an Iranian goddess and appears in complete and earlier form as ('), the Avestan name of an Indo-Iranian cosmological figure venerated as the divinity of "the Waters" (Aban) and hence associate ...
, which also meant
Venus Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is sometimes called Earth's "sister" or "twin" planet as it is almost as large and has a similar composition. As an interior planet to Earth, Venus (like Mercury) appears in Earth's sky never fa ...
) as a tribute. Nahid and Darab are married, however Darab sends her back to her, because of her bad breath. However, Nahid is impregnated by Darab before being sent back. In secret, she gives birth to
Iskandar Iskandar, Iskander, Askander, Eskinder, or Scandar ( ar, إسكندر ( fa, اسکندر ''Eskandar'' or سکندر ''Skandar''), is a variant of the given name Alexander in cultures such as Iran (Persia), Arabia and others throughout the Middle Ea ...
(
Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon ( grc, wikt:Ἀλέξανδρος, Ἀλέξανδρος, Alexandros; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Maced ...
). In order to avoid a scandal, she leaves him on a mountain where
Aristotle Aristotle (; grc-gre, Ἀριστοτέλης ''Aristotélēs'', ; 384–322 BC) was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. Taught by Plato, he was the founder of the Peripatetic school of phil ...
has his retreats. Alexander the Great is found by an old woman, who takes care of him, nourishes him and rears him under the supervision of Aristotle. At the same time, Darab dies and his son, also named Darab becomes king of Persia. Alexander the Great at this time stars his conquest of Persia, and he and Darab (the son), who are half-brothers, finally meet on the battle field. Darab is killed during this battle, and while dying, Alexander comes to see him. One of the last requests of Darab before dying was that Alexander marry his daughter, Rowshanak (also named Buran-Dokht). However, Rowshanak (compare to Roxanna in Greek sources for an
Iranian Iranian may refer to: * Iran, a sovereign state * Iranian peoples, the speakers of the Iranian languages. The term Iranic peoples is also used for this term to distinguish the pan ethnic term from Iranian, used for the people of Iran * Iranian lan ...
princess married by Alexander) is not happy about this marriage. Rowshanak, being a warrior and warlike woman herself, raises an army to do battle against Alexander. Battle rages in several places from
Aleppo )), is an adjective which means "white-colored mixed with black". , motto = , image_map = , mapsize = , map_caption = , image_map1 = ...
to Estakhr in Fars. Alexander finally captures Rowshanak. She again refuses to marry him and escapes from Alexander. Subsequently, after more fighting around Estakhar, Alexander surprises Rowshanak while she is bathing. Finally, she agrees to marry Alexander. After they are married, Alexander installs Rowshanak as the queen of Persia and sets off for other lands. His primary aim now is conversing with sages and seeking the Water of Life (foundation of youth where whoever drinks from it lives forever). He first sets off to
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
where he encounters the Indian King Kaydavar, with, or aided by, water. This king resists Alexander so strongly that he is forced to send Rowshanak for reinforcement. Rowshanak leaders a Persian army into India and captures Kaydavar. Rowshanak continues to aid Alexander in other missions, particularly against wizardry and magic. This is because she is divinely protected against natural hazards. In India Rowshanak and Alexandar have several adventures where she is aided by the water. After the campaign in India, Alexander sets sail for the
Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula, (; ar, شِبْهُ الْجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّة, , "Arabian Peninsula" or , , "Island of the Arabs") or Arabia, is a peninsula of Western Asia, situated northeast of Africa on the Arabian Plate ...
. He passes through
Mecca Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red ...
and pauses in Egypt. In Egypt, Rowshanak and her part way and they do not meet again. Rowshanak returns to Persia and Alexander heads west in search of the Water of Life. The story ends when Alexandar dies in
Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
and Rowshanak dies shortly after in Persia.


See also

*
List of Persian poets and authors The list is not comprehensive, but is continuously being expanded and includes Persian writers and poets from Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, India, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. This list is alphabetized by chronological or ...
*
Persian literature Persian literature ( fa, ادبیات فارسی, Adabiyâte fârsi, ) comprises oral compositions and written texts in the Persian language and is one of the world's oldest literatures. It spans over two-and-a-half millennia. Its sources h ...
*
Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon ( grc, wikt:Ἀλέξανδρος, Ἀλέξανδρος, Alexandros; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Maced ...


Sources

* * {{Shahnameh Persian literature Persian mythology Epic poems in Persian