Rostam (رستم)

The mightiest hero of Iran, son of Zal and Rudabeh. Rudabeh faced a fatal labor because Rostam was of extraordinary size, making natural birth impossible and leading her to the brink of death. Desperate, her husband Zal burned a feather given to him by Simurgh to summon her for help. Rostam was born via a C-section (known as Rostamzad). Rostam undertook seven labors—battling a lion, a dragon, and a witch—before finally killing Div-e Sepid, freeing King Key Kavus, and using Div-e Sepid’s liver blood to restore the king’s sight. Rostam marries Tahmineh, the princess of Samangan. Tahmineh bears him a son, Sohrab, but keeps the child a secret, leading to the tragedy where Rostam unknowingly kills Sohrab in battle. Siavash was raised by Rostam after he was sent away by his father, King Key Kavus. Rostam served as the chief Pahlavan (hero) under Key Khosrow. Afrasiab, king of Turan, was repeatedly defeated by the armies of Iran, with Rostam often leading these forces. Rostam kills Esfandiyar in an epic battle and trains his son Bahman. Rostam is the hero who rescues Bijan and Manijeh. Rostam is eventually killed by his jealous half-brother, Shaghad, who plots with the King of Kabul. Shaghad tricks Rostam into falling into a deep, covered pit filled with poisoned spears. Rostam uses his final breath to shoot an arrow through the tree that Shaghad is hiding behind, killing his half-brother before dying himself.