Kaveh the Blacksmith a 5,000-year-old figure in Iranian mythology, leads a popular uprising against the ruthless foreign ruler Zahāk. The story is told by the 10th century Persian poet Ferdowsi in Shahnameh, the national epic of Iran (Persia). Kāveh is the most famous Persian mythical figure in Iran's resistance to tyrannical foreign rule. As a symbol of resistance and unity, he raised a leather apron on a spear, known as Derafsh Kaviani ! The flag was later adorned with precious jewels and became a symbol of Persian sovereignty for hundreds of years until the eventual defeat of the Sassanid Empire. According to ancient legend, Kaveh was a blacksmith and, after losing two children to the serpents of Zahāk, Kaveh expelled foreigners and regained control of Iran. Many followed Kāveh to the Alborz Mountains in Damāvand, where Fereydun, son of Ābtin and Faranak was living. Then the young man, Fereydun, agreed to lead people against Zahāk. Zahāk had already abandoned the capital and the capital fell into Fereydun's army with little resistance. Fereydun thus released all of Zahāk's prisoners. Mehregan is the celebration for Fereydun's victory over Zahāk; it is also the time when autumn rains begin to fall. The dynasty of Karen Pahlav (also known as the House of Karen) claimed to be Kāveh's descendants. (Info Credit: Kaveh_the_Blacksmith, Wiki) [Image 1-4: Representative Images of Kaveh. 5. Illustration of Kaveh surrounded by his followers in a World War II magazine]
Iranian Civilization
