Símúrgh

Also known as: Wonderful Bird / Wondrous Bird · Role: Griffin · First appears: Zál, the Son of Sám

In the Story of Zál, the Son of Sám, the Símúrgh carried the infant Zál from Alberz to her habitation and nourished and protected him for several years. In the Story of The Dream of Sám, she returned him to Sám, who received him as his son, and gave Zál a feather to burn if he ever faced danger, promising, “I will instantly appear to thee to ensure thy safety.”

In the Story of Rúdábeh, the Símúrgh gave advice that helped Rúdábeh recover from danger. Later, in the Story of Capture of the Brazen Fortress, Zál burned the feather to summon her. She healed Rakush and Rustem, drawing the arrows from their wounds; then she instructed Rustem to make a forked arrow from Kazú-tree wood and shoot Isfendiyár in the eyes, warning that whoever spilled his blood would suffer calamity for life.

Relationship record

Life events

• The Símúrgh took Zál from the mountain and carried him to its habitation.(Zál, the Son of Sám · 📍 Alberz)
  • With: Zál
  • “The Símúrgh, however, felt no inclination to devour him, but compassionately took him up in the air, and conveyed him to his own habitation.”
• The Símúrgh nourished and protected Zál for several years.(Zál, the Son of Sám)
  • With: Zál
  • “The young ones were also kind and affectionate to the infant, which was thus nourished and protected by the Símúrgh for several years.”
• Símúrgh restores Zál to Sám, who receives him as his son.(The Dream of Sám · 📍 Alberz)
  • With: Sám Zál
  • “and then the Símúrgh conveyed him to Sám, and said to him: ‘Receive thy son--he is of wonderful promise, and will be worthy of the throne and the diadem.’”
• Símúrgh gives Zál a feather to summon him in danger.(The Dream of Sám · 📍 Alberz)
  • With: Zál
  • “and, as a striking proof of affection, gave him a feather from his own wing, with these instructions:--“Whenever thou art involved in difficulty or danger, put this feather on the fire, and I will instantly appear to thee to ensure thy safety.”
• The Símúrgh gave advice that helped Rúdábeh recover from danger.(Rúdábeh · Part 4)
  • With: Rúdábeh
  • “The Símúrgh then gave some advice which was implicitly attended to, and the result was that Rúdábeh was soon out of danger.”
• Zál burns one of Símúrgh's feathers, summoning her to appear.(Capture of the Brazen Fortress · Part 8)
  • With: Zál
  • “So saying, Zál went up to a high place, and burnt the feather in a censer, and in a short time the Símúrgh stood before him.”
• Símúrgh removes Rakush's arrows and quickly heals his wounds.(Capture of the Brazen Fortress · Part 8)
  • With: Rakush
  • “He then brought forward Rakush, pierced by numerous arrows; upon which the wonderful Bird said to him, ‘Be under no alarm on that account, for I will soon cure him;’ and she immediately plucked out the rankling weapons with her beak, and the wounds, on passing a feather over them, were quickly healed.”
• Símúrgh removes Rustem's arrows and heals his wounds, restoring him to life and power.(Capture of the Brazen Fortress · Part 8)
  • With: Rustem
  • “To Rustem now she turns, and soothes his grief, And drawing forth the arrows, sucks the blood From out the wounds, which at her bidding close, And the illustrious champion is restored To life and power.”
• Símúrgh instructs Rustem to make a forked arrow from Kazú-tree wood and shoot Isfendiyár in the eyes.(Capture of the Brazen Fortress · Part 8 · 📍 Kazú-tree)
  • With: Rustem
  • “The Símúrgh then rubbed one of her feathers upon the eyes of Rustem, and directed him to take a branch of the Kazú-tree, and make it straight upon the fire, and form that wand into a forked arrow; after which he was to advance against Isfendiyár, and, placing the arrow on his bow-string, shoot it into the eyes of his enemy.”
• Símúrgh warns Rustem that whoever spills Isfendiyár's blood will suffer calamity for life.(Capture of the Brazen Fortress · Part 8)
  • With: Rustem
  • “‘The arrow will only make him blind,’ said the Símúrgh, ‘but he who spills the blood of Isfendiyár will never be free from calamity during his whole life.’”

Zál, the Son of Sám

• ward: Zál “The young ones were also kind and affectionate to the infant, which was thus nourished and protected by the Símúrgh for several years.”

The Dream of Sám

• ward: Zál “I have fed and protected thee like a kind nurse, and I have given thee the name of Dustán, like a father.”

Rúdábeh · Part 4

• protégé: Rúdábeh (The Símúrgh's advice helps protect Rúdábeh during childbirth.) “The Símúrgh then gave some advice which was implicitly attended to, and the result was that Rúdábeh was soon out of danger.”

Capture of the Brazen Fortress · Part 8

• protégé: Rustem “To Rustem now she turns, and soothes his grief, And drawing forth the arrows, sucks the blood From out the wounds, which at her bidding close, And the illustrious champion is restored To life and power.”
• protégé: Rakush “He then brought forward Rakush, pierced by numerous arrows; upon which the wonderful Bird said to him, ‘Be under no alarm on that account, for I will soon cure him;’ and she immediately plucked out the rankling weapons with her beak, and the wounds, on passing a feather over them, were quickly healed.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Sháh Námeh. Made with Rho MD.