Myth Madness: A Mythology Podcast

This episode (84) will cover the myth of Seyavash, a large part of the Shahnameh epic poem. Seyavash is presented as a perfect prince – strong, capable, wise, and handsome. But, these qualities are a double-edged sword for Seyavash. Sudabeh, Kay Kavus, and Persia’s enemy Afrasyab are all brought into his story, with tragic results.

This episode (83) features two more stories of the legendary Persian king Kay Kavus’s foolishness as recorded in the Shahnameh. The first involves a woman named Sudabeh, and the second again involves the mischief of divs.

This episode (82) will cover another of the Iranian hero Rostam’s adventures from the Shahnameh, an epic poem composed in Persian around 1010 AD. With the tragic story of Sohrab we begin to see Rostam’s flaws, his actions that come from them, and his despair that results.

The Persian ruler Kay Kavus is an utter fool. So when he falls into some serious trouble it becomes the hero Rostam's job to save him. To do so, in this episode, Rostam completes a series of trials. Due to the trials, Rostam is often superficially described as an Iranian Heracles.

Up to now the Shahnameh largely focused on conflicts between the forces of good and evil with evil being represented by monsters and strange otherworldly creatures. But now, the Shahnameh switches its approach, and the Iranian heroes will struggle against foreign human enemies. 
This episode (80) introduces the feud between the neighbouring kingdoms of Iran (Persia) and Turan, and the destruction wrought by the wars between them.