Myth Madness: A Mythology Podcast

Faramarz was a popular hero in medieval Iran. In the Faramarznameh, the hero, still a young man, is sent with an army to India to help an allied king fight a rebellious warlord. Along the way Faramarz fights against ferocious beasts, a monstrous demon, and has a long philosophical discussion with a sage.

This episode (87) will be a little different. The first part covers the hero Rostam’s struggle against the monstrous Akvan Div. In the second part, I include other shorter Rostam-related adventures, specifically stories about some of his children like Faramarz, Banu Goshasp, and Jahangir.

This episode (86) focuses on Tus the Golden-Footed, one of the most compelling yet frustrating secondary characters in the Shahnameh epic poem. A strong warrior and brave leader but with a weak reputation among his fellow nobles, these stories show him to be arrogant and impulsive , but also explain why Tus feels he is unfairly deprived of the respect he deserves.

Following the tragedy of Seyavash, his father Kay Kavus was no longer suited to rule Iran. This episode (85) tells how Seyavash’s son Kay Khosrow was spared and how the Persian hero Giv wandered the land of Turan looking for Persia’s new king.

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.