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• akinakes [weapon:dagger][Greek-Persian history][Japanese_Fiction]

  akinakes; άκινάκης [Gk.]
  Scythian dagger/sword described by Herodotus, particulary in connection with the worship of their War God; the weapon was also used by Achameneid Persians.
  Also, in Yoshiki Tanaka's fantasy fiction world of Arslan War-Chronicles, it is the dagger-type used by the imaginary denizens of "Pars".

al-Samsama [weapon:sword][historical]

al-Ṣamṣāma ‏الﺼامﺼىما [Arabic]

sword of the Yemenite poet-warrior, 'Amr b. Ma'dīkarib al-Zubaidī (Amr bin Maadi Karib) ‏عمرو بن معديكرب الزبيدي nicknamed Abu Thaur, "Father of the Bull". He defeated a succession of Persians in single combat at the Battle of Qadisiyya (November, 636 A.D.) [‏عَمرُو بنُ مَعد يَكرِب]

Azrael [bestiary:bird] [Japanese_Fiction]/ [Judeo-Christian-Islam] [angel]

[< Azrael, the angel of death. Pers. ‘Izrā’il عزرائل but more often عزراییل and عزرائيل.]


In the Japanese fantasy fiction Arslan-Senki, the hawk/royal falcon (shāhīn شاهين) given to Prince Arslān by the marzban general Kishwād " Twin-Sword". Originally was one of a pair, but the sibling bird named ⇒Surush was killed on a espionage mission.

For an illustration of the hawk/falcon perched on Arslān's shoulder, see the ⇒Ruknabad page.

Birmaya [bestiary:cattle] [Persian:Shah Nama]

Birmāya, Barmāya برمایه or برمايه [form found only in Shah-nama] "beautiful" alternate spellings: Barmāyūn, Birmāyūn برمايون [old form in Daqīqī etc.], Bazmāyūn, Farmāyūn, Māyūn, Pazhmāya, Pazhmāyūn. derivation: from Avestan barəmāyaona, the epithet of an ox. translations: Birmaya [Warner tr.], Purmaieh [Helen Zimmern tr.], Barmayeh [Shahnameh Ferdowsi Soc.] Name of the multi-colored cow who nursed ⇒Faridun(Faridūn) ever since he was a newborn infant, acting as his wetnurse for three years whilst he grew up in Mt. Alburz. Described as the "chief of kine", her hairs were described as "a coat all bright and peacock-hued". It is also suggested that in the original tale, Birmaya/Barmayun may haven been the name of the foster brother of Faridun, both of them suckled by Birmaya's mother. (see article under barmāya (.pdf retrieval) at Encyc. Iranica)

*1 In Zimmern's translated version, when Faridun orders his mace ( ⇒«gurza 'i gav-sar») to be made, it was to be crafted with a bovine head in remembrance of her (and thus is called «cow-headed mace»). While it is natural to assume this was the case, this is not paralleled in the Warner translation and appears to be an embellishment. (Zimmern refers to her translation as a "paraphrase").

Buraq [bestiary:horse#] [Islam]

 

Burāq براق [Arabic, Farsi]; alternate spellings/translations: Al-Buraq, Al Borak, burâq, etc. The female-headed creature smaller than a mule and bigger than an ass on which the prophet Muhammed mounted to ascend to the Seventh Heaven.

BNF Supp. Pers 1029, 125v (17th c.), Nizami's Layla and Majnun. The poem of Khusrau and Shirin in the same manuscript carries a similar illustration (fol. 4v);

BNF turc 190, fol. 36 (15th c.), From the Miraj Nameh "Night of heavenly ascent"

crysknife [weapon:dagger] [Sci-Fi:Frank Herbert]

 

In Frank Herbert's Sci-Fi Dune (1965) and its sequels, the fabled dagger of Arrakis, borne by the planet's desert inhabitants called the Fremen, crafted out of the tooth of an endemic creature called the sandworm.     Shadout Mapes's fealty being tested with a crysknife at her throat. — the movie "Dune", dir. David Lynch, © 1984 Dino de Laurentiis Corporation courtesy Mark @ www.duneinfo.com In the presence of Lady Jessica, a Fremen woman named Shadout Mapes produced a dagger with a black grip furrowed with "deep finger ridges". She unsheathed it, revealing a crysknife: its milk-white blade had a sheen of its own, measured roughly twenty centimeters in length, and was "double-edged like a kindjal". Herbert probably derived the name from the a type of weapon called the kris or creese (also crys) which most dictionary nowadays seem to be defined as a variety of Malay dagger with a wiggly blade*1 and matching sheath.

—sale item at Lions Gate Arms & Armour (above) a Javanese kris and sheath, mid-20th century. *1 But ascribing a "wiggly" blade is not really warranted. Looking the word up in the OED, one finds that the Malay word kirīs is borrowed from the Javanese kirīs, krīs, kres. And the usage of that term in 16th century travelogues refer to daggers from Java or neighboring islands. Also absent is any indication that it was necessarily wavy-bladed. In particular, one Dutch explorer, van Linschoten describes in His Discourse of Voyages into the Easte and Weste Indies (1598), Chapter 33, a dagger produced in western Sumatra called a crys — the spelling closely matching that used by Herbert in his Dune world. ⇒ See the entry Crease, Cris" in Henry Yule and A. C. Burnell's Hobson-Jobson; and also the contemporary account in Hakluyt, ch. 386.

Dhu 'l-faqar [weap:sword][Islam]

Dhu al-faqar, Dhu l-faqar, Ḏū l-Faqār, ذوالفقار [Arab.]; Zú’l-Fikár "Lord of Cleaving" [Burton, The Book of the Sword]

Zulfagar, Zulfakar; Zu l-faqar; ẕū’l-faqār ذو[^ی]لفقار [Steingass], [Farsi]

["possessor of spine/groove"] Name of the sword of the unbeliever `Ās bin Munabbih [Munabbih b. al-Hajjaj, Enc. of Islam] slain at Badr, which became the property of Muhammad and subsequently of `Alī Bin Abī Ţālib the son-in-law of the prophet.

@Dhūl Qarnain [personage] [Persian:Shah Nama (Iskandar)][Persian:Iskandar Nama] [Islam]

Title meaning "Two-horned", ascribed to Iskandar (Alexander the Great). Also the "Two-horned" figure mentioned in the "Cave" chapter (Surah 18) of the Quran, is widely considered to be based on Alexander.

@Faridun [personage] [Persian:Shah Nama]

Farīdūn فریدون   also فريدون   ^{_{(*see endnote 1)}}
alternate spellings/translations: Faridun [Warner], Feridoun [H. Zimmer], Fereydoon [Shahnameh Ferdowsi Soc.]

Legendary king of Persia, and in the Shah-Nameh, the foretold vanquisher of the serpent king Zahhak (Ẓaḥḥāk) ضحاک . As for Faridun's «ox-headed mace» (cow-headed mace, bull-headed mace) see ⇒ «gurza 'i gav-sar».

The cow that acted as his wetnurse was ⇒ Birmaya

Faridun rode a "rose-red charger" [Warner] (possibly named ⇒Gul-rang or Golrang) when he defeated the serpent-king, but he may have very well ridden many others since he reigned for 500 years.

Gulrang, Golrang [Persian:Shah Nama][bestiary:horse]

Gul-rang گلرنگ alternate spelling: Golrang [Shahnameh Ferdowsi Soc., etc.], "rose-red charger" [Warner], his steed [Zimmern] Meaning "rose-coloured," possibly*1 the name of Faridun's horse as he rode out to strike the serpent-king Zahhak at his palace, called by the Persians the Gang-i-Dizhukht (gangi dizhhuḵẖt) گنگ دژهوخت, known by the Arabs as Bait al Mukaddas بيتالمقدس the "Holy Place," and translated by Zimmern as Jerusalem. In the Warner translation the horse is simply called a "rose-red charger".

*1 The the word gul-rang is glossed only as "rose-coloured, roseate" in Steingass, which makes this more tenuous than ⇒Shab-rang which is glossed as a proper name.

«gurza 'i gav-sar» [weapon:mace][Persia:Shah Nama]

gurza[ʼi] gāv-sār گرزه [ی] گاو سار   (*see endnote 2), also gurz~ گرز [ gurza="large wooden club, mace" + gavu "moutain ox" + sar "head". ] alternate spellings: ~ gāv-sar گاو سر, [Steingass]. gorz-e-gāvsār, gorz-ye ~, gorza-ye ~ [Ency. Iranica] . alternate names: ~gāv-paikar گاو پیکر or ~ gāv-chihr گاو چـهر "with a bull's face"; ~ gav-rang گاو رنگ "bull colored"; [Steingass], etc., etc. translations: «ox-headed mace» [Warner], «cow-headed mace» [H. Zimmern] 1. ⇒Faridun (Faridūn)'s weapon. That such a figure as Faridūn would appear in the world, brandishing the bovine-headed mace, to defeat the serpent king Zahhak (Ẓaḥḥāk) ضحاک was presaged: the evil king himself dreamt of it. If the dream-interpretaton of the priest Zirak (Zīrak "cunning" زيرك / زیرك ) can be held to be accurate, it was a "mace of steel" [Warner tr.] or gurz pūlādīn*1 گرز پولادين / گرز پولادین (Shah Nameh Book I, Chapter v Zahhak, Part.2). The explanation that the mace was made in the image of ⇒Birmaya, Faridun's bovine wet-nurse, appears to be an embellishment by translator Helen Zimmern. 2. Rustam also wields the mace, as well as a number of other heroes.

Faridun defeats Zahhak - with the cow-headed mace. (Princeton U. collection, MSS 59G, fol. 13v) Journey to Mount Damavand—Brit. Lib. Or. 12985, fol. 80 (1573 Persian) — Asadi's Garshasp-nama (11c.) Rustam striking Akwan —Brit. Lib. I.O. Islamic 1256, fol. 207 (1630-40 Persian) — the Shah-nama *1 To be exact, pūlād or "the finest Damascus steel" was the stuff that the mace got made of.

kuyata (quyata) [bestiary:bovine] [Islam]

Kuyootà [E., Lane] قيوتى(??) The cosmic bull that supports the earth. In literature, the name of the bull is often not given, and tracking it is quite elusive. (It is probably easier to find instances of bahamut being given as the name of the cosmic fish/serpent that lies beneath the bull.) In Burton's Arabian nights*1, it is simply called the "Bull of the Earth" (Gáw-i-Zamín گاو [ی ] زمين [Arab.)] It is discussed in Borges's Book of Imaginary Beings *2

*1 Burton's Arabian Nights volume 5, The Adventures of Bulukiya, Four Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night. See footnote (FN#532) where "Gaw-i-Zamin" is given. In Steingass' Persian-English dict.,, gāwi zamīn p.1072, p.622 Jorge Luis Borges (1899~1986). See The Kujata entry at the ZF [Zoology of the Fantastic] site. *2 Lane, Edward *3 Qazwīnī, Zakarīyā ibn Muhammad (1208/9-1283/4) زكرياء ابن محمد القزوينى , Kitāb ‘ajā'ib al-makhlūqāt "Wonders of Creation (Marvels of Things Created)" كتاب عجائب المخلوقات *4 Ibn al-Wardī, Zayn al-Dīn ‘Umar ibn al-Muzaffar (d. 1348/9), Kharidat al-'Aja'ib "The Pearl of Wonders" خريدة العجائب — Library of Congress, Earth exihibit Oct 04 Cosmic bull above the great fish and angel; from Zekeriya Kazvinî, Acaib-ül Mahlûkat "Wonders of Creation" ( ca. 1553.), i.e., the Turkish translation of the Cosmography of Qazwīnī. (full-size .jpg img.) *6

nabid [item:potable] [--]

nabīdh nabid refers to an intoxicating drink that the Rus (~ vikings) brewed for the funeral ritual. Ibn Fadlan [Ibn Faḍlān ابن فضلان], who was on the mission to the Bulgars on the Volga (in 921-2) observed in his Risala that the traders of the Volga offered bread, meat, onions, milk, and nabid to wooden posts with human-like faces, surrounding by smaller figures, with high poles set up behind these. The worshipper prostrates himself and makes report of the slave girls and sable he has traded, down to the prices paid. Ibn Fadlan goes on to say that when a man of means dies, a third of his wealth goes into the purchase of nabid, which is consumed by bereaved relatives and a slave girl readied for sacrifice, where a ten day sexual orgy follows. The slave girl is strangled and a dagger is driven into her ribs by an old woman (referred to as the Angel of Death) , and her body is burnt with the deceased.

*1 James E. Montgomery, Ibn Fadlan and the Rusiyyah PDF version | HTML version | HTML unicode version * This is an travelogue by Ibn Fadlan, an ambassador sent by the caliphate to the The Rūs (Bulghars of the Volga). Highlights: * The Persian word for wine is bada/bade or may/mey, but "neat wine" or "pure wine" (not watered-down) is called bada'i nab or mayi nab; whereas bada 'i nav is "new wine".

Raksh [bestiary:horse] [Persian:Shah Nama]

Raḵẖsh شخر alternate spellings/translations: Rakhsh [Warner], Rakush [H. Zimmer], [Shahnameh Ferdowsi Soc.] etymology: "lightning, flash" Rustam's famous horse.

Rakshna [bestiary:horse] [Japanese_Fiction]

In the fantasy fiction, Arslan senki, the name of the horse ridden by the further fictionalized Kai Khusrau. Its tale is sung by Gīv in The Abridged Geste of Kai Khosrau. See the ⇒ Ruknabad page.

Ruknabad [weapon:sword] [Japanese: Fantasy Fiction]

[< Ruknābād, name of a river through Shirāz.]


In the fantasy-fiction Arslans Senki, the royal sword obtained by Prince Arslān. (⇒ Ruknabad page)

Rustam [Persian: Shah Nama] [personage]

His horse was named (⇒ Rakhsha). For his forked arrow, see below (⇒ «Rustam's Arrow»); For his mace, refer to ⇒ «gurza 'i gav-sar»).

«Rustam's Arrow» [weapon:arrow] [Persian:Shah Nama]

The magic arrow that Rustam [Rustem(Zim.)/Rostam3(Iranica)] made from the branches of a tamarisk (gaz) tree as taught by the sīmurg̠ẖ [Simurgh (Zim.), Sīmorḡ (Iranica)], and shot Isfandiar [Isfendiar(Zim.), Esfandīār (Iranica)] through the eyes, the only place where he was vulnerable. Isfandiyar was possessed of a "brazen body" [rūyīn-tan (Iranica)] and thus remained unscathed in the single combat on the previous day, whereas Rustam and his horse Rakhsha receiving grievous arrow wounds. In miniature paintings, we see forked arrows that blind both eyes at once. Rustam's father Zal took out the plumage of his foster mother the Simurgh and burned it, summoning the bird of God. The Simurgh, whose mate had been killed by Isfandiyar during his seven exploits, heals both the wounded warrior and horse. The Simugh's feather doused in milk is applied to the wound which seals closed overnight. The bird consequently provides him with the means to kill Prince Isfandiyar if he must, but tells Rustam that he must exhaust every attempt to make peace before he resorts to violence.

scene: "Rustam shoots double-pointed arrow in Isfandiyar's eyes" — miniature painting at the Princeton Shahnameh Project

1. Shab-dez [bestiary:horse] [Persia]

   Shab-dez شبدیز or شبديز alternate spellings: Shabdiz. Famous horse of Khusrau II (reigned 590-628) nicknamed "Parwez" (the victorious). Horse mounted by the king as depicted in the relief at Taq-i Bostan is said to be this horse. When the horse died, none of his subjects dared to communicate the news to the shah, fearing the messenger of the tiding will be put to death. The musician Barbad devised a way to inform the king by playing his instrument.	Khusrau II Parwez, From the relief carving at Taq-e Bostan — courtesy Livius, photo by Marco Prins	Rock Carving of Khusru II c. A.D. 620, at Tāq-i-Bōstān A. Front view of the King's helmet (H. Russell Robinson, Oriental Armour, p. 23)
   	Scene from Khusrau and Shirin The shah spying on Shirin as she bathes by the stream. (Bodleian Library manuscript)	Khusraw seated, as the musician Barbad plays his lute while hidden in a tree. (Detail)(Shahnama, Iraq, Baghdad(?), c. 1300 ) — courtesy Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Nasli M. Heeramaneck Collection, gift of Joan Palevsky, M.73.5.406

2. Shab-rang [bestiary:horse] [Persia]

   Shab-rang شبرنگ alternate spellings/translations: black steed, black charger, etc. [Warner] etymology[shab "night, darkness" + rang "color" ] 1. a dark bay or iron-grey horse; name of the horse of Prince Siyawush (Siyāwush) [Siyavash (Zimmern)], son of Kai Kaus [Kavus (Zimmern)] and father of Kai Khosrau; Shab-rang is often not construed as a proper name and is rendered simply "black steed" or "black charger". 2. In the fantasy-fiction Arslan Senki, the name of the black horse supposedly meaning "black shadow" which is ridden by Daryūn, the most formidable fighter in the Pars army, earning the nickname of the "black-clad knight" by his enemies, and that of mard-e-mardan "the warrior among warriors" from his Parsian compatriots.

3. «Shiboob's feet» [feet] [Antar]

   Shiboob (tr. Terrick Hamilton); Shidoub (survey by Epiphanius Wilson); Shibūb ‏شبوب [Arabic]. nickname: Abu Riyah ‏اب ريح‎ (?)

   The feet faster than a horse, beloging to Antar's half-brother named Shiboob, nicknamed Ebe reah [Ebe Reeah, Abu Riyah] "father of the Winds (tr. Terrick Hamilton, vol. 1, Chap.III, p.134) .
   

   Surush [bestiary:bird] [Japanese_Fiction]

   Surush   سروش
   

   [< Pers. Sarosh, Surosh (Steingass), Surūsh, Srōsh. Avest. Sraoshahe, Sraosha.; Serosch [H.Zimmern], Surush [Warner]. ]

   1. In the Japanese fantasy fiction Arslan senki, Surūshi is the falcon dispatched by marzban general Kishwād "Twin-Sword" on a scouting mission and mercilessly cut down by Lord Silver Visor (rival Prince Hirmes) before carrying an intelligence message.

   2. In the Shah-Nameh, the angel Surush [Warner] (Serosch [Zimmern]) enters the scene on several occasions,e.g., he appears in the opening chapter "bedight with leopard-skin" and "fairy-like" to warn King Kaiumers(Gaiumart) of the plotting of the dīvs (demons). And when Faridūn is ready to strike a finishing death-blow upon the serpent-king Zahhak with his ⇒ «gurza 'i gav-sar» "ox-headed mace", the angel halts him, saying time is not ripe.

   The Persia Sarosh is "the angel of obedience "(Steingass' Persian Dictionary), but Sraosha was originally one of the "Eternal Holy Ones" (Amesha-spentas; later Amshaspands) or archangels of the Zoroastrian faith. In the Arda Wiraz Namag a work commonly refered to as the "Iranian Divina Commedia", Sarosh (or Sros) is the one who guides Ardā Wīrāz or "Wiraz the just" (formerly spelt Arta Viraf) through the different heavens. Thus in Islam he becomes identified with that angel who guides the prophet Muhammed on his "ascent" (mi‘raj ) to the the heavens in likewise fashion — this guiding angel being Gabriel (Pers. Jabrail or Jibrīl جبريل) "the Angel of Life". The mi‘raj was incidentally the same journey in which Muhammed rode the horse ⇒ Burāq to reach seventh heaven.

   • Zu'l-faqar [weap:sword][Islam]

     Zulfagar, Zulfakar; Zu l-faqar (ẕū’l-faqār)

     Farsi (Persian) form of ⇒Dhu al-faqar

   • @Zurvan Akarana [deity][persian]

   zarwān zervan, zarvan., etc. + akarānī

   Deity of Persian Time-space. The name "Zurvan Akarani" means "Time Eternal"

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