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Character · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II

Gurvi Zerehگروی زره

ga-ROO-ee ze-REHalso Gurvi

The Turanian who beheads Siavash. The text also has 'Gurvi'.

In the poem
First at B9.46, Siavash Shows His Skill at Polo; last at C9.4, The Death of Rostam
Named
37 times, in 15 sections
Main stories
B9 The Story of Siavash (16); C3 The Battle of the Twelve Rukhs (12); B14 The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin (3)
Plates
Vol II: IV
Genealogical plate: The House of Viseh
Volume II, Plate IV: The House of Viseh. Tap to open the genealogies.

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Gurvi Zereh most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Gurvi Zereh. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
B9.46

Siavash Shows His Skill at Polo

Siavash outplays Garsivaz at polo, lifts five coats of mail on his father’s spear and shoots arrows through four shields. Pressed to wrestle, he declines to fight Garsivaz and instead unhorses two champions, Gurvi and Damur, at once. Garsivaz departs humiliated and resentful.

  • B9.46.55
    At last Gurvi Zereh rose and spoke:“I stand prepared to take the contest’s yoke.”
  • B9.46.56
    At Gurvi’s words Siavash’s brow grew tight,His face drew furrows at the offered fight.
  • B9.46.57
    He praised Gurvi as strongest in the band,No Turanian warrior matched his hand.
Gurvi Zereh named 6 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B9.53

Siavash Is Taken by Afrasiab

Siavash rides towards Iran but meets Afrasiab’s army. He refuses to fight his king, and the Turanians kill his thousand Iranians. Wounded by arrows, he is bound by Gurvi. Pilsam urges Afrasiab to wait for Piran, but Garsivaz, Damur and Gurvi urge death, and the king wavers.

  • B9.53.46
    He rolled upon dark earth as drunk with pain,Then Gurvi Zereh bound him on the plain.
  • B9.53.92
    Then Damur came, with Gurvi Zereh near,Both shaken still, but speaking without fear:
Gurvi Zereh named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B9.55

Siavash Falls by Gurvi’s Hand

Gurvi drags Siavash to the archery ground and cuts his throat over a golden basin, and a plant springs from the blood poured on barren earth. Darkness covers the world. Afrasiab orders Farangis beaten to kill her unborn child, the nobles protest, and Pilsam rides to warn Piran.

  • B9.55.1
    Garsivaz cast a glance that Gurvi knew,And Gurvi toward the captive prince then drew.
  • B9.55.2
    In Gurvi shame and chivalry were dead,And mercy from his savage spirit fled.
  • B9.55.17
    Then Gurvi Zereh took Garsivaz’s blade,A water-colored khanjar keenly made.
Gurvi Zereh named 7 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B14.3

Houman Bears the Khan’s Message

Houman, in disguise, asks Rostam his name. Rostam will not give it, but names his terms: the surrender of all who are guilty of Siavash’s blood, from Garsivaz to the sons of Viseh. Shaken, Houman gives a false name and learns that Rostam wants to see Piran.

  • B14.3.33
    Gurvi Zereh, and all his offspring base;Let dust and ruin fall upon his race.
  • B14.3.66
    Of Piran, Kulbad, what have you to say?Of Gurvi Zereh, Pulad, here today?”
Gurvi Zereh named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C3.28

Gudarz and Piran Choose the Warriors

Piran offers terms: let chosen champions and the two old chiefs decide the war, with the losing side renouncing revenge. Gudarz answers with the charge of Siavash’s murder and accepts. Ten pairs are matched, Gudarz against Piran, and each side marks a hill for its victors’ banners.

  • C3.28.38
    They matched strong Giv with Gurvi, Zereh’s son;In strength and love of strife they stood as one.
  • C3.28.39
    Of all that army, Gurvi bore the blameOn whom the Shah’s most bitter curses came.
  • C3.28.40
    For Gurvi seized the spotless prince’s beard,Then cut his head away as all men feared.
Gurvi Zereh named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C3.30

Giv Battles Gurvi

Giv meets Gurvi, son of Zereh. Their spears break; Giv, meaning to take him alive, stuns him with the ox-head gorz, hauls him against his chest, drags him from the saddle and binds his hands. He drives his prisoner ahead of him and plants his banner.

  • C3.30.1
    Next Gurvi, Zereh’s son, rode forth to fightWith Giv, Gudarz’s son, a man of might.
  • C3.30.7
    When Giv drew near, Gurvi, in dread, dismayed,Let fall his bow before the charge Giv made.
  • C3.30.12
    Then Gurvi weakened, could no longer keepHis saddle, falling senseless in a heap.
Gurvi Zereh named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C3.47

Piran Is Honored, and Gurvi Is Slain

Kay Khosrow reaches the field and is met on foot by the whole army with the ten slain. He praises Gudarz, weeps over Piran, has him embalmed and seated crowned in a tomb, then has Gurvi’s sinews drawn joint by joint and his throat cut for Siavash.

  • C3.47.16
    Giv brought in Gurvi, son of Zereh, bound,Before the chief of Iran, famed and crowned.
  • C3.47.17
    Khosrow beheld him; from his breast there cameA cold, deep sigh at Gurvi’s sight and name.
  • C3.47.55
    Khosrow then looked on Gurvi, Zereh’s son,And sighed at all the evil he had done.
Gurvi Zereh named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C4.38

Khosrow Returns to His Father’s City

Khosrow recrosses the sea in seven months, is met by Ashkash in Makran and by Rostam near Chin, and comes to Siavash-Gard, where he mourns on the ground of the murder and renews his vow. At Gang-Behesht he prays a whole night for word of Afrasiab.

  • C4.38.43
    There Garsivaz, that man of evil mark,And cursed Gurvi had made the bright world dark.
  • C4.38.46
    Then Rostam bowed to earth in grief and pain,And cursed the soul of Gurvi, foul with stain.
Gurvi Zereh named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 15 sections that name Gurvi Zereh
  1. B9.46 Siavash Shows His Skill at Polo
  2. B9.53 Siavash Is Taken by Afrasiab
  3. B9.54 Farangis Pleads before Afrasiab
  4. B9.55 Siavash Falls by Gurvi’s Hand
  5. B10.2 Kavus Hears of Siavash’s Fate
  6. B10.4 Rostam Takes Vengeance
  7. B12.12 The Death of Forood
  8. B14.3 Houman Bears the Khan’s Message
  9. B14.17 Rostam’s Letter to Kay Khosrow
  10. C3.28 Gudarz and Piran Choose the Warriors
  11. C3.30 Giv Battles Gurvi
  12. C3.40 Gudarz Returns from Battle
  13. C3.47 Piran Is Honored, and Gurvi Is Slain
  14. C4.38 Khosrow Returns to His Father’s City
  15. C9.4 The Death of Rostam

Family

Volume II · Plate IVThe House of Visehthe Battle of the Rukhs · C3

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
B9The Story of Siavash16B10Vengeance for Siavash and the Retrieval of Kay Khosrow2B12Forood and the Snowstorm Campaign1B14The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin3C3The Battle of the Twelve Rukhs12C4The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow2C9Rostam and Shaghad1

More in the Glossary and the index of characters.