New Naqqaliشاهنامه
Being · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II, III

Simorghسیمرغ

see-MORGH

The wise and wondrous bird of Mount Alborz who raises the infant Zal and later guides Rostam’s birth.

In the poem
First at A7.2, The Strange Birth of Zal; last at D6.6, Ardavan Pursues Ardeshir and Golnar
Named
46 times, in 19 sections (including 17 where the name may belong to Simorgh (slain by Esfandiyar))
Main stories
A7 The First Kings: Manuchehr (19); C8 The Tragedy of Rostam and Esfandiyar (17); A9 The Birth and Early Feats of Rostam; Manuchehr’s Closing Counsel (4)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Simorgh most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Simorgh. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
A7.2

The Strange Birth of Zal

Sahm’s wife bears a beautiful son whose hair is snow-white. Ashamed, and fearing the child is the offspring of a Div, Sahm has him left on Mount Alborz. The Simorgh swoops down to take him for her chicks, but pity moves her and she raises him.

  • A7.2.39
    The Simorgh there had built her lofty nest,Its home was far from every creature’s quest.
  • A7.2.48
    When hunger seized the Simorgh’s waiting brood,She rose on mighty wings in search of food.
  • A7.2.53
    God filled the Simorgh’s heart with pity mild;She lost all thought of feeding on the child.
Simorgh named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
A7.3

Sahm Dreams of His Son

Dreams rebuke Sahm, and his priests urge him to find his son. At Alborz he prays for a way up. The Simorgh names the youth Dastan, gives him a feather to summon her, and carries him down. Sahm repents and names him Zal-e-Zar.

  • A7.3.38
    Sahm stared at hard rock and the fearful nest;The Simorgh’s savage grandeur gripped his breast.
  • A7.3.51
    The Simorgh gazed from Alborz’ lofty height,And saw Sahm’s company come into sight.
  • A7.3.61
    Though never yet had human speech been heard,From Simorgh he had learned the spoken word.
Simorgh named 9 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
A7.4

Manuchehr Hears of Zal

Manuchehr sends his son Nohzar to welcome Sahm, who hurries to court with Zal. The king marvels at the youth and asks for his story, and Sahm tells of the dreams, the nest, and the Simorgh returning his son.

  • A7.4.30
    Then Shah asked of the Simorgh and the height,And why the honored child had known such plight.
  • A7.4.33
    In time the tale spread out through every town;The names of Zal and Simorgh won renown.
  • A7.4.37
    Within were Simorgh’s chicks and Zal beside;They seemed as peers together there allied.
Simorgh named 5 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
A7.6

Sahm Gives the Kingdom to Zal

Ordered to campaign against Mazandaran and the Gorgasaran, Sahm entrusts Zal to his elders and gives him Zabul. Zal begs to go with him but is sent back. He takes the throne and studies with sages until his wisdom and beauty are famous.

  • A7.6.9
    The Simorgh bore him to her mountain height,Yet Heaven never left him without light.
Simorgh named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
A9.1

A Hero Is Born

Rudabeh’s pregnancy brings her near death. Zal burns the Simorgh’s feather, and the bird tells him to have a skilled Mobad drug Rudabeh with wine and deliver the child through her side. Rostam is born, a silk effigy of him delights Sahm, and the boy grows prodigiously.

  • A9.1.16
    Then suddenly a thought came to his mind:The Simorgh’s plume he once had left behind.
  • A9.1.18
    A brazier blazed beneath his anxious stare;He burned the Simorgh’s feather in its flare.
  • A9.1.44
    The Simorgh left; Zal took the plume she gave,And followed every counsel, calm and brave.
Simorgh named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C8.14

Esfandiyar Insults Rostam’s Race

Esfandiyar repeats a tale he says he had from the Mobadan: that Zal was Div-born, exposed by Sahm, reared on carrion by a contemptuous Simorgh, and that from this base stock came Rostam and a family that reaches after kingship.

  • C8.14.7
    The Simorgh came, her wings spread out to fly;No noble bearing, no farr met her eye.
  • C8.14.9
    Though hunger gnawed, the Simorgh’s scorn was plain;She held his body worthless, in disdain.
  • C8.14.11
    In time the Simorgh came to love the child;And so the years passed by him in the wild.
Simorgh named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C8.25

The Simorgh Comes to Rostam’s Aid

Zal burns the Simorgh’s feather. The bird draws out the arrowheads and heals Rostam and Rakhsh, warns that Esfandiyar’s killer is doomed in both worlds, then leads Rostam to a tamarisk beside the sea and teaches him to make the fatal arrow.

  • C8.25.4
    He lit a censer’s fire amid the gloom,And burned a portion of the Simorgh’s plume.
  • C8.25.10
    The Simorgh said, “O king, what grief or fearHas made you burn my plume to call me here?”
  • C8.25.17
    The Simorgh said, “O Pahlevan, take heart;Let grief and fear from your worn soul depart.
Simorgh named 8 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C8.27

Rostam Shoots Esfandiyar in the Eyes

Rostam prays, then shoots the tamarisk shaft into Esfandiyar’s eyes. The prince falls, draws the arrow out, and tells the grieving Bishutan and Bahman that the wood, the Simorgh and Zal’s craft, not Rostam’s strength, have killed him. Rostam weeps over him.

  • C8.27.12
    Then Rostam quickly fitted to his bowThe shaft, as Simorgh taught, to strike his foe.
  • C8.27.58
    This wood has brought my days to their last hour,Through Simorgh’s aid and Rostam’s cunning power.
Simorgh named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 19 sections that name Simorgh
  1. A7.2 The Strange Birth of Zal
  2. A7.3 Sahm Dreams of His Son
  3. A7.4 Manuchehr Hears of Zal
  4. A7.6 Sahm Gives the Kingdom to Zal
  5. A8.7 Zal Writes to His Father
  6. A8.16 Sindokht and Sahm Come to an Agreement
  7. A9.1 A Hero Is Born
  8. A9.2 Sahm Comes to Meet Rostam
  9. B13.21 Gudarz Hears of Rostam’s Coming
  10. C2.11 Gorgin Brings False Tidings of Bijan
  11. C2.18 The Pahlevans Feast with Khosrow
  12. C8.14 Esfandiyar Insults Rostam’s Race
  13. C8.24 Rostam Consults His Family
  14. C8.25 The Simorgh Comes to Rostam’s Aid
  15. C8.26 Rostam Faces Esfandiyar Again
  16. C8.27 Rostam Shoots Esfandiyar in the Eyes
  17. C8.28 Esfandiyar’s Last Wishes
  18. C8.29 Bishutan Brings Esfandiyar Home
  19. D6.6 Ardavan Pursues Ardeshir and Golnar

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
A7The First Kings: Manuchehr19A8The Story of Zal and Rudabeh2A9The Birth and Early Feats of Rostam; Manuchehr’s Closing Counsel4B13Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign1C2The Tale of Bijan and Manijeh2C8The Tragedy of Rostam and Esfandiyar17D6The Ashkanian Dynasty1

More in the Glossary and the index of characters.