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Place · The Shahnameh · Volume III

Madainمداین

ma-dah-EEN

The royal seat of the Sasanian kings.

In the poem
First at D12.5, Qobad Returns and Reascends the Throne; last at E7.7, Khosrow Parviz Builds the City of Madain
Named
11 times, in 11 sections
Main stories
D13 Anooshirvan and the Road to the End-time (4); E1 The Story of Mahbud and Other Matters (2); E4 Anooshirvan’s Last Years (2)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Madain most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Madain. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
D12.5

Qobad Returns and Reascends the Throne

Qobad reaches the village to find a son born, and names him Kisra. The nobles come out with the boy Jamasp to beg pardon; Qobad forgives them and retakes the throne. He rewards Rizmehr, campaigns in Rum, founds cities, and opens canals.

  • D12.5.33
    He kept Nowruz and Sadeh’s rites complete;He founded Madain as the royal seat.
Madain named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
D13.8

Monzer Seeks Justice from Anooshirvan

Monzer, the Arab chief, meets the Shah on his return and complains that the Romans lord it over the desert horsemen. Anooshirvan sends Caesar a warning; Caesar answers with contempt. The Shah musters his troops and puts thirty thousand under Monzer to burn the Roman frontier.

  • D13.8.1
    From Gilan then to Madain he made way,With train past numbering in vast array.
Madain named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
D13.13

Anooshirvan Defeats Caesar’s Army

A Roman army under Farfuriyus is routed. The Shah levels the citadel of Kaliniyus but forbids his men to plunder it, then pardons its people, and after three days’ grace takes Antakiya in three battles. He admires the city’s gardens and sends its captives to Madain.

  • D13.13.62
    The Shah sent off the captives, bound in chain,To Madain, with the spoil of Roman pain.
Madain named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
D13.17

The Revolt of Nushzad

Ferdowsi condemns a son who fights a just father, then tells how Nushzad, believing the Shah dead, frees the prisoners, gathers Christians and troops, takes his mother’s treasure and the revenues of Ahvaz and Shushtar, and declares for Caesar. Word reaches the Shah, who calls for a scribe.

  • D13.17.22
    The towns of Madain soon heard the tale,And every loyal heart with fear grew pale.
Madain named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
D13.19

The Death of Nushzad

Ram Barzin marches from Madain; Nushzad arrays the Christians and the men of Rum under Shammas. Old Pirooz pleads with him in vain. An arrow strikes the prince; dying, he asks for Christian burial and sends word to his mother, and Ram Barzin weeps over him.

  • D13.19.5
    From Madain’s gates a mighty army came,And Ram Barzin led on to war and fame.
Madain named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E1.5

Anooshirvan Marches against the Khan

The Shah’s council urges caution: the Heytalians deserve their ruin for Pirooz’s blood, but Rum may strike while the Shah is in the east. He rebukes them for growing soft on banquets, and at the new moon leads the army out of Madain toward Gorgan.

  • E1.5.78
    From Madain marched a vast and mighty band;It seemed that troops filled every stretch of land.
Madain named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E1.11

Anooshirvan Marches to Tisfoon

The Khan yields Sughd, Chakh and Samarkand and withdraws. The eastern lords come with gifts and recite the history of their sufferings. The Shah prays, gives alms, halts at the fire of Azargashasp on the way home, and sends bride and treasure on to Tisfoon.

  • E1.11.105
    To proud Madain’s gates he came at last,Where Tisfoon’s vaulted halls held treasures vast;
Madain named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E3.1

Bozorgmehr Falls from Favor

Hunting, the Shah sleeps with his head in Bozorgmehr’s lap, and a bird steals the jewels from his armlet. Accused of theft, the sage keeps silent through prison, dungeon and a spiked cage, answering each time that his lot is better than the Shah’s. He is freed, but broken.

  • E3.1.2
    Anooshirvan, the mighty king of kings,Rode out from Madain like a hawk on wings.
Madain named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 11 sections that name Madain
  1. D12.5 Qobad Returns and Reascends the Throne
  2. D13.8 Monzer Seeks Justice from Anooshirvan
  3. D13.13 Anooshirvan Defeats Caesar’s Army
  4. D13.17 The Revolt of Nushzad
  5. D13.19 The Death of Nushzad
  6. E1.5 Anooshirvan Marches against the Khan
  7. E1.11 Anooshirvan Marches to Tisfoon
  8. E3.1 Bozorgmehr Falls from Favor
  9. E4.1 Anooshirvan Prepares to March on Rum
  10. E4.7 The Dream Foretelling Mohammad
  11. E7.7 Khosrow Parviz Builds the City of Madain

On the maps

E4.1–E4.3Anooshirvan's Last March on Rum

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
D12Qobad and the Mazdakite Revolution1D13Anooshirvan and the Road to the End-time4E1The Story of Mahbud and Other Matters2E3Bozorgmehr’s Fall and Restoration1E4Anooshirvan’s Last Years2E7The Story of Khosrow Parviz and Shirin1

More in the Glossary and the index of places.