Place · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II, III

Reyری

REY

A great ancient city near present-day Tehran.

In the poem: First at B1.5, Afrasiab Battles Nohzar Again; last at E10.8, Mahwi Meets Yazdegard at Tus
Named: 56 times, in 31 sections
Main stories: E6 Khosrow Parviz (19); E5 Hormizd, Son of Anooshirvan (9); D6 The Ashkanian Dynasty (5)

In the poem’s own words

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

C4.39

Khosrow’s Return from Turan

Khosrow leaves Gostaham to govern from Chin’s sea to Kibchak and starts home with a treasure-train ten days long. He halts at Chakh, Sughd and Bukhara, weeps at an ancient fire temple, crosses the Jihun, and moves by Balkh, Nishapur and Rey toward Pars.

C4.39.31
A week went by; he took the road to Rey,With song and music sounding all the way.
C4.39.32
Two weeks at Rey he feasted and bestowed;The third, he set out on the Shiraz road.
C4.39.33
He sent out camel riders, news to bringFrom Rey to Pars, to Kavus, Iran’s king.

Rey named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

D6.9

Ardavan Fights Ardeshir and Falls

Ardavan brings up his armies; after forty days of fighting a black storm breaks his men’s nerve, and he is captured and cut in two at Ardeshir’s order. Two sons are imprisoned, two flee to Hindustan. Ardeshir marries Ardavan’s daughter and founds Khorra-e-Ardeshir.

D6.9.39
Of all the troops that later went to Rey,None trod his palace grounds along the way.
D6.9.45
From Rey the monarch, weary of the war,Returned to Pars, and rested from its roar.

Rey named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

D12.2

The Fall of Sofrye

Sofrye retires to Shiraz and rules Pars as a king without a crown. Courtiers persuade Qobad that he is a rival, and Shapur of Rey is sent to arrest him. Sofrye submits with dignity; Qobad imprisons him and, on the Mobadan’s advice, has him killed.

D12.2.25
When Shapur rides from Rey to take the field,The wicked Sofrye’s fate is thereby sealed.”
D12.2.29
His road led straight to Shapur, lord of Rey,To summon him to court without delay.
D12.2.31
He reached Rey swiftly, as the king had said;The chamberlain then questioned where he sped.

Rey named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E5.24

Bahram Chubin Reveals His Ambition

Bahram lays his case before his chiefs, who answer in riddles and proverbs. His sister Gurdiyeh breaks in and argues from precedent that no subject has ever taken the crown. The council praises her; Bahram, unmoved, calls for wine and for Esfandiyar’s Seven Stages.

E5.24.61
A Mobad once at Rey declared this thing:‘To reign a moment as a mighty king,
E5.24.155
At Rey he kept the frontier, not the crown;Why stir our kindred toward a false renown?
E5.24.166
Within the Ruyin Dezh in days gone by.”They drank to Rey and raised its praises high.

Rey named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E6.5

Khosrow and Bahram Parley

Across the Nahravan the king and the rebel abuse and argue with each other at length. Khosrow offers him command of Iran; Bahram offers a gibbet. They dispute whether kingship comes by blood, merit or conquest, trading precedents from Ardeshir to Rostam, until Khosrow laughs and turns back.

E6.5.191
What are the folk of Rey but double-faced,Their manhood weak, their counsel all debased?
E6.5.192
From Rey a little force joined in the fightWith Iskandar and Rum’s great legions’ might.
E6.5.194
From Rey came Mahiyar, vile heart, foul deed,Who darkened Esfandiyar’s royal seed.

Rey named 6 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E6.49

A Cruel Warden Is Sent to Rey

A cup engraved with Bahram’s name enrages Khosrow, who orders Rey trampled by elephants. His minister objects, so instead the Shah has the basest, ugliest man in Iran searched out and given Rey to govern. The wretch kills the household cats, tears down the roof-gutters, and ruins the city.

E6.49.6
The Shah then said, “Let elephants now treadOn Rey’s broad fields and drive its folk in dread.
E6.49.9
The realm of Rey is rich, its greatness known;Do not let trampling beasts destroy your own.
E6.49.12
Let him rule Rey a while, a man unkind,With foulness on his tongue and darkened mind.”

Rey named 8 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E6.50

Khosrow Grants Rey to Gurdiyeh

Spring comes and the court drinks in the garden. Gurdiyeh brings in a kitten in earrings and gold trappings, mounted like a prince, and when the laughing Shah asks her wish she begs for Rey and the recall of its governor. Khosrow grants her the province.

E6.50.14
The clever dame bowed low and made her plea:“Great Shah, bestow the land of Rey on me.
E6.50.16
Recall that wretched man from Rey today,And call him base and wicked in his way.
E6.50.19
I give you Rey, its city and its lands;Send there an upright man with just commands.

Rey named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E10.5

Yazdegard Withdraws to Khorasan

Farrokhzad urges the Shah to rebuild his strength in Tabaristan. Yazdegard refuses to abandon his people, then chooses Khorasan, counting on the Turks, a marriage into Faghfoor’s house, and Mahwi of Marv, whom he raised from nothing. Farrokhzad warns that base stock never changes.

E10.5.67
By stages came the Shah to Rey; he soughtIn wine and music ease from anxious thought.
E10.5.68
From Rey to Gorgan, swift as wind, his wayHe took, and there, now sad, now glad, would stay.

Rey named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

All 31 sections that name Rey