New Naqqaliشاهنامه
Place · The Shahnameh · Volumes II, III

Ruyin Dezhرویین‌دژ

roo-YEEN dezh

'The brazen fortress': Arjasp's stronghold in Turan, where Goshtasb's daughters are held captive; Esfandiyar takes it by guile and burns it.

In the poem
First at C6.32, Esfandiyar Reaches Goshtasb; last at E10.7, Yazdegard Appeals to the Frontier Lords
Named
16 times, in 12 sections
Main stories
C7 Esfandiyar’s Seven Stages and the Ruyin Dezh (10); C8 The Tragedy of Rostam and Esfandiyar (3); C6 Goshtasb, Zardosht, and the War with Arjasp (1)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Ruyin Dezh most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Ruyin Dezh. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
C6.32

Esfandiyar Reaches Goshtasb

Goshtasb welcomes his son and promises him the crown. At dawn the armies close; Esfandiyar cuts down hundreds, takes the boastful Gorgsar with his kamand, and Arjasp flees by camel toward Khallokh. Spared, Gorgsar offers to guide the prince to the Ruyin Dezh.

  • C6.32.135
    In hardship I shall serve you; at your side,To reach the Ruyin Dezh, and be your guide.”
Ruyin Dezh named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C7.1

Praise for Mahmud the Great King

Ferdowsi opens the Seven Stages with praise of Mahmud, a spring of thunder, tulips and narcissus, and the claim that the Shah’s open hand outdoes the rain. He then calls for the elder’s tale of the Ruyin Dezh.

  • C7.1.25
    Now hear the tale the seasoned elder told,And learn of Ruyin Dezh, that famed stronghold.
Ruyin Dezh named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C7.2

The Wolves of the First Stage

The dehqan begins the tale. Esfandiyar leaves Balkh with Gorgsar as guide, questions him over wine about the roads to the Ruyin Dezh, chooses the shortest, then rides ahead alone and kills the two giant wolves of the first stage.

  • C7.2.3
    He told of Ruyin Dezh, the road ahead,And how Gorgsar the prince along it led.
  • C7.2.19
    “Where stands the Ruyin Dezh?” the prince then said;“It lies beyond Iran—what waits ahead?
  • C7.2.33
    Then will the Ruyin Dezh at last draw near,A wonder none has seen or heard of here.
Ruyin Dezh named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C7.7

The Snow of the Sixth Stage

Gorgsar foretells a blizzard and then a waterless desert. The Iranians beg the prince to turn back and he rebukes them; snow buries the camp for three days until Bishutan’s prayer clears the sky, and the army marches on stripped of baggage.

  • C7.7.22
    The Ruyin Dezh will rise upon your way;No shade will shield you from the glare of day.
Ruyin Dezh named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C7.8

The River of the Seventh Stage

The army fords a river Gorgsar swore was desert. When the captive curses him, Esfandiyar splits his head and throws him to the fish. From a height he sees the Ruyin Dezh, despairs, and kills two Turks after they describe its garrison.

  • C7.8.26
    The army marched; ten farsangs now remainedBefore the Ruyin Dezh could be attained.
  • C7.8.46
    He climbed a height; Ruyin Dezh lay below,Its iron ramparts cold in endless row.
Ruyin Dezh named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C7.9

Esfandiyar’s Guile at the Ruyin Dezh

Esfandiyar enters the Ruyin Dezh as a merchant named Kharrad, with a hundred and sixty men sealed in chests among his camels. Arjasp grants him a house and a shop, laughs off rumors that the prince is crossing the Seven Stages, and bids him trade freely.

  • C7.9.45
    I left my goods outside Ruyin Dezh’s gate,Assured your care would guard them from ill fate.
  • C7.9.50
    In Ruyin Dezh he bade the merchant dwell,His gold secure, and all protected well:
Ruyin Dezh named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C7.15

Esfandiyar Returns to Goshtasb

Esfandiyar loads the plunder, burns the Ruyin Dezh and levels its walls, sends his sons ahead with the treasure, recrosses the stages and is feasted in Iran. Ferdowsi closes with spring, a nightingale, and mourning for Esfandiyar.

  • C7.15.16
    At last he fired the Ruyin Dezh’s proud wall;Its tongues of flame rose heavenward over all.
Ruyin Dezh named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C8.12

Rostam Is Slighted by Esfandiyar

Alone with Bishutan, Esfandiyar decides against inviting his guest and sends no summons to the meal. Bishutan pleads for peace in vain. Rostam waits at home until the hour passes, then orders his own table laid and rides out to confront the prince.

  • C8.12.24
    His meal now done, he called for wine and toldOf deeds at Ruyin Dezh, both brave and bold.
Ruyin Dezh named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 12 sections that name Ruyin Dezh
  1. C6.32 Esfandiyar Reaches Goshtasb
  2. C7.1 Praise for Mahmud the Great King
  3. C7.2 The Wolves of the First Stage
  4. C7.7 The Snow of the Sixth Stage
  5. C7.8 The River of the Seventh Stage
  6. C7.9 Esfandiyar’s Guile at the Ruyin Dezh
  7. C7.15 Esfandiyar Returns to Goshtasb
  8. C8.12 Rostam Is Slighted by Esfandiyar
  9. C8.16 Esfandiyar Vaunts His Lineage
  10. C8.29 Bishutan Brings Esfandiyar Home
  11. E5.24 Bahram Chubin Reveals His Ambition
  12. E10.7 Yazdegard Appeals to the Frontier Lords

On the maps

C7.2–C7.12Esfandiyar's Seven Stages to the Brazen HoldC7.9–C7.13The Storming of the Brazen Hold

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
C6Goshtasb, Zardosht, and the War with Arjasp1C7Esfandiyar’s Seven Stages and the Ruyin Dezh10C8The Tragedy of Rostam and Esfandiyar3E5Hormizd, Son of Anooshirvan1E10Yazdegard1

More in the Glossary and the index of places.