| Afrasiyab | |
|---|---|
.png) Painting of Afrasiab in theShahnameh of Shah Tahmasp | |
| In-universe information | |
| Nationality | Turanian |
In Iranian legend,Afrasiab (Persian:افراسيابafrāsiyāb;Middle Persian:Frāsiyāv,Frāsiyāk), also known asFraŋrasyan, is the king and hero ofTuran inIranian national history. He is the main antagonist of the Iranians in the Persian epicShahnameh, written byFerdowsi.
The oldest attested form of the name is theAvestanFraŋrasyan, whichÉmile Benveniste derived from *fra-hrasya- 'to make disappear, to fell, to destroy'. This etymology is connected with a myth in which Afrasiab holds back rain. The Persian form of the name is derived from a version of the name which ends ināb 'water' (*Frahrasyāpa- > *Frārasyāp >Frāsīāb).[1]
The oldest mention of Afrasiab is found in theAvesta, where he is calledFraŋrasyan.[1] Although the Avesta does not present his story in a single coherent narrative, it is alluded to numerous times in the so calledLegendaryYashts.[2] In these hymns, he is already presented as the King of theTuranians and archenemy of theIranians. His common epithetmairya- (deceitful, villainous) can be interpreted as meaningan evil man. He lived in a subterranean fortress made of metal, calledHanakana.[3]
According to theAban Yasht, he sacrificed toAnahita to obtain the royal glory of the Kayanians. According to theGosh Yasht andZamyad Yasht, however, Anahita instead grantedKavi Haosravah his wish to slay him. This is achieved with the help ofHaoma, who overcomes and delivers him to Kavi Haosravah. He is slain near theČīčhast (possibly either referring toLake Hamun inSistan or some unknown lake in today's Central Asia).[4]
According to Islamic sources, Afrasiab was a descendant ofTūr (Avestan:Tūriya-), one of the three sons of the Iranian mythical KingFereydun (the other two sons beingSalm andIraj). In theBundahishn, he is named as the seventh grandson of Tūr.
According to theShahnameh (Book of Kings) by the Persian epic poetFerdowsi, Afrasiab was the king and hero ofTuran and an archenemy of Iran. He is the most prominent of allTuranian kings in Iranian mythology. He is a great warrior, an able commander, and an agent ofAhriman. He possesses supernatural powers and is intent on destroying the Iranian lands.[1] He is brother toGarsivaz, and the son ofPashang. He was an enemy ofRostam andKay Khosrow, and was defeated by them. According to theShahnameh, he met his death in a cave known as the Hang-e Afrasiab, or the dying place of Afrasiab, on a mountaintop inAzerbaijan. The fugitive Afrasiab, having been repeatedly defeated by the armies of his adversary, the mythical King of IranKay Khosrow (who happened to be his own grandson, through his daughterFarangis), wandered wretchedly and fearfully around, and eventually took refuge in this cave and died.
Ernst Hertzfeld believed that the nameParsondes is etymologically identical to the name Afrasiab.[5][6][7][8]Tabari in his works mentions the derivativeAfrasiab /Aspandiat under the name of theHephthalite kingAkhshunvar or Akhshunvaz.[9]
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