# Rostam and Sohrab

The tragedy of "Rostam and Sohrab" forms part of the 10th-century Persian epic Shahnameh by the Persian poet Ferdowsi. It tells the tragic story of the heroes Rostam and his son, Sohrab.

## Plot

The hero Rostam lived in Zabulistan, and was one of the favorites of King Kaykavous. Once, following the traces of his lost horse Rakhsh, he enters the kingdom of Samangan, where he becomes the guest of the king during his search. There, Rostam meets princess Tahmina. She admires Rostam and knows of his reputation. She goes into his room at night and asks if he will give her a child, and in return, she will bring his horse. Rostam leaves after he impregnates Tahmina and his horse is returned. Before he leaves, he gives her two tokens: a jewel and a seal. If she has a girl, she is to take the jewel and plait it in the girl's hair. If she has a boy, she is to take the seal and bind it on the boy's arm.
Nine months later, Tahmina bears his child—a son, whom she names Sohrab. Years go by before Rostam and Sohrab finally meet—the war between Zabulistan and Turan is on the horizon. The two armies face each other and prepare for the imminent battle. By then, Sohrab has become known as the best fighter in the Turan army. But Rostam's legend precedes him and the Turan army cowers before the hero. No one else dares to fight Rostam, so Sohrab is sent to wrestle with the legendary hero. Though Sohrab knows his father' name, he is unaware that the man before him is Rostam. On the battlefield, Rostam and Sohrab fight for what seems like an eternity, neither knowing the true name of his opponent.
In the first fight, Sohrab defeats Rostam, but Rostam tricks Sohrab and says: “Young man, don't you know that the law of war is that you can kill me after defeating me twice?” Then, after praying to Dargah Yazdan, Rostam asks for his help in defeating the young warrior. In the second fight, after a very long and heavy bout of wrestling, Rostam breaks Sohrab's back and stabs him. Sohrab, now dying, tells Rostam that his father will avenge his death. He shows him the armband amulet Rostam once gave to Tahmina, who gave it to her son to keep him safe during the war, and only then does Rostam realize his identity. Rostam grieves heavily and sends Goudarz to get medicine, (Panacea) but it comes too late. When Tahmina finds out her son is dead, she burns Sohrab's house and gives away all his riches. The story ends as "the breath departed from out her body, and her spirit went forth after Sohrab her son."

## Adaptations

* Sohrab and Rustum (1853), by Matthew Arnold, English language.
* Rustam and Zohrab (1910), by Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Azerbaijani language.
* Rustom O Sohrab (1929), by Agha Hashar Kashmiri, Urdu language.
* Rostam va Sohrab (1957), by Shahrok Rafi, Iranian film, Persian language.
* Rustom Sohrab (1963), by Vishram Bedekar, Indian Hindi language film starring Prithviraj, Premnath, Suraiyya and Mumtaz.
* Rustam and Zohrab (1971), by Boris Kimyagarov, Soviet Tajik film, Russian language.
* Rostam and Sohrab (1988), by Loris Tjeknavorian, Persian language.
* Dastan-e Rustam-ou Suhrab, a Tajik film produced by Benyamin Kimyagarov. The film plot differs from the story in some places. For example, Tahmineh comes to the battlefield trying to stop the fight; Rustam gives an arm band (not a necklace) large enough to only have fit his stout arms, and now only fit Sohrab's arm; and, Rustam uses a poisoned knife to stab his son.
* Battle of the Kings: Rostam & Sohrab (2013) Iranian animation, by Kianoush Dalvand, Persian language. The film plot differs from the story, for example Sohrab not dead at the end.
* Sooge Sohrab (The Tragedy of Sohrab) (2014) (musical piece), by Sahba Aminikia, English language.