Shahnameh Quest

Arsalan retells the slaughter of Mazandaran by the Iranian army led by Kay Kavus, and the ruthless retaliation by the White Deev to punish Kay Kavus for his foolish invasion attempt.

Arsalan retells the tense exchange between Zal of Zabolistan and Kay Kavus over the wisdom of attacking Mazandaran, the land of the divs, as Zal's counsel clashes with the king's pride.

Arsalan retells the mysterious visit of the Musician of Mazandaran, whose song to Kay Kavus compels the Iranian king to invade the land of the deevs.

Arsalan retells Ferdowsi’s prelude to the reign of Kay Kavus, and the ominous early moments of the new king’s reign, when a strange-looking musician from Mazandaran approaches to play a song about his homeland.

Arsalan retells the final days of Kay Qobad’s reign, culminating in a stern warning to his eldest son and successor to the throne, Kay Kavus, about the dangers of allowing desire to corrupt the mind.

Arsalan retells the celebrations led by Kay Qobad and the great rewards he bestows upon Iran’s heroes and warriors following King Pashang of Turan’s total surrender.

Arsalan retells the dramatic appeal Afrasiyab makes to his father, King Pashang of Turan, begging him to make peace with the Iranians and prevent Rostam’s unstoppable wrath.

Arsalan reflects on the human impact of Rostam’s defeat of Afrasiyab and prepares listeners to experience its aftermath from the Turanian perspective.

Arsalan retells the dramatic first clash between Rostam and Afrasiyab, and how the Iranian hero leads Iran to victory, sending the invading army into a crushing, humiliating retreat.

Arsalan retells Kay Qobad’s mobilization of the Iranian army to confront the Turanian invaders, and how Rostam prepares for his first one-on-one combat with Prince Afrasiyab of Turan.

Arsalan marks the transition from the Pishdadian dynasty to the Kayanian dynasty, explaining what the title "Kay" means for the names of upcoming kings, and how this new era bridges the Shahnameh's Heroic Age with its eventual Historical Age.

Arsalan retells the story of Rostam's quest to find Kay Qobad, a descendant of the great king Fereydoun, and bring him home to become the new king of Iran. Along the way, Rostam battles the Turanian army and their fierce commander, Qalun.

Arsalan retells Zal’s first command to Rostam: journey to Mount Alborz and bring back Qobad of the Kayanian Dynasty as Iran’s chosen king to lead the war against Turan.

Arsalan retells the origin story of how Rostam meets and lassoes his legendary steed Rakhsh, one of the most iconic partnerships in all of world mythology.

Arsalan retells the peaceful reign of King Garshasp, the bitter estrangement between Afrasiyab and his father King Pashang of Turan, and the summoning of Rostam to defend Iran against a renewed Turanian invasion.

Arsalan shines a spotlight on Qaran, the fierce and loyal warrior who has defended Iran from invaders and honourably carried forward the legacy of his father, Kaveh the Blacksmith.

Arsalan marks the approaching end of the Pishdadian dynasty, reflecting on the significance of the Shahnameh's first lineage of kings and the transition that lies ahead.

Arsalan retells King Zaav's brief reign and how a devastating famine unites the warring sides behind a common cause for peace, bringing about the conclusion to the first Turanian invasion of Iran.

Arsalan retells how Zal and Qaran seek out and elect Zaav, an Iranian elder, as the nation's new king to succeed the fallen King Nowzar, even as Afrasiyab of Turan still occupies the throne.

Arsalan retells the crisis of leadership facing Iranians after Afrasiyab murders King Nowzar and seizes the Iranian throne.

Arsalan retells the tale of Aghriras, the brother of Afrasiyab who defies his own nation to save 1200 Iranian nobles from execution and pays the ultimate price for his mercy.

Arsalan marks the first anniversary of Shahnameh Quest with a personal message, thanking listeners for being part of the journey.

Arsalan discusses Ferdowsi's thoughts on greed, power, and ambition in the wake of King Nowzar's execution by Afrasiyab and the end of Fereydoun's line .

Arsalan retells the tragic ultimate fate of King Nowzar of Iran at the hands of the menacing Prince Afrasiyab of Turan.

Arsalan retells the triumphant return of Zal, who answers Mehrab’s desperate call and arrives to rescue Zabolistan from the Turanian invaders.

Arsalan retells how King Nowzar joins the battle against Afrasiyab's Turanian invasion, and how Qaran bravely rescues the women and children of Iran by defeating the fearsome warrior Barman.

Arsalan retells the first clash between the Iranian and Turanian armies, where the veteran warrior Qobad confronts Barman of Turan in a fatal duel that marks the opening of the invasion.

Arsalan retells the mythic origin of Nowruz in the Shahnameh at the height of King Jamshid’s glorious reign.

Arsalan retells how the passing of Sam, the great Iranian champion and father of Zal of Zabolistan, gives Afrasiyab’s Turanian army a major military advantage in the lead-up to their invasion of Iran.

Arsalan retells the explosive entrance of Afrasiyab, the fierce prince of Turan, as his father prepares an invasion to avenge their slain ancestor Tur. With Iran weakened under King Nowzar, the rivalry between the two kingdoms moves one step closer to all-out war.

Arsalan retells the beginning of King Nowzar’s corrupt reign, as growing unrest forces the embattled king to summon the wise and beloved champion Sam to restore order. Meanwhile, Iran’s enemies in Turan watch closely for signs of weakness amid this critical transition.

Arsalan presents a concise and abridged summary of the Mythical Age of the Shahnameh, from the court of Kayumars to the birth of Zal.

Arsalan traces the lineage of the ox-headed mace from its origins with Tahmures to its use by Fereydoun and later Rostam, exploring how this iconic weapon serves as a physical bridge between generations of Persian heroes.

Arsalan concludes Season 1, marking the transition from the Shahnameh’s Mythical Age to the Heroic Age and foreshadowing the rise of Iran’s arch nemesis, Afrasiyab of Turan.

Arsalan retells the final moments of King Manuchehr's life and reign, and how he passes the throne to his son, Prince Nowzar.

Arsalan retells how young Rostam conquers Mount Sepand, avenging the death of his great-grandfather General Nariman.

Arsalan retells the story of Rostam's first fight, in which the young hero faces off against a rogue white elephant threatening the city.

Arsalan retells how Baby Rostam grows into a mighty young warrior and meets his grandfathers, Sam and King Mehrab, for the first time.

Arsalan retells the glorious birth of Rostam, Iran’s greatest future hero, after his mother Rudabeh is saved from life-threatening labor by Zal and the magical Simorgh.

Arsalan marks the 10% milestone through the Shahnameh, inviting listeners to reflect on favourite stories, surprising insights, and questions the podcast has sparked along the way.

In this special episode, Arsalan retells the legendary love of Zal and Rudabeh, who bravely navigate family tensions and the threat of all-out war to triumph over prejudice and unite in a glorious marriage.

Arsalan retells the introduction of Princess Rudabeh of Kabul and how she first falls in love with Zal of Iran, sight unseen.

Arsalan retells Zal’s diplomatic visit to Kabul and his meeting with King Mehrab, where he first hears of Mehrab’s daughter, the enchanting Princess Rudabeh.

Arsalan retells Zal’s return to his home province of Zabolistan, his audience with King Manuchehr, and his destined rise to becoming a legendary hero.

Arsalan explores the narrative and symbolic significance of the Simorgh’s feather in the Shahnameh and its enduring place in Iranian culture.

Arsalan retells how the majestic Simorgh raises Zal in her nest and guides him to a reunion with his father Sam after gifting him one of her magical feathers.

Arsalan retells the bittersweet story of how Baby Zal is cast away by Sam and saved by the magnificent Simorgh on the summit of Mount Alborz.

Arsalan retells Manuchehr’s first speech, emphasising his devotion to God and his mission to uphold Fereydoun’s fight against evil.

Arsalan recaps the full arc of Fereydoun's story and examines his impact as a symbolic character representing many of the Shahnameh's core themes

Arsalan retells King Fereydoun’s final days, Manuchehr’s coronation, and the blessed legacy of one of the Shahnameh's most beloved kings.

In this special bonus episode, Arsalan summarises the riveting art history saga of the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasb from it's creation through the present day, where he and his mother Dr. Zahra Faridany-Akhavan are leading a major cultural initiative to digitally reassemble the masterpiece.

Arsalan retells the thrilling final chapter of this battle trilogy, where Prince Manuchehr defeats Zahhak’s great-grandson Kakhuy and finally delivers justice to the evil Salm.

Arsalan retells the story of how Prince Manuchehr's generals Qaran and Shiruy outwit Salm's guards to successfully ambush and destroy his seaside fortress, setting the stage for Salm's inevitable fall.

Arsalan retells the first part of the epic battle between Prince Manuchehr and the envious brothers Salm and Tur, which seals Tur’s fateful demise.

Arsalan retells how Salm and Tur’s plea for forgiveness after Iraj’s murder is answered with King Fereydun’s wrath.

Arsalan retells the birth of Manuchehr by Iraj's daughter, and his destiny to avenge the murder of his grandfather, Prince Iraj, and become heir to the righteous King Fereydoun.

Arsalan retells the tragic aftermath of Iraj’s murder, as King Fereydoun mourns his son and makes a desperate plea to God for justice against the treacherous brothers Salm and Tur.

Arsalan invites listeners to pause and explore how the Shahnameh's stories resonate with them personally.

Arsalan retells how Fereydoun’s division of the world among his three sons Salm, Tur, and Iraj drives the eldest two to conspire against and ultimately kill their younger brother.

Arsalan gives an overview of Turan, Iran’s rival nation in the Shahnameh, exploring its cultural, geographical, and thematic importance to the rest of the epic.

Arsalan retells how Fereydoun's three sons pass the tests devised by King Sarv of Yemen to marry his three daughters.

Arsalan retells the fall of Zahhak the Serpent King at the hands of Fereydoun, and the dawn of a new age as good is restored to the Earth.

Arsalan retells how Fereydoun reaches Zahhak the Serpent King’s dark fortress, liberates Jamshid’s imprisoned sisters, and sparks the long-awaited showdown between the forces of good and evil.

Arsalan explores how the early myths of the Shahnameh evolve from a supernatural battle between good and evil into a more nuanced, human-driven drama of moral choice.

Arsalan retells the story of Kaveh the Blacksmith, who bravely defied Zahhak the Serpent King and sparked the peoples' rebellion toward freedom and justice under Fereydoun's grace and leadership.

Arsalan retells the story of Fereydoun’s narrow escape from Zahhak’s army, and his years in hiding—nourished by the milk of the sacred cow Barmayeh.

Arsalan retells the evil reign of Zahhak the Serpent King, and how an ominous nightmare shakes him to his core, foreshadowing his downfall.

Arsalan retells how Zahhak — once a noble Arabian prince — is possessed by Iblis the Devil and transformed into the evil Serpent King.

Arsalan retells the story of King Jamshid, whose glory led the world to its greatest heights and inspired the first Nowruz—until his pride invited God's punishment.

Arsalan explores how Ferdowsi’s world-building lays the foundation for the Shahnameh’s rich moral complexity and the narrative dilemmas that shape the epic.

Arsalan retells the legend of King Tahmures, the magician king who bound Ahriman’s Dīv army and brought dazzling innovations to industry and the arts.

Arsalan retells how King Hushang laid the foundations of civilization and discovered fire, inspiring the ancient Feast of Sadeh.

Arsalan retells the birth of King Kayumars's court and the tragic death of Prince Siyamak at the hands of Ahriman's son, The Black Div.

Arsalan summarizes Ferdowsi’s introduction to the epic, where he praises God and the Prophet Muhammad and recounts the origins and patronage of the Shahnameh project.

Arsalan Akhavan welcomes listeners by sharing how he came to learn about the Shahnameh and its significance to Persian language and culture.