Bizhan (Shahnameh)

Iranian mythological hero of the epic poem Shahnameh
In the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp

Bizhan[1] or Bijan (Persian: بیژن) is one of the main Iranian heroes in the Shahnameh, the national epic of Greater Iran. Bizhan is son of Giv and Banu Goshasp and grandson of Goudarz and Rostam. Although he appears in almost all stories in the heroic age of Shahnameh, he has a significant role in the story of Bizhan and Manizhe, where he fell in love with Manizhe, the daughter of Afrasiab, the king of Turan and longtime enemy of Iran.

Beside Shahnameh, he has been celebrated in other epics such as Faramarznameh. Another epic poem named Bizhannameh is dedicated to his adventures. It consists of almost 1,900 verses.[2]

It has been suggested that Bizhan is a Parthian figure. Vizhan is the name of the grandson of Gotarzes I and the grandfather of Gotarzes II. According to Nöldeke, noble Parthian families who were guardians of Iranian national epics, later attributed some of the exploits of the ancient heroes to their own ancestors.[1]

Family tree

Kashvad
RostamGoudarz
Banu GoshaspGivAfrasiab
BijanManijeh

References

  1. ^ a b Khaleghi-Motlagh, Djalal. "BĪŽAN". ENCYCLOPÆDIA IRANICA. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  2. ^ Hanaway, Jr., William. "BĪŽAN-NAMA". ENCYCLOPÆDIA IRANICA. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
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Characters
Pishdadian
Kayanian
Male characters
Female characters
Tazian
Turanian
Clans and
families
Creatures
and animals
PlacesStructures
  • Gonbadan Castle (Dez-i Gonbadan)
  • Roein Castle (Dez-i Roein)
  • Sepid Castle (Dezh-i Sepid
  • Bahman Castle (Dezh-i Bahman)
  • Alanan Castle (Dezh-i Alanan
  • Gang Castle (Gang-Dez)
Manuscripts
  • Florence Shahnameh
  • Great Mongol Shahnameh (or Demotte)
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  • Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp
  • Shahnameh of Rashida
  • Windsor Shahnameh
  • Davari Shahnameh
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