Manuscript of the Shahnameh depicting Keyumars as he instructs his officers to combat Ahriman. c. 1655 CE
The name appears in Avestan in the form of 𐬔𐬀𐬌𐬌𐬊 𐬨𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬙𐬀𐬥 Gaiio Mərətan, or in medieval Zoroastrian texts as Gayōmard or Gayōmart. In the Avesta he is the mythological first human being in the world. The corresponding name in Middle Persian is 𐭪𐭣𐭬𐭫𐭲 Kayōmart. In Ferdowsi's Shahnameh he appears as the first shah of the world. He is also called the pišdād (پيشداد), the first to practice justice, the lawgiver.
The Avestan form means "the living mortal", from gaya "life" and marətan "mortal, human being"; cf. Persian mard "human" (Persian: مَرد).
Keyumars is also a popular first name in Persian speaking countries (Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan).
According to the Zoroastriancreation myth, Gayōmart was the first human, or, according to the Avesta, he was the first person to worship Ahura Mazda. The Avestan forms Mashya and Mashyana appear as the male and female first humans; their names are versions of the word marətan "mortal".
In the eighth book of the Denkard, a reference is made to the Chethrdāt section of the Avesta, which is divided into 21 sections. Apparently this section dealt with how the world and mankind were created, including the creation of Gayōmart. References are also made to the Varshtmānsar section, which also included information about Gayōmart which Ahura Mazda had given to Zoroaster: "For 30 centuries I kept the world from corruption and decay, when the 30th century came to an end the Dīvs assaulted Gayōmart ... But I finally repelled them and plunged them into the darkness".
Gayōmart Gar-shāh (King of the Mountains) was the first human Uhrmazd created. Before Gayōmart came, in the fifth "Gāh" (Ahura Mazda created the world in six Gāhs) Gavevagdāt (the primordial ox) had been created from mud in Erān-vēdj (which was the middle of the earth) on the right side of the river "Veh-Dāit" ... In the sixth "Gāh" Gayōmart was created from mud ... on the left side of "Veh-Dāit", to help Uhrmazd and he was created in the form of a 15-year-old boy. They lived for 3000 years in peace, neither eating, speaking nor praying, although Gayōmart was inwardly considering these things. At the end of this 3000-year period (during which Ahriman lay stunned by Uhrmazd's Ahunawar incantation and could do nothing) Jēh (the demonic whore) cried out, awakening him ... whereupon Ahriman and his minions the Dīvs fought with the light and, on the first day of Spring (i.e. the 1st of Farvardin, the Iranian New Year) Ahriman leaped forth onto the earth in the form of a dragon. He started to create death, illness, lust, thirst, hunger among all living things and disseminated throughout the world the Kyrm (the class of evil creeping things which includes reptiles, insects and rodents) ... In the catastrophe Gavevagdāt died (this being also the symbol of the old year giving way to the new - as depicted in Persepolis reliefs); and Ahriman left "Astovidat" (a Dīv) to guard Gayōmart, but could not kill him because his time had not yet come ... he lived for 30 years afterwards and, when, finally, he died, fell upon his left side and shed his semen upon the ground, which was then fertilized by the sun ... and after 40 years there grew Mashya and Mashyana as two rhubarb plants ..."[1]
In the Avesta, Gayōmart is named as the pure and righteous, and according to Zoroastrian tradition the genealogy of Zoroaster can be traced through 45 generations to him.
In the Shahnamehedit
Ferdowsi's great 11th century epic poem, the Shahnameh, begins with the story of Keyumars. He was the first king to arise among humans, who at that time lived in mountain caves and wore the skins of leopards. Keyumars was also the first human to introduce royal practices and the preparation of food and was also the first practitioner of law and justice. He was so powerful that all humans, tame animals, and wild animals paid homage to him. God (Ahura Mazda) granted Keyumars the supernatural radiance called the farr (Avestan xvarənah), reserved for kings. His son Siāmak (سیامک) was beloved of all except the Devil, Ahriman, who raised an army under the command of his own demonic son. When the angel Sorush (Avestan Sraoša) warned Keyumars, Siāmak led an army of his own. Siāmak accepted a challenge to single combat and died at the hands of the demon.
Keyumars mourned for a year, and then Sorush advised him to fight Ahriman once more. Siāmak's son Hushang (Avestan Haošyaŋha) was grown by this time and led the army that defeated Ahriman's son, who was bound and beheaded. Keyumars died after a thirty-year reign, leaving his throne to Hushang.
Sourcesedit
Abolqasem Ferdowsi, Dick Davis trans. (2006), Shahnameh: The Persian Book of KingsISBN0-670-03485-1, modern English translation (abridged), current standard
Warner, Arthur and Edmond Warner, (translators) The Shahnama of Firdausi, 9 vols. (London: Keegan Paul, 1905–1925) (complete English verse translation)
Shirzad Aghaee, Nam-e kasan va ja'i-ha dar Shahnama-ye Ferdousi (Personalities and Places in the Shahnama of Ferdousi, Nyköping, Sweden, 1993. (ISBN91-630-1959-0)
Jalal Khāleghi Motlagh, Editor, The Shahnameh, to be published in 8 volumes (ca. 500 pages each), consisting of six volumes of text and two volumes of explanatory notes. See: Center for Iranian Studies, Columbia University.
Shaki, Mansour (2001), "Gayōmard", in Yarshater, E. (ed.), Encyclopædia Iranica هوشنگ رررخال, vol. 10, Routledge & Kegan Paul, ISBN978-0-933273-56-6
External linksedit
A king's book of kings: the Shah-nameh of Shah Tahmasp, an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Keyumars
keyumars, other, uses, kayumars, disambiguation, kiomars, persian, کیومرث, name, first, king, shah, pishdadian, dynasty, iran, according, shahnameh, manuscript, shahnameh, depicting, instructs, officers, combat, ahriman, 1655, cethe, name, appears, avestan, fo. For other uses see Kayumars disambiguation Keyumars or Kiomars Persian کیومرث was the name of the first king shah of the Pishdadian dynasty of Iran according to the Shahnameh Manuscript of the Shahnameh depicting Keyumars as he instructs his officers to combat Ahriman c 1655 CEThe name appears in Avestan in the form of 𐬔𐬀𐬌𐬌𐬊 𐬨𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬙𐬀𐬥 Gaiio Meretan or in medieval Zoroastrian texts as Gayōmard or Gayōmart In the Avesta he is the mythological first human being in the world The corresponding name in Middle Persian is 𐭪𐭣𐭬𐭫𐭲 Kayōmart In Ferdowsi s Shahnameh he appears as the first shah of the world He is also called the pisdad پيشداد the first to practice justice the lawgiver The Avestan form means the living mortal from gaya life and maretan mortal human being cf Persian mard human Persian م رد Keyumars is also a popular first name in Persian speaking countries Iran Afghanistan and Tajikistan Contents 1 In Zoroastrian literature 2 In the Shahnameh 3 Sources 4 References 5 External linksIn Zoroastrian literature editAccording to the Zoroastrian creation myth Gayōmart was the first human or according to the Avesta he was the first person to worship Ahura Mazda The Avestan forms Mashya and Mashyana appear as the male and female first humans their names are versions of the word maretan mortal In the eighth book of the Denkard a reference is made to the Chethrdat section of the Avesta which is divided into 21 sections Apparently this section dealt with how the world and mankind were created including the creation of Gayōmart References are also made to the Varshtmansar section which also included information about Gayōmart which Ahura Mazda had given to Zoroaster For 30 centuries I kept the world from corruption and decay when the 30th century came to an end the Divs assaulted Gayōmart But I finally repelled them and plunged them into the darkness A concise story of Gayōmart according to Middle Persian texts is given by Zabihollah Safa Gayōmart Gar shah King of the Mountains was the first human Uhrmazd created Before Gayōmart came in the fifth Gah Ahura Mazda created the world in six Gahs Gavevagdat the primordial ox had been created from mud in Eran vedj which was the middle of the earth on the right side of the river Veh Dait In the sixth Gah Gayōmart was created from mud on the left side of Veh Dait to help Uhrmazd and he was created in the form of a 15 year old boy They lived for 3000 years in peace neither eating speaking nor praying although Gayōmart was inwardly considering these things At the end of this 3000 year period during which Ahriman lay stunned by Uhrmazd s Ahunawar incantation and could do nothing Jeh the demonic whore cried out awakening him whereupon Ahriman and his minions the Divs fought with the light and on the first day of Spring i e the 1st of Farvardin the Iranian New Year Ahriman leaped forth onto the earth in the form of a dragon He started to create death illness lust thirst hunger among all living things and disseminated throughout the world the Kyrm the class of evil creeping things which includes reptiles insects and rodents In the catastrophe Gavevagdat died this being also the symbol of the old year giving way to the new as depicted in Persepolis reliefs and Ahriman left Astovidat a Div to guard Gayōmart but could not kill him because his time had not yet come he lived for 30 years afterwards and when finally he died fell upon his left side and shed his semen upon the ground which was then fertilized by the sun and after 40 years there grew Mashya and Mashyana as two rhubarb plants 1 In the Avesta Gayōmart is named as the pure and righteous and according to Zoroastrian tradition the genealogy of Zoroaster can be traced through 45 generations to him In the Shahnameh editFerdowsi s great 11th century epic poem the Shahnameh begins with the story of Keyumars He was the first king to arise among humans who at that time lived in mountain caves and wore the skins of leopards Keyumars was also the first human to introduce royal practices and the preparation of food and was also the first practitioner of law and justice He was so powerful that all humans tame animals and wild animals paid homage to him God Ahura Mazda granted Keyumars the supernatural radiance called the farr Avestan xvarenah reserved for kings His son Siamak سیامک was beloved of all except the Devil Ahriman who raised an army under the command of his own demonic son When the angel Sorush Avestan Sraosa warned Keyumars Siamak led an army of his own Siamak accepted a challenge to single combat and died at the hands of the demon Keyumars mourned for a year and then Sorush advised him to fight Ahriman once more Siamak s son Hushang Avestan Haosyaŋha was grown by this time and led the army that defeated Ahriman s son who was bound and beheaded Keyumars died after a thirty year reign leaving his throne to Hushang Sources editAbolqasem Ferdowsi Dick Davis trans 2006 Shahnameh The Persian Book of Kings ISBN 0 670 03485 1 modern English translation abridged current standard Warner Arthur and Edmond Warner translators The Shahnama of Firdausi 9 vols London Keegan Paul 1905 1925 complete English verse translation Shirzad Aghaee Nam e kasan va ja i ha dar Shahnama ye Ferdousi Personalities and Places in the Shahnama of Ferdousi Nykoping Sweden 1993 ISBN 91 630 1959 0 Jalal Khaleghi Motlagh Editor The Shahnameh to be published in 8 volumes ca 500 pages each consisting of six volumes of text and two volumes of explanatory notes See Center for Iranian Studies Columbia University References edit Hamase sara i dar Iran Tehran 1945 2000 Shaki Mansour 2001 Gayōmard in Yarshater E ed Encyclopaedia Iranica هوشنگ رررخال vol 10 Routledge amp Kegan Paul ISBN 978 0 933273 56 6External links editA king s book of kings the Shah nameh of Shah Tahmasp an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art fully available online as PDF which contains material on KeyumarsPreceded bynone Legendary Kings of the Shahnameh0 30 Succeeded byHushang Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Keyumars amp oldid 1199056664, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
