Amir Arsalan

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Amir Arsalan-e Namdar (in Persian امیرارسلان نامدار) is a popular Persian legend which was narrated to the Qajar Shah of Persia by a storyteller named Mohammad Ali Naqib al-Mamalek (میرزا محمدعلی نقیب الممالک). Mohammad never transcribed the poem himself, but the daughter of the Shah, who also loved the tale, eventually transcribed it and preserved it for history.

The epic narrates the adventures of its protagonist Arsalan. The story begins with the Banu (lady) of Roum (also known as Constantinople, or Istanbul). Roum was conquered by European invaders, and its pregnant Banu (lady) forced to flee for her life. She becomes wedded to an Egyptian merchant and gives birth to her child, Arsalan. The merchant claims the child as his own. Eventually, of course, Arsalan learns of his royal origins and takes it in his mind to reclaim his throne.

A modified version has been the main theme of the Japanese anime series The Heroic Legend of Arslan.

Related subjects

• Shamshir-e Zomorrodnegar
• Fulad-zereh
• Cup of Jamshid

See also

• Arslan

External links

• Encyclopedia Iranica, Amir Arsalan
• Online PDF text of Amir Arsalan
• About the original storybook

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Last updated on Monday March 03, 2008 at 11:00:33 PST (GMT -0800)
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