The Simurgh and Zal

Story beats

1. 1) King Sam abandons his white-haired infant Zal on a mountain; the Simurgh carries him to her nest and raises him.
2. 2) Years later, Sam dreams and repents; the Simurgh returns Zal, giving him a feather to burn in need.
3. 3) Zal marries Rudabeh. During the difficult birth of their son Rostam, Zal burns the feather; the Simurgh instructs a life-saving caesarean and healing herbs.
4. 4) Zal becomes a pillar of the Shahnameh, aided by the Simurgh’s wisdom and loyalty through later battles.

Context & symbolism

The Simurgh embodies maternal wisdom and cosmic knowledge, bridging human and animal realms. Zal’s survival critiques prejudice; difference becomes destiny. The feather as emergency signal highlights reciprocal care. Rostam’s birth ties Iran’s greatest hero to otherworldly guidance.

Simurgh resonates with phoenix/roc imagery but is benevolent and scholarly, linked to the Tree of Knowledge in some tales.

Motifs

• Sacred bird foster parent
• Feather talisman for aid
• Extraordinary birth aided by magic
• Redemption of a remorseful parent
• Wisdom from nonhuman mentor

Use it in play

• A nonhuman guardian raises an abandoned child; its feather/shell summons aid later.
• Burning a token calls a massive ally; limited uses create dramatic decisions.
• A difficult birth or healing requires instructions from a sky sage.
• Reconciling estranged parents and children through quests and dreams.
• An albino hero’s difference is power, not curse.

Comparative threads

• Giant birds: Roc, Garuda, Thunderbird, but Simurgh is nurturing.
• Foundling raised by animals: Romulus/Remus (wolf), Tarzan/Mowgli—identity shaped by nonhuman care.
• Magic tokens: Like Aladdin’s ring or Baba Yaga’s doll—call help when peril looms.

Hooks and campaign seeds

• Recover a lost feather before a critical birth/battle.
• A parent seeks the child a sky-creature raised; mediation needed.
• A library is hidden in a sky nest; reaching it requires earning the Simurgh’s trust.