The Beginnings Beginnings to AD 2000: A Comprehensive Chronology of Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Iran by Iraj Bashiri copyright 2001 The Beginnings Ancient beliefs in the region divide humanity's passage on earth into three cosmic, myhtic, and historical periods. Of the three, of course, only the third or the historical period is real. The other two have cosmological and mytheological values that enhance our understanding of the present-day peoples of the region. One day elemnets of the mythic period might prove to be real but for that we need more solid documentation than is available at the present. For the purposes of this comprehensive chronology of the region, the cosmic and mythic periods are presented in the sequential order preserved in ancient chronologies. No attempt is made at correlating those eras in any form with historical or real time. The Cosmic and Mythic Eras The initial 3000-year battle between the forces of Ahura Mazda (Good) and Angra Mainyu (Evil) leads to the defeat of the latter. The second cycle of 3000 years begins with Ahura Mazda's creation of the cosmic world, i.e., the creation of the sky, water, earth, plants, the sacred white bull, and the cosmic man (Gayomart). Truth, symbolized as fire, permeates Ahura Mazda's kingdom. file:///Volumes/BASHIRISCOM/CHRON/CosMyth.html (1 of 6)10/2/08 1:00 PM The Beginnings Creation continues with Ahura Mazda's creation of the Amesha Spentas or Holy Immortals. As Vice-Regents, the immortals serve as "governors" or administrators of the various realms of Ahura Mazda's Kingdom. Destruction of Ahura Mazda's cosmic world by Angra Mainyu brings the second phase of creation to an end. However, Angra Mainyu who had entered Ahura Mazda's creation through a crack in the sky and who had polluted the water, poisoned the plants, and killed both the sacred bull and Gayomart cannot bail out. Truth, whixh has patched up the sky, keeps Angra Mainyu trapped within creation. The third 3000-year cycle begins with the sojourn of the Seed of slain Gayomart or cosmic man to the Moon where it is preserved and purified by the Sun. Return of the seed of Gayomart to earth and its appearance in the form of a sacred rhubarb plant with two joined stems. Growth of the first man (Mashiya) and the first woman (Mashiyanah) out of the two stems of the sacred rhubarb plant. Marriage of Mashiya and Mashiyanah resulting in the first population of earth. Creation of the farr by Ahura Mazda. Farr being the symbil of legitimacy with which Ahura Mazda distinguishes his deputy on earth. Ahura Masda's singling out the most worthy of men to serve as his deputy. Ahura Mazda invests Gayomart/Kayumars with the farr. Kayumars begins the eradication of evil from Ahura Mazda's domain. The Pishdadian Dynasty Kayumars offsets the ruses of evil, a force determined to eradicate the race of man from earth. Kayumars' son, Siyamak, is murderd. King Hushang discovers the use of fire which leads to the discovery of metals and of weapons with which to combat evil. Hushang also harnesses the rivers, produces lush fields and meadows, domesticates animals and uses their products as a source of untold prosperity. file:///Volumes/BASHIRISCOM/CHRON/CosMyth.html (2 of 6)10/2/08 1:00 PM The Beginnings Tahmuras, Hushang's successor, chooses wisdom as his weapon against Ahriman. Under Tahmuras, the domestication of animals is perfected, weaving is introduced, and plans are devised to eradicate the race of the divs or demons from the face of the earth. The sciences and the arts make considerable progress. Under Jamshid, the farr encompasses both the secular and the spiritual domains. In administration, Jamshid follows the tradition of his forefathers and introduces the finer approaches to weaving and to the production of elegant and luxurious objects. He also launches a number of innovations, including the division of people into four distinct castes and guilds. Under Jamshid, artisans, merchants, priests, warriors, and tillers of the land all know their place in society. To immortalize his efforts at good government, which had resulted in the eradication of death from the face of the earth, and to welcome the arrival of a new epoch, Jamshid holds a magnificent celebration, the Now Ruz (new year). Finally, convinced that he is in full control of all aspects of the world, Jamshid reaches to supplant the Creator. He fails. His conceit costs him his farr and the people of Iran their prosperity. Zahhak, the embodiment of Evil, steps in and reigns for a thousand years. Two snakes issuing from his shoulders demand fresh brains daily. Can this demand deplete Ahura Mazda's world of people? Abtin, in whose person the farr had been preserved, is found and brought back to the heartland. Abtin's son, Fereydun overthrows Zahhak and makes the land prosperous again. At the end of his reign, he creates discord among his three sons by dividing his kingdom according to merit rather than to tradition. He assigns Rum and the west to Salm, Turan and China to his oldest son, Tur, and Iran and India along with the farr to Iraj, his youingest son. Rebelling against their father's seemingly unjust division of the kingdom, Salm and Tur conspire and murder Iraj. Manuchehr rises against Salm and Tur to avenge Iraj; but he, too, is killed. Under oppressive King Nowzar, Iran falls prey to the forces of the Turanian Afrasiyab, but it survives. file:///Volumes/BASHIRISCOM/CHRON/CosMyth.html (3 of 6)10/2/08 1:00 PM The Beginnings The boundary between Iran and Turan is established at the Oxus River (present-day Amu Dariya). The Pishdadian dynasty comes to an end. The Kayanian Dynasty Kayqubad, the founder of the Kayanian dynasty, and his assembly of knights push the forces of Afrasiyab out of all the lands south of the Oxus River. The Oxus remains the boundary between the two realms. Kayka'us ascends the throne. While on patrol in the woods, warriors Tus and Giv (pronounced giiv) find a maiden there and . When they fail to come into an understanding as to whom she belongs, they take the matter to the king. Kayka'us settles the dispute by assigning the maiden to his own harem. Being related to both Iran and Turan by birth, this mysterious woman plays a pivotal role in the later developments in the courts of Iran and Turan. Siyavosh is born to Kayka'us and the maiden found in the woods. At a tender agae, Siyavosh is assigned to the national champion, Rustam, who takes him to Zabulistan. Under Rustam's supervision, Siyavosh becomes conversant in the manners of kings and courts. Siyavoash returns from Zabulistan and resides at the court of his father. Sudabeh, one of Kayka'us's wives, sees Siyavosh at court and takes a facy to him. She asks her husband to send Siyavosh to the womens' quarters so that the price becomes familiar with his mothers and sisters. At Sudabeh's chamber, Siyavosh refuses the amourous advances of his step-mother. Sudabeh accuses the Prince of attempted rape. Kayka'us takes the case of Sudabeh versus Siyavosh to an assembly of mu'bads or Zoroastrian priests for decision. The assembly rules trial by fire. Siyavosh passes through a mountain of fire prepared by the mu'bads to prove his innocence of Sudabeh's charges. Sudabeh refuses to take the same test. Rather, she produces the still-born child of one of her maids as proof of Siyavosh's advances. Afrasiyab invades Iran and captures some of the land to the south of the Oxus. file:///Volumes/BASHIRISCOM/CHRON/CosMyth.html (4 of 6)10/2/08 1:00 PM The Beginnings Helped by Rustam, Siyavosh soundly defeats Afrasiyab whose forces withdraw to the eastern shore of the Oxus. Afrasiyab sends his national champion, Piran, to Siyavosh and sues for peace. Siyavosh signs a peace treaty with Afrasiyab and pledges his word that he would not resume the war. He then sends Rustam with a Silken letter, hostages, and gifts to his father and asks for his blessing. Kaika'us rejects Siyavosh's peace treaty and orders him to cross the Oxus and capture Afrasiyab. Siyavosh finds himself in a bind. With the assistance of Piran, Siyavosh defects to Turan at the head of his own personal army. Siyavosh travels in Turan and meets Afrasiyab. Siyavosh builds Siyavoshgord in far off lands in the east. Siyavosh marries Jarirah, Piran's daughter. Farud is born to Siyavosh and Jarirah. Years later, Tus marches on Turan and, against the wishes of Kaika'us, kills Farud. Siyavosh marries Afrasiyab's daughter, Farangis. Siyavosh is killed as a result of intrigue created by Afrasiyab's brother, Garsivaz. Kaykhusrau, Siyavosh's son, is born and with the help of Piran is taken to Iran. Kaykhusrau becomes king and decides to unify Iran and Turan. Recognizing the might of Kaykhuisrau, Afrasiyab creates a coalition force comprising the Chinese, Indians, Slavs, and other peoples of the region. Kaykhusrau destroys Afrasiyab's international coalition and concludes the Great War in favor of Iran. He then eliminates both Afrasiyab and Garsivaz and unifies Iran and Turan. Kaykhusrau tours all the lands controlled by a united Iran and Turan. Kaykhusrau predicts the coming of Zoroaster who would bring din (order) to replace kin (vengeance) that had feuled the animosity between Iran and Turan since the time of Faridun's divison of Iran. file:///Volumes/BASHIRISCOM/CHRON/CosMyth.html (5 of 6)10/2/08 1:00 PM The Beginnings Kaykhusrau steps down as king after he singles out Luhrasp as the most worthy person to replace him.