Shahnama Upheld Gender Equality

03 August 2005

The Greatest of Iranian epic poet Master Abolqassem Ferdowsi presented women on an equal footing with men in his masterpiece Shahnameh and some even believed that he wanted to accord women a higher status than men, said a noted historian Sakineh Kharrazi.

In an article called ’Women in Shahnameh’, she pointed out that generally speaking Ferdowsi’s masterpiece depicted men and women as sharing the trait of courage and bravery, reported ISNA.

She said that women in Shahnameh were pious and had a strong character which Ferdowsi described as ’admirable’.

“When we read Shahnameh, we see that whenever a hero or a king is to emerge, first of all, his mother is admired.“

Ancient Iranian culture is proud of women and whenever a hero wanted to introduce himself in the battlefield to his rival (in Shahnameh), he first referred to his mother of whom the hero was proud.

“Another interesting point in Shahnameh is that some foreign women pledged loyalty to Iran and Shahnameh made it clear that they broke with their home country and brought happiness to Iranian kings and peace of mind to prisoners of war,“ the historian said. 

“Women in Shahnameh are models in integrated personality. Ferdowsi encourages women to take good care of their husbands. A wife, the poet says, should provide the husband with a pleasant family life. 

Great Ferdowsi calls for the wife’s loyalty to her husband. Shahnameh encourages girls to marry and establish family and train brave children for Iran.“