History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

4 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. I.

Peshdadian. His son and successor, Tehemuras, built several cities, and, having civilised barbarous tribes, received the surname of ‘‘ Devband” (conqueror of the “ Devs”). King Jamshid of this dynasty has been mentioned by all historians in high terms of praise. He was a wise and enlightened prince, much in advance of his time, and is considered to have been a great benefactor of the human race. He was the first to reoulate the calendar, and order a festival to be held on the day the sun entered the vernal equmox. This festival is called the Jamshedi Naoroz, and is still celebrated with great pomp in Persia, as well as by the Parsis in India. Until recent discoveries disclosed the fact that the famous Persepolis was founded by Darius Hystaspes, Jamshid was popularly supposed to have been the founder of that famous city. His nephew and successor, Feridun, was cast in the heroic mould. He rescued the country, with the assistance of the famous Kawa, who may be called the William Tell of Persia, from the foreign yoke of Zohak, who had usurped the throne.

The Kayanian dynasty, which was the next to rule, is one famous in Persian history for the great national heroes who fought their country’s battles. The most stirring portion of Firdusi’s great epic, the Shah-Nama, narrates the darmg feats and wonderful achievements of those mighty men who overthrew the Turanians, the bitter enemies of their race,