The Tragedy of Sohrab and Rostam

A Duel To The Death!!

 

The Tragedy of Sohrab and Rostam is a beloved legend from the mythology of Zoroastrian, popularized by the 11^th century Persian poet Abolqasem Ferdowsi, in his great epic Shahnameh.  The story is about a powerful Persian hero warrior; name Rostam, who is unaware that he has a son by Princess Tahmine.  The beautiful daughter of the King of Turan was infatuated with Rostam from the moment she saw him.  Princess Tahmine is captivated by Rostam and becomes his lover.  Rostam leaves the princess and becomes oblivious concerning her pregnancy of their son Sohrab.  Sohrab becomes a champion warrior who has inherited his father’s strength and his mothers’ beauty and intelligence.  Sohrab becomes suspicious of his father’s identity, yet after years without true knowledge of each other, Rostam and Sohrab face each other in battle.  The battle is between the Persian and the Turan armies.  Rostam is the sworn loyal protector of Persia, he is their victor and Sohrab is the fierce leader of the Turan armies.  Rostam and Sohrab fight each other in battle and Rostam wrestles Sohrab to the ground.  This duel to the death ends with Sohrab lowering his shield, exposing himself to Rostam’s spear, which pierces his side.   Sohrab recalls his love for his father, as he lay dying at the hand of his own father.  Sohrab reveals his family insignia on his arm.  The tragic story ends in Rostam now realizing that he has killed his own son and now in grief and despair, desires his own death.  This is the tragic episode of the Shahname.  The Champion warrior has killed the person dearer to him than all others, his son.

Lysistrata

Lysistrata the play has been classified as an old comedy.  It was completed in 411 B.C. by Aristophanes, during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta.  Aristophanes wanted to make people laugh, when Lysistrata was staged.  He also sought out to deliver a message to a Fifth Century audience, that the war between Athens and Sparta was an exercise in stupidity, as well as a senseless waste of people and resources.  Lysistrata play begins with an exposition to save and unite all of Greece, by an organized strike, in which Greek women refuse to have sexual relations with their husbands, in order to end the war.  Lysistrata, a Athenian housewife, has summoned an urgent meeting.  She has invited all the women from the warring regions to assemble at the Akropolis in Athens.  Lysistrata has planned to inspire these women, to present a united front against their husbands.  Lysistrata claims that all hope of ending the war lies with the women and they finally agree to her plan.  The women will refuse sex with the men until a treaty for peace between Athens and Sparta has been signed.  The women have also planned to seize the Akropolis (Treasury), including the temple of Athena.  This will be done to prevent the Athenians from using the money from the treasury for the war. 

The play ends with the women being victorious and Lysistrata emerges from the Akropolis building, as a daring heroine.   She brings out the goddess of peace and gives a reproachful speech.  Lysistrata reminds the warriors on both sides that they lay waste of one another’s cities.  The men see the wisdom of her words and peace is made, and the men and women celebrate together.  I believe the play is well written and its attempt to present the world as a better place when men spend more time loving their wives, than their weapons or war is well received.