Sohrab
Sohrāb or Suhrāb is a legendary warrior in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, best known for the tragedy of Rostam and Sohrab. He is the son of the Iranian hero Rostam and Tahmineh, daughter of the king of Samangan. The episode is one of the most famous in Persian epic: Rostam fatally wounds Sohrab in single combat, and only after the blow is struck do father and son recognize each other. The tale is widely discussed for its themes of fate, identity, and dramatic irony, with scholars noting how the audience knows their kinship while the characters do not.
Etymology
Claims that the name Sohrab means “hot red water” or “beautiful, illustrious face” appear in some modern discussions but lack consistent sourcing in specialist reference works; such statements should be supported by reliable linguistic sources if retained.
Sohrab is raised in Turan and becomes a champion under Afrasiab. During war between Iran and Turan, he meets Rostam on the battlefield; neither knows their true relationship. After a series of duels, Rostam mortally wounds Sohrab. The recognition scene—marked by the token Tahmineh had given Rostam to identify his child—occurs too late to save him. In many retellings, the king Kaykavous delays granting the healing nōshdāru, fearing the combined power of father and son.
Reception and themes
The tragedy of Rostam and Sohrab is central to discussions of Shahnameh themes such as fate, kingship, moral choice, and conflicts between fathers and sons. Literary studies highlight how Ferdowsi stages dramatic irony—audiences are aware of the kinship from early in the episode—creating a sustained emotional and ethical tension that culminates in irreversible loss.
In art and illustration
Persian miniature painters across schools rendered the duel and lament scenes with conventions that “freeze” the peak tragic moment—using color, pose, and spatial arrangement to mirror Ferdowsi’s narrative emphasis on recognition and loss.
In popular and traditional culture
The legend of Rostam and Sohrab is a significant part of Persianate cultures. Sohrab Cycles, one of the biggest bicycle manufacturers in Pakistan, is named after Sohrab. The name remains popular in Persian-influenced cultures from Turkey to India.