Thread by @SahbaShayani

And we’re back with Sue da Baeee! jk, it’s SUDĀBEH or SUDĀBA!! Never ‘ay,’ unless u want “a kotak moment” (jeez my jokes are old 🤪). Before we begin, though, please note the *TRIGGER WARNING* that this tale does include an accusation of assault, an abortion & graphic imagery.

SO, as it turns out, Kāvus has a very handsome, estranged son from another wife. His name is Siyāvosh & he has been raised by Rostam. Siyāvosh returns to the court as a young man and Kāvus is gladdened by his return. And trust you me, SO IS SUDĀBEH! So. Is. Sudābeh… 😬😈

Hoping to seduce Siyāvosh, Sudābeh convinces Kāvus to tell him to visit her quarters so that perhaps one of her daughters may catch his eye & they can marry (yes, I kno that’s incest). Siyāvosh is very hesitant & senses Sudābeh’s intentions, but complies so to appease his father.

Shining like the resplendent sun in her quarters, Sudābeh welcomes Siyāvosh & parades her daughters before him. When she sees that none have caught his eye (as she had hoped), she dismisses them, and ceases upon her chance.

بدو گفت خورشید با ماه نو گر ایدونک بینند بر گاه نو
نباشد شگفت ار شود ماه خوار تو خورشید داری خود اندر کنار
کسی کو چو من دید بر تخت عاج ز یاقوت و پیروزه برسرش تاج
نباشد شگفت ار بمه ننگرد کسی را بخوبی بکس نشمرد
من اینک به پیش تو استاده‌ام تن و جانِ روشن ترا داده‌ام

She then grabs the prince & plants a kiss on his lips! Ferdowsi says that Siyāvosh’s “cheeks blush like roses” & he tries to find a way out of the situation, w/o incurring Sudābeh’s wrath. He declares that she is far too fair for anyone but the king himself! (Nice save, Siyā)

Sudābeh is not impressed and a few days later she tries to seduce him again, this time with the promise of riches far greater than what his father has bestowed upon him. And if that doesn’t work, then with threats of destroying his prospect to kingship. #NBD

بهانه چه داری که از مهر من بپیچی ز بالای و از چهر من
یکی شاد کن در نهانی مرا ببخشای روز جوانی مرا
فزون زان که دادت جهاندارشاه بیارایمت یاره و تاج و گاه
اگر سر بپیچی ز فرمان من نیاید دلت سوی پیمان من
کنم بر تو این پادشاهی تباه شود تیره روی تو بر چشم شاه

Siyāvosh denies her advances, saying he would never betray his father & break the code of chivalry, & that Sudābeh as the queen is also above such a sin. This ENRAGES Sudābeh & seeing him now as a threat, she begins screaming, clawing at her face, & tearing her clothes.

The tumult causes a scene & soon Kāvus enters the chamber. Sudābe rushes to him & claims that Siyāvosh made advances toward her & when she denied him, he tried to attack her. She also claims to be pregnant with Kāvus’ baby & that this almost caused her to have a miscarriage.

Upset, Kāvus asks Siyāvosh what happened & he tells him the truth. To verify, Kāvus smells Sudābe & notes her scent of wine & perfume. He then smells Siyāvosh, who smells of neither. He concludes that Sudābeh is lying, chastises her, & asks Siyāvosh to just forget the ordeal.

So, Sudābeh moves on and everything ends happily eve… HELL NO SHE DOESN’T!

Sudābeh is NOT happy (surprise, surprise). To convince Kāvus, she concocts a plan w/ a pregnant handmaiden who knows black magic. Bribing her w/ gold & jewels, Sudābeh gets her to procure and drink a potion that will cause her to have a miscarriage.

The handmaiden bears still born twins (twins = not good in Persian myth), which Sudābeh then places on a golden platter by her bed & then begins to wail & lament to draw a crowd. Kāvus arrives and Sudābeh shows him the babies, claiming them to have been his!

Kāvus is devastated. He consults w/ the magi who, gazing into the constellations, conclude that these were not his children & that Sudābeh is lying. But when he confronts her, Sudābeh claims that the magi are lying for fear of Siyāvosh’s retribution. Kāvus is torn.

To uncover the truth, Kāvus decrees that Siyāvosh must pass a trial by fire to prove his innocence. A large fire is lit & people gather to watch. If he is innocent, Siyāvosh will come out unharmed; if guilty, he will burn. Sudābeh nervously watches from her quarters.

Clad in white, Siyāvosh valiantly rides his black steed through the flames & emerges untouched by the fire! The masses erupt in cheer, as Sudābeh shrieks & laments. Kāvus spends the next weeks celebrating his son’s victory, and then returns to punish Sudābeh.

The king reprimands Sudābeh, telling her that the punishment she deserves is death. Sudābeh replies that he can do as he wills, but that the only reason Siyāvosh escaped the fire was bc of the magic of Simorgh, bestowed upon him by Rostam! (see how these stories connect? 😉)

Kāvus prepares to have Sudābeh hung for her trespasses but is ultimately overcome w/ grief when he beholds his entire harem in tears & lamentation at the thought of the queen’s death. He also pities their young children. Sensing this, Siyāvosh steps in.

Knowing how much his father loves Sudābeh & anxious that Kāvus will ultimately blame him for her death, the prince pleads his father to forgive Sudābeh. Kāvus rejoices in this, and pardons Sudābeh. Things seem to end "well," but…

eventually Sudābeh again exercises her influence over Kāvus & wins him over. Siyāvosh, aware that he can never be safe w/ Sudābeh around, takes the 1st chance to leave Iran; a departure that ultimately leads to his untimely death—the 2nd greatest tragedy of the Shāhnāmeh.

Thanks for joining me today. I know that that was a long (and heavy!) one. See you next week!

Images:
1, 2, 4: Hamid Rahmanian, Shahanmeh
2: Maliheh Maktubian Baharanchi
6: Or. 12688, f.130v.
10: Met Museum, 1970.301.23
15: Ibid., 1970.301.24
16: LACMA, 57.17.7
17: Cover of Dāstān-e Siyāvosh by Adib Borumand
19: Chester Beatty, Per 300.3
21: Cafe Style Artwork