Long ago, Kay Kavus, a powerful yet impulsive and ambitious king of Persia, was easily swayed by flattery. A cunning demon disguised as a beautiful infant whispered into his ear, appealing to his vanity: “Your Majesty, you rule all the lands and seas of this world, yet the skies and stars remain beyond your grasp. Could a king of your greatness truly be outshone by mere birds?” The temptation ignited his pride and set him on a reckless path to conquer the heavens.
Determined to reach the sky, Kay Kavus commanded his craftsmen to build a flying throne. The design was unusual yet meticulously planned. A wooden throne was constructed with four tall poles at its corners, and at the tip of each pole, slabs of fresh goat meat were hung as bait. Four massive, specially trained eagles, strong enough to carry the throne, were tied to each corner, their hunger intended to power the flight. With a golden bowl and a cup of wine in hand, Kay Kavus climbed onto the throne, confident he was about to claim the heavens for himself.
As the eagles flapped their wings furiously, chasing the dangling meat, the throne rose above the clouds. Kay Kavus felt exhilarated, convinced he had become the first mortal to rival the gods. The winds carried him higher, the stars seeming within reach, and for a brief moment, the king imagined himself master of both earth and sky.
Yet the limits of nature quickly became apparent. The eagles grew exhausted, the meat began to spoil or blow away, and without their motivation, the birds could no longer sustain the flight. Slowly, the throne began to descend uncontrollably, carrying the proud king back toward the earth. He crashed into the dense wilderness of Amul in Mazandaran. Though he survived, Kay Kavus was trapped in the forest, hungry, humiliated, and completely at the mercy of the elements.
In the end, the hero Rostam was called upon to rescue the wayward king. Persian generals chastised him for his folly: “A king should care for the happiness of his people on earth, not spy on the secrets of the divine above.” Kay Kavus spent forty days in penance, fasting and praying to atone for his arrogance.
This tale carries profound lessons and enduring symbolism. It emphasizes the limits of human ambition, warning that mortals cannot overreach into the domain of the divine. It teaches the dangers of hubris, showing that even the most powerful can fall when humility is abandoned. The imagery of the eagles and dangling meat serves as a metaphor for foolish ambitions, driven by fleeting desires instead of lasting spiritual values, reminding readers that true greatness lies in wisdom and restraint rather than reckless pride.