In the epic Shahnameh, Zahhak was once a prince, but he became a vessel of pure evil through the corruption of the dark spirit Ahriman. After murdering his own father to seize the throne, he was kissed by Ahriman on both shoulders, causing two black serpents to sprout from his back. To appease these monstrous creatures, Zahhak was forced to feed them the brains of two young men from across Iran every single day. Under his reign, Iran descended into darkness and terror, transforming the land into a living nightmare for a thousand years.
The tyranny of Zahhak sparked a legendary uprising led by Kaveh, the blacksmith. Using his leather apron as a makeshift banner, known as the Derafsh Kaviani, Kaveh rallied the people and called upon Fereydun, a prince of pure and noble lineage, to lead the revolt against the oppressive ruler. Armed with his mythical bull-headed mace, Fereydun confronted Zahhak and defeated him. Yet, an angel appeared to Fereydun, instructing him not to kill Zahhak, for his evil could not be fully destroyed. Instead, Zahhak was to be imprisoned, left to endure the torment of his own sins for eternity.
Fereydun bound Zahhak in the deepest cave beneath the summit of Mount Damavand, using chains forged from divine iron. Suspended upside down, Zahhak endured the relentless hunger of the serpents, which turned upon his own body in punishment. Ancient Iranians believed that the smoke rising from Damavand, a dormant volcano, was the burning breath of Zahhak, while the rumbling beneath the mountain echoed his screams as he struggled against his chains. This terrifying imprisonment turned the mountain into a living symbol of justice and vigilance, a reminder that evil, no matter how powerful, can be subdued by righteousness.
Legends of Zahhak also carry a prophetic dimension. According to Zoroastrian teachings, at the end of time, the Frashokereti, Zahhak will break free from his chains and unleash destruction upon the world once again. At that moment, the hero Garshasp will awaken from his thousand-year slumber to destroy Zahhak completely, eradicating evil from the earth forever. The myth of Zahhak thus serves as both a warning and a promise, illustrating the eternal struggle between darkness and justice.
Mount Damavand itself has become a symbol of resilience and hope in Persian culture. It is the sacred place where the archer Arash shot his arrow to define the borders of Iran and where the legendary bird Simurgh nurtured the hero Zal. For the Iranian people, Damavand represents freedom, justice, and the triumph of virtue over tyranny, standing tall like a vigilant guardian that no evil can overcome. Its imagery resonates deeply in literature and poetry, inspiring resistance against oppression while embodying a spiritual connection to the divine.
This story of Zahhak and Mount Damavand endures as a testament to human courage, the inevitability of justice, and the enduring hope that no matter how long darkness may reign, light and righteousness will ultimately prevail.