Zahhak was once a handsome young prince, charming but easily swayed. His life took a dark turn when Ahriman, the embodiment of evil and darkness, approached him disguised as a flattering courtier. Whispering promises of power and glory, Ahriman convinced Zahhak to betray his father, a wise and just king, and claim the throne for himself. With a heavy heart, Zahhak committed patricide, seizing the crown, unaware that this was only the beginning of a horrifying pact with the forces of evil.
To ensure Zahhak’s complete submission, Ahriman returned in the guise of a masterful chef, presenting him with exotic and delicious meats, unheard of in a land that mostly relied on grains. When Zahhak wished to reward the chef, Ahriman asked for only one thing: to place a kiss on the prince’s shoulders. The moment the demon’s lips touched him, two black, writhing serpents sprouted from Zahhak’s shoulders. Terrified, Zahhak tried to cut them off, but each time he struck one down, another appeared immediately. Ahriman, now disguised as a physician, revealed the terrifying truth: the only way to appease the snakes was to feed them the brains of two young men every day.
Thus began a thousand years of darkness across Persia. Zahhak became a cruel tyrant, known as the Serpent King, ruling with fear and terror. Every day, young men were sacrificed to feed the insatiable hunger of the snakes, leaving the kingdom’s youth decimated and the people living in constant dread. The land groaned under his reign, and the once-thriving kingdom fell into despair.
The breaking point came when Zahhak kidnapped the last son of Kaveh, a humble and virtuous blacksmith. Overcome with rage, Kaveh seized his leather apron, hoisted it upon a spear, and called the people to revolt. This banner, known as Derafsh Kaviani, became the emblem of freedom and resistance. Kaveh sought out Fereydun, a prince of ancient royal lineage, hidden from the world and nourished by the divine milk of the sacred cow Purmaya. Fereydun, destined to free the kingdom, forged a mighty ox-headed mace and led an army to confront Zahhak in his dark citadel.
Fereydun defeated Zahhak in battle, but on the counsel of a wise angel, he did not strike the tyrant down immediately, for killing him outright might allow evil to spread unchecked. Instead, he bound Zahhak in chains and sealed him within a cavern on the peak of Mount Damavand, Persia’s tallest mountain. According to legend, Zahhak remains there to this day, the serpents gnawing perpetually at his shoulders, a grim symbol of the eternal suffering of one who sold his soul to darkness.
The story of Zahhak carries deep symbolism. The two serpents embody insatiable greed and the corrupting nature of absolute power. Zahhak himself stands as a cautionary figure, a tyrant who nourishes his rule on the blood of the innocent. Meanwhile, Kaveh’s flag represents courage, justice, and the unyielding spirit of a people who rise against oppression. The tale endures as a lesson that true power is tempered by virtue, and that tyranny, no matter how fearsome, can always be overcome by courage, wisdom, and the collective will of the righteous.