Arash

Arash the Archer (Persian: آرش کمانگیر‎‎ Āraŝ-e Kamāngīr) is a heroic archer-figure of Iranian oral tradition and folklore.

Summary

The basic story of the bowman runs as follows: In a war between the Iranians and Turanians over the "royal glory" (khwarrah), the General Afrasiab has surrounded the forces of the righteous Manuchehr, and the two sides agree to make peace. Both reach an agreement that whatever land falls within the range of a bow-shot shall be returned to the Manuchehr and the Iranians, and the rest should then fall to Afrasiab and the Aniranians. An angel (in al-Biruni it is 'Esfandaramad', i.e. the Amesha Spenta Spenta Armaiti, in Middle Persian called Spendarmad) instructs Manuchehr to construct a special bow and arrow, and Arash is asked to be the archer. Arash then fires the specially-prepared arrow at dawn, which then traveled a great distance (see below) before finally landing and so marking the future border between the Iranians and the Aniranians.

In Talebi and Bal'ami, Arash is destroyed by the shot and disappears. In al-Tabari, he is exalted by the people, is appointed commander of the archers and lives out his life in great honor. The distance the arrow travels varies: in one it is thousand leagues (farsakhs), in another forty days walk. In several, the arrow traveled from dawn to noon, in others from dawn until sunset. A few sources specify a particular date for the event. The Middle Persian Mah i Frawardin notes the 6th day of the 1st month (i.e. Khordad of Frawardin); later sources associate the event with the name-day festivities of Tiregan (13th of Tir) "presumably" provoked by the homonymity with the Yazata Tir or tir "arrow." (Tafażżolī 1987, p. 266)

Arash (disambiguation)

Arash is a mythological archer in Iranian legend and lore

Arash also may refer to:

Given name

Arash (radar)

Arash (Persian: رادار آرش‎‎) is a long-range radar system built by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense Force. According to Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense Force, Arash radar Phased array radar is complete. He also said in an interview:«The radar will be developed in the foreseeable future, Radar with very high capacity to detect and identify targets and Also in the field of electronic warfare is approved by the Ali Khamenei.

External links

References