ABSTRACT
The first King was Gayumarth, who dwelt on a mountain surrounded by his courtiers all clad in leopard skins. They lived in peace and tranquillity and on friendly terms with all the wild beasts. But this happy state of affairs was soon disturbed by the envy of Ahriman, the Evil Principle, who sent his son, the Black Demon, to invade Iran at the head of a vast demon host. Siyamak, the King’s gallant young son, led out an army against them, but was defeated and slain in single combat by the Black Demon. In due course Hushang, the son of Siyamak, encouraged and accompanied by his grandfather, embarked on a war of revenge, engaging the demons in battle, and, with the assistance of a squadron of angels and a troop of lions, leopards, and tigers, inflicted on them a crushing defeat, 6 killing the Black Demon in single combat. Shortly after this Gayumarth died, leaving the kingdom to his grandson.
