Tales of Ancient Persia

Oxford Myths and Legends

by Barbara Leonie Picard, Victor G. Ambrus (Illustrator)

Here are stirring tales of pre-Islamic kings and heroes, and of the conflict between Ormuzd, god of goodness and light, and Ahrim-an, god of darkness and evil. For centuries the Persians waged war against their traditional enemies the Turanians, and from this struggle came inspring stories of
valour. This collection includes tales of the legendary heroes, including the great warrior Rustem, who overcame demons and dragons and tragically slew his own son in battle.

Genres: Mythology, Historical, Fiction, Middle East

182 pages, Paperback

Published October 21, 1993

About the author

Barbara Leonie Picard's first book was published in 1949, and was followed by over twenty more, all of which received praise for the mature and thought-provoking fare they offered young readers. She is well-known for her re-tellings of Homer, Gilgamesh, and ancient myths for young readers.

Reviews

[Elentarri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finding this book was a pleasant surprise. This is a collection of tales drawn from the first half of Abolqasem Ferdowsi's epic poem Shahnameh (The Persian Book of Kings), which deals with pre-Islamic kings and heroes, and of the conflict between Ormuzd/Ahura Mazda (god of goodness and light) and Ahriman (god of darkness and evil). For centuries, the Persians waged war against their traditional enemies the Turanians, and out of this struggle came inspiring stories of valour and heroism. A large portion of this selection focuses on Rustem, whose feats included overcoming demons and dragons, and who tragically slew his own son. Interesting.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ancient Persian tales edited to be told to children, similar in style to Roger Lancelyn Green’s work. The stories are exciting - lots of fighting between desert empires, kings making good or foolish choices, legendary warriors, a little bit of magic, and a surprising number of secret marriages.
I was hoping for a djinn or two to make an appearance; alas, there are none. There are a couple of demons and a magical bird, but that’s about it. Some of the stories are reminiscent of Old Testament stories or Greek myths, perhaps owing to the general region where everyone was situated.
There’s definitely a value in heroic and virtuous behavior, all people groups have their wise and foolish decisions, people are shown to be just what they are. There are mentions of multiple wives and of slaves, but the stories are nowhere as troublesome or scandalous as those in the OT, for reference.

[Maia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid introduction to Persian myths, from the pre-Islamic era. It follows the rein of many kings through generations of struggles with the neighboring empires of Turan and Rome. Highlighted are tales of Rustem, the renown hero who fought demons, dragons and many ferocious battles.