Epic Lore & Biography

The courageous and cunning daughter of Gozhdeham, keeper of the White Fortress. Following Hajir's capture, she donned armor, hid her long hair beneath a helmet, and rode out to battle Sohrab. Though overcome by Sohrab's superior physical prowess—which knocked off her helmet and revealed her female identity—she skillfully outwitted him with honeyed words and strategic ruse, escaping into the White Fortress while mocking his gullibility and warning him of Rostam's impending wrath.

Shahnameh Distichs Featuring this Entity (38)

یکی خواهرش بود گرد و سوار / بداندیش و گردنکش و نامدار

“He had a sister, brave and a skilled knight, proud, hostile to foes, and renowned.”

Sohrab • Afrasiab’s Plot, the Mission of Houman and Barman, and the Capture of Hajir at the White Fortress بیت #6306

چو آگاه شد دختر گژدهم / که سالار آن انجمن گشت کم

“When the daughter of Gozhdeham learned that the commander of that fortress was lost,”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6327

زنی بود برسان گردی سوار / همیشه به جنگ اندرون نامدار

“She was a woman who rode like a warrior champion, ever renowned in the fray of battle.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6328

کجا نام او بود گردآفرید / زمانه ز مادر چنین ناورید

“Her name was Gordafarid; time itself had never brought forth such a child from any mother.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6329

چنان ننگش آمد ز کار هجیر / که شد لاله رنگش به کردار قیر

“So deeply was she shamed by Hajir’s defeat that her tulip-hued cheeks turned dark as pitch.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6330

بپوشید دِرْع سواران جنگ / نبود اندر آن کار جای درنگ

“She put on the heavy coat of mail of warrior riders, for there was no time for delay.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6331

نهان کرد گیسو به زیر زره / بزد بر سر ترگ رومی گره

“She concealed her tresses beneath her chainmail and tightly bound her helmet of Roman steel upon her head.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6332

فرود آمد از دژ به کردار شیر / کمر بر میان بادپایی به زیر

“She descended from the fortress like a fierce lion, bound her waist tight, and mounted her swift warhorse.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6333

به پیش سپاه اندر آمد چو گرد / چو رعد خروشان یکی ویله کرد

“She charged before the army like a swirling duststorm and let out a roar like thunder.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6334

که گردان کدامند و جنگ‌آوران / دلیران و کارآزموده سران

“Shouting: "Who are the champions and warriors here—the brave and battle-proven lords?"”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6335

بیامد دمان پیش گرد آفرید / چو دخت کمندافگن او را بدید

“He came charging forward before Gordafarid, and when the lasso-throwing maiden saw him...”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6339

کمان را بزه کرد و بگشاد بر / نبد مرغ را پیش تیرش گذر

“She strung her bow and drew it back full length; no bird could fly past her lethal arrows.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6340

به سهراب بر تیر باران گرفت / چپ و راست جنگ سواران گرفت

“She rained down arrows upon Sohrab, waging a furious knightly battle from left and right.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6341

چو سهراب را دید گردآفرید / که برسان آتش همی بردمید

“When Gordafarid saw Sohrab flaring up like a blaze of fire,”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6344

کمان بزه را به بازو فگند / سمندش برآمد به ابر بلند

“She slung her strung bow over her arm, while her golden steed reared high into the clouds.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6345

سر نیزه را سوی سهراب کرد / عنان و سنان را پر از تاب کرد

“She pointed her spear-head straight at Sohrab, twisting rein and spear point with fury.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6346

بزد بر کمربند گردآفرید / زره بر برش یک به یک بردرید

“He struck Gordafarid upon her waist-belt, rending the mail upon her breast link by link.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6350

ز زین برگرفتش به کردار گوی / چو چوگان به زخم اندر آید بدوی

“He lifted her off her saddle like a polo ball struck by the powerful blow of a mallet.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6351

چو بر زین بپیچید گرد آفرید / یکی تیغ تیز از میان برکشید

“As Gordafarid twisted upon the saddle, she drew a sharp sword from her belt.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6352

بزد نیزهٔ او به دو نیم کرد / نشست از بر اسپ و برخاست گرد

“She struck Sohrab's spear and sheared it in two, firmly reseated herself on her horse, and kicked up dust.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6353

به آورد با او بسنده نبود / بپیچید ازو روی و برگاشت زود

“Realizing she was no match for him in head-on battle, she turned her face away and fled swiftly.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6354

چو آمد خروشان به تنگ اندرش / بجنبید و برداشت خود از سرش

“As he came roaring close behind her, he reached out and snatched the helmet from her head.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6356

رها شد ز بند زره موی اوی / درفشان چو خورشید شد روی اوی

“Her hair poured forth free from the bonds of the mail, and her face shone bright as the sun.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6357

بدانست سهراب کاو دخترست / سر و موی او ازدر افسرست

“Then Sohrab knew that his opponent was a maiden, whose head and tresses were worthy of a royal crown.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6358

ز فتراک بگشاد پیچان کمند / بینداخت و آمد میانش ببند

“Unfastening his coiled lasso from his saddle-bow, he cast it, and it bound her around the waist.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6361

بدو گفت کز من رهایی مجوی / چرا جنگ جویی تو ای ماهروی

“He said to her: "Seek no escape from me! Why do you seek battle, O moon-faced beauty?"”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6362

بدانست کاویخت گردآفرید / مر آن را جز از چاره درمان ندید

“Gordafarid realized she was caught in a deadly snare, and saw no remedy save clever trickery.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6364

بدو روی بنمود و گفت ای دلیر / میان دلیران به کردار شیر

“Turning her face toward him, she said: "O brave hero, lion-like among all valiant warriors!"”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6365

دو لشکر نظاره برین جنگ ما / برین گرز و شمشیر و آهنگ ما

“"Both armies are watching this battle of ours—our maces, swords, and fierce resolve."”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6366

کنون من گشایم چنین روی و موی / سپاه تو گردد پر از گفت‌وگوی

“"If I now unveil my face and tresses thus, your army will fill with mocking gossip,"”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6367

که با دختری او به دشت نبرد / بدین سان به ابر اندر آورد گرد

“"Saying: 'It was with a girl in the field of battle that he raised dust up to the clouds!'"”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6368

نهانی بسازیم بهتر بود / خرد داشتن کار مهتر بود

“"It is far better that we reach a secret concord; to possess wisdom is the true mark of great leaders."”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6369

ز بهر من آهو ز هر سو مخواه / میان دو صف برکشیده سپاه

“"Do not invite reproach upon yourself from every side for my sake, between the two arrayed armies!"”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6370

کنون لشکر و دژ به فرمان تست / نباید برین آشتی جنگ جست

“"Now both army and fortress are under your command; there is no need to seek war over this peace!"”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6371

عنان را بپیچید گرد آفرید / سمند سرافراز بر دژ کشید

“Gordafarid turned her reins and spurred her noble steed toward the fortress.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6379

درِ باره بگشاد گرد آفرید / تن خسته و بسته بر دژ کشید

“Gordafarid opened the citadel gate and brought her wounded, weary body inside.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6381

ز آزار گردآفرید و هجیر / پر از درد بودند برنا و پیر

“For the plight of Gordafarid and Hajir, both young and old were consumed with distress.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6383

بخندید بسیار گرد آفرید / به باره برآمد سپه بنگرید

“Gordafarid laughed heartily, mounted the wall, and looked down upon the host.”

Sohrab • The Combat of Gordafarid and Sohrab: Bravery, Reveal, and Strategic Deception بیت #6386