Jul 27, 2025Arash turned to the people and said: “Look at me now—I am whole and strong… but with this shot, I will be torn apart. I sacrifice myself for you.” The sky wept for Arash, ending the drought. Through the sacrifice of this great Iranian hero, blessings once again returned to the land.
After a bitter defeat by the Turanians, the Iranians were left with no options. In addition to suffering from a devastating drought, their land had fallen into enemy hands.
Manuchehr, the king of Iran, appealed to the enemy and proposed this: a single archer would shoot an arrow, and wherever it landed would be marked as the new border between Iran and Turan. The Turanians, confident in their victory, saw this proposal as the desperate plea of the vanquished.
Nonetheless, the Iranians obtained a mythical bow said to have been prepared under the command of the ancient goddess Spenta Armaiti (Sepandarmath). The archer chosen had to pour their entire life force into the shot.
A devout, virtuous, and patriotic archer was needed—and none was more worthy than Arash, the greatest archer of Iran.
Arash turned to the people and said:
“Look at me now—I am whole and strong… but with this shot, I will be torn apart. I sacrifice myself for you.”
Knowing full well that the act would cost him his life, Arash climbed to the peak of a tall mountain. In the name of God and homeland, he released the arrow.
With the power of the mythical bow, the strength of Arash, the faith of a hero, and the aid of the wind, the arrow flew for ten days and crossed thousands of leagues. Arash’s pure body vanished, but his name soared to become eternal in the history of Iran.
The sky wept for Arash, ending the drought. Through the sacrifice of this great Iranian hero, blessings once again returned to the land. (1)
Was Arash the Archer a Historical Figure?
Without a doubt, the tale of Arash the Archer, as found in various sources, holds deep mythological and symbolic meaning. But whether there truly was a historical figure named Arash is a matter open to investigation.
The truth is, based on current historical documents and sources, no definitive conclusion can be made. The historical roots of Arash have neither been confirmed nor fully denied.
History around the world offers many examples of legendary tales that grow around heroic figures and gradually become part of a culture’s sacred or epic beliefs.
On the other hand, it’s possible that such characters were entirely fictional, and the creators of these stories never intended for them to be seen as historical. Over time, however, these myths were accepted as history.
If Arash is purely a mythical figure, then his story must be considered one of the most remarkable of its kind. He represents sacrifice and devotion—an enduring source of inspiration even today.
Footnote:
1. This text is based on ancient sources. For example, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, in his book al-Athar al-Baqiya, writes in the section on the Tirgan festival:
"When Afrasiab conquered Iran and besieged Manuchehr in Tabaristan, Manuchehr asked Afrasiab to grant him as much of Iran as an arrow could reach.
One of the angels named Spenta Armaiti (Sepandarmath) appeared and instructed Manuchehr to take a bow and arrow according to divine specifications mentioned in the Avesta. They summoned Arash, a devout man, and said: ‘You must take this bow and arrow and shoot.’
Arash stood, stripped off his clothes, and said: ‘O king and people, behold my body—healthy and free of wounds or illness. But I am certain that once I shoot this arrow, I will be torn apart and perish. Still, I sacrifice myself for you.’
Then he drew the bow with all the power God had granted him. He was torn apart as he loosed the arrow. God commanded the wind to carry it from Mount Ruyan to the borders of Khorasan, between Fergana and Tabaristan. The arrow finally struck a mighty walnut tree—unmatched in size anywhere in the world. Some say the arrow flew a thousand leagues…"
Translated from kheradgan.ir/p/21882
