Persian New Year at the Pomegranate Restaurant

Nowruz

Saal-e Now Mubarak

In Celebration of the Persian New Year

The Pomegranate Restaurant and Storyteller Ariel Balevi
invite you to join us for the telling of

THE LEGEND OF SIYAVASH

PART II: THE BLOOD OF SIYAVASH

The Shahnameh is a vast epic central to the cultures of Persia. It was completed in 1010 CE by the Persian poet Ferdowsi. The epic tells both the legendary and historical saga of Iran from the creation of the world until the Arab Conquest in the 7th century. Within the epic are self-contained stories which are epics in and of themselves.

One of them, the Legend of Siyavash is perhaps one of the most celebrated and important particularly in Iranian cultural spheres. It has been remarked that the legend has some parallels with the narratives of the martyrdom of Hussein which are so important to Shi'a Islam. As well, to this day, in certain remote areas of Iran, the legend of Siyavash is sometimes re-enacted in a ritual known as Siyvushun.

The Legend of Siyavash draws on an ancient tradition in Central Asia of the worship of an Adonis-like god Siyavash whose destruction and return every spring represented the renewal of the seasons. In the epic, Siyavash becomes a young prince who represents innocence in the face of familial and political conflict. His legend is one of integrity in perpetual conflict with deceit.

The first part of the legend, which tells of the conflict between Siyavash and his stepmother Queen Sudabeh, was told at the Pomegranate for Shab-e Yalda. The second part, which will be told for Now Ruz, tells the tragic end of Siyavash. Defying the military orders of his father King Kay Kavus, Siyavash is forced to seek exile at the court of the King of Turan, Afrasyab. There he becomes the favorite of the king. Yet this inspires the jealousy of the king's brother Garsivaz. In the end Siyavash becomes at once a martyr and a symbol of renewal in the world.

Sunday March 28^th 8pm. Sharp

Thursday April 1^st 8pm. Sharp (repeat)

* You can still enjoy Part 2 even if you’ve missed Part 1

^{The Pomegranate Restaurant will be serving dinner from 5:00 pm. until the start of the storytelling.}

^{Please call ahead for reservations 416.921.7557}