View source for Div-e Sepid

{{Short description|Character in the Persian epic of Shahnameh}}
[[File:Rostam killing the White Demon.jpg|thumb|[[Rostam]] dismembering the White Div, demon king of Mazandaran]]
In the [[Persia]]n epic of [[Shahnameh]] '''Div-e Sepid''' ({{langx|fa|دیو سپید}}, lit. White Div), is the [[tribal chief|chieftain]] of the [[Dev (mythology)|Divs]] (demons) of [[Mazandaran (Shahnameh)|Mazandaran]]. He is a huge being. He possesses great physical strength and is skilled in [[Magic (paranormal)|sorcery]] and [[necromancy]]. He destroys the army of Kay Kavus by conjuring a dark storm of [[hail]], boulders, and tree trunks using his magical skills. He then captures Kay Kavus, his commanders, and paladins; blinds them, and imprisons them in a dungeon. The greatest [[Persian people|Persian]] mythical hero [[Rostam]] undertakes his "[[Rostam's Seven Labours|Seven Labors]]" to free his sovereign. At the end, Rostam slays Div-e Sepid and uses his heart and blood to cure the blindness of the king and the captured Persian heroes. Rostam also takes the Div's head as a helmet and is often pictured wearing it.<ref>{{cite book|title=Persian Myths|author=Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis|year=1993|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=0-292-71158-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/persianmyths00curt}}</ref>

==In the ''Shabrangnama''==
In the ''{{ill|Shabrangnama|fa|شبرنگ‌نامه}}'' it is revealed that the white demon sired a son.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Shahnama Studies II : the Reception of Firdausi's Shahnama|date=2012|publisher=Brill|author1=Melville, Charles Peter |author2=Van den Berg, Gabrielle Rachel |isbn=9789004228634|location=Leiden|oclc=808441521}}</ref>
[[File:An illustrated leaf from a manuscript of Firdausi’s Shahnameh; Rustam killing the White Div, Persia, Shiraz, Safavid, circa 1560-80.jpg|thumb|Rostam fights Div-e-Sepid]]
The ''Shabrangnama'' is a heroic epic that follows the story of Shabrang, son of the White Div, seeking revenge on the Iranians for his father's death by Rostam. Born with div-like features, Shabrang grows up and attacks Mazandaran, killing many, including Aulad, who ruled Mazandaran by Rostam's decree. With his mother, Mahyar, as the throne's figurehead, Shabrang leads an army against Iran. Rostam, summoned by Kay Kavus, confronts Shabrang with a group of Iranian heroes. In the ensuing battles, Shabrang uses magic to his advantage, but the Iranians ultimately defeat the divs' army, and Shabrang flees to Turan for help. The epic highlights Shabrang's unique characteristics and the use of magic in battles, providing an engaging narrative different from the ''Shahnameh''.

== Alternative views ==
It is written in the ''Journal of the Royal Central Asian Society'' that the struggle between Rostam and the white demon represents a struggle between Iranians and invaders from the north, from the Caspian provinces.<ref>''Journal of the Royal Central Asian Society'' By Royal Central Asian Society</ref>

The Div-e Sepid is believed by Joseph J. Reed to have been a northern prince.<ref>P. 23 ''Outlines of universal history: in three parts; with a copious index to each part, showing the correct mode of pronouncing every name mentioned ...'' by Joseph J Reed</ref> Warner believes that he is a personification of the Mazandaranians, who were believed to have skin of an unhealthily pale colour caused by the climate of their homeland<ref>P. 507 ''Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics Part 16'' By James Hastings</ref> Some scholars hold the opinion that these divs of Mazandaran are merely wild people of the forest.<ref>''The Wild Rue: A Study of Muhammadan Magic and Folklore in Iran'' By Bess Allen Donaldson</ref> Others are of the opinion that they are a group of enemy kings of ancient Mazandaran (which might have been different from its modern location) and Tabaristan.<ref>P. 120 ''World Of Myths'' By Felipe Fernández-Armesto</ref> Alexander Krappe theorized that Ahriman himself was believed to have white skin.<ref>Alexander H. Krappe 'Albinos and Albinism in Iranian Tradition' ''Folklore Vol. 55, No. 4'' (December 1944) pp. 170-4</ref> P. Molesworth Sykes believes that the name "White Div" represents a white nation.<ref>P. 137 ''A History of Persia'' By Percy Molesworth Sykes</ref>

According to one source [[Zal]] spoke of the horrid race of white-skinned people.<ref>P. 121 ''Myths of the Hero: With 105 Illustrations'' by Norma Lorre Goodrich</ref> This however contradicts with the fact that Zal was an [[albino]] himself. Zal means albino in Persian language.<ref name="Zal">''Encyclopædia Iranica'', [http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/zal "Zal"], E. Yarshater</ref>

According to the ''[[Georgian Chronicles]]'', the one who blinded K'ekapos (Kay Kavus) was the chief of the [[Laks (Caucasus)|Laks]].<ref>[https://www.attalus.org/armenian/gc2.htm ''Concise History of the Georgians'']</ref>

In the ''[[Kush Nama]]'' written by the poet [[Iranshah (poet)|Iranshah]], the White Div is given the name of '''Eridu''' (اریدو or ارندو) and is said to have been a descendant of [[Ham (son of Noah)|Ham]], son of [[Noah]]. He is described as having "a body like a camel and a white hide, his strength inspired fear and hope. The Nubians spoke much about him, they call him the White Demon. The men of that land had never seen anyone with such strength in times of battle and trials of honor. His upper body was like the branches of trees, his neck and shoulders like a savage elephant."<ref>[https://ganjoor.net/iranshan/koosh/sh343 ''Kush Nama'' (Farsi)]</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Kushnameh: The Persian Epic of Kush the Tusked (World Literature in Translation)|date=July 19, 2022|publisher=University of California Press|editor=Hee Soo Lee |translator=Kaveh L. Hemmat |isbn=978-0520385306}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Div-e-Sepid}}

{{Shahnameh}}

[[Category:Demons]]
[[Category:Daevas]]
[[Category:Persian literature]]
[[Category:Persian mythology]]
[[Category:Shahnameh characters]]