Shahmaran
At the threshold of dream and reality, where history dissolves into myth, ancient legends remain as living archetypes within the contemporary soul. Inspired by the Kurdish-Iranian legend of "Shahmaran," this work explores the themes of forbidden wisdom, the sanctity of secrets, and the heavy price of loyalty.
The figure of the Queen of Serpents is more than a mythical hybrid; she symbolizes the unbreakable bond between nature and esoteric knowledge—a wisdom not found in words, but in a silent, piercing gaze. This piece is an attempt to reclaim the power of myths that were sacrificed to human betrayal. It is an invitation to journey into the "self," where we must face the guardians of truth to heal our historical wounds. This work pays homage to the resilience and grace of a being who remains the keeper of existence’s secrets, even at the intersection of life and death.
The Legend: Shahmaran is the sovereign of the Maran (intelligent serpents), a legendary creature with the upper body of a beautiful woman and the tail of a snake. According to folklore, a young man named Jamasb accidentally discovered her hidden underground garden. Shahmaran welcomed him, sharing her vast knowledge of medicine, herbs, and the secrets of the universe. They lived in harmony for years until Jamasb grew homesick. Shahmaran allowed him to leave on one condition: he must never reveal her location and never enter a public bath (as contact with water would reveal his scales, a mark of their bond).
Years later, the king fell terminally ill, and the vizier claimed only the flesh of Shahmaran could cure him. Jamasb was captured, tortured, and eventually forced to betray her. Knowing her fate was sealed by the hand of the one she loved, Shahmaran chose not to curse him. Instead, she whispered a final secret to Jamasb: "Boil my head for the King (to heal him), and my tail for the Vizier (to poison him), but drink the broth of my body yourself to inherit my wisdom."
Through her calculated sacrifice, Shahmaran died, but her soul and knowledge lived on through Jamasb, who became a legendary physician. She remains a timeless symbol of betrayal, unconditional love, and the eternal cycle of wisdom born from sacrifice.
