The Position of Yemen in Persian Literature

Esoteric and mysterious stories of the Shahname show that from ancient times Yemen has had economic and political relations with the great empire of Iran. Although in some parts the region is called Hamavaran and in others، Yemen، it refers to a united territory which extends from east of the Tigris to the coasts of Arabia، Oman، Yemen and Sham (modern Syria). Zahak was supposed to have been a native، grandchild of a black–eyed Div called Zangyab، who oppressed Iran for many years. Fereydoon had married his sons to Yemeni princesses، and the rulers of Yemen fought side by side with him and Keikhosro. In the Naghshe Rostam inscription in Fars، Oman and Yemen are introduced as a part of one of the Iranian states، and during the Sassanid period it was the Iranian base of operations for fighting against Byzantium and maintaining the maritime supremacy of Iran. The people of Abyssinia، tired of black domination، entreat the help of the Iranian king، Khosro Anooshirvan، and Sassanid cavalry، aboard oceangoing ships، reach the shores of Yemen، Sassanid generals become the rulers of Yemen، and their children are considered a noble race over there، and instigate new civil and military systems. Iranian language and culture become prevalent and with the rise of the sun of Islam، the children of Iran، become the first Muslims of Yemen and suppress the seditions of false prophets. They built the first mosque in the gardens of the Iranian governor and، little by little، they become part of the native population.