Zaav

"Enthronement of Shah Zav", Folio from the Great Mongol Shahnameh. Created in Tabriz between 1330-1340

Zaav, Zav, Zaab,^[1] or Zou (Persian: زاو or زو) is the tenth Shah of the Pishdadian dynasty of Persia according to Shahnameh.^[2] He was a descendant of Nowzar^[1] and ruled over Iran for about five years.

According to the Shahnameh, his reign brought about an era of justice in Iran during a time of rampant military crimes caused by the war with Afrasiab. Because of widespread famine, Afrasiab wished to conclude the war as soon as possible and an agreement was reached where Turan was given the rights to all the land across the Oxus in exchange for peace. During the rest of his reign, Zav lead Iran during an era of renewed prosperity before dying at the age of 86.^[3]

References

1. Saeed Shirazi (2017). A Concise History of Iran: From the early period to the present time. Los Angeles, CA: Ketab Corporation. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-59584-600-6.
2. Mehrdad Kia (2016). The Persian Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-391-2.
3. Firdausī; Davis, Dick; Nafisi, Azar; Firdausī (2006). Shahnameh: the Persian book of kings. New York, NY: Viking. pp. 128–129. ISBN 978-0-670-03485-7.

Preceded by Nowzar

Legendary Kings of the Shāhnāma 2427–2432 (after Keyumars)

Succeeded by Garshasp