Story Summary
Explore the legend of Kay Kavus and the Flying Throne, where a king's hubris leads him to build a craft pulled by eagles to conquer the heavens and the stars.
King Kay Kavus, a powerful but impulsive ruler of ancient Persia, was often swayed by his own vanity. After conquering many lands, a demon disguised as a servant whispered into his ear that the earth was too small for his greatness and he should conquer the secrets of the heavens. Obsessed with this ambition, Kavus commanded his smiths to build a special throne of aloe wood and gold. At each corner, he fixed long poles with pieces of goat meat attached to the tips. He then captured four massive, powerful eagles and tethered them to the throne. Having kept the birds hungry, Kavus sat upon his seat, and as the eagles strained to reach the meat above them, they lifted the king and his throne high into the clouds. He soared through the sky, believing he had become a god, until the birds grew exhausted. Their strength failed, and the throne plummeted from the heavens, crashing into a remote forest in Amol. Stranded and humbled, the king had to be rescued by his champion, Rustam, having learned that man's reach has limits.
The Moral
Unchecked hubris and the desire to transcend human limits lead only to a swift and humiliating fall.
“He who seeks to measure the sky with the wings of a bird shall soon find the earth rising to meet his pride.”
Fun Fact
This story is considered one of the earliest literary descriptions of a flying machine, predating actual aviation by over a thousand years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of Kay Kavus and the Flying Throne?
The moral is that pride and over-ambition lead to disaster. It warns that even the most powerful rulers must respect the boundaries of nature and the divine.
Who wrote the story of Kay Kavus and the Flying Throne?
The story is part of the Shahnameh, or Book of Kings, which was written by the legendary Persian poet Ferdowsi in the 10th century.
How did Kay Kavus make his throne fly?
He used four hungry eagles tethered to the throne. He placed meat on poles just out of their reach, forcing them to fly upward to get to the food, lifting the throne with them.
Where did Kay Kavus land after his flight?
After the eagles became exhausted, he crashed in a forest in the region of Amol, where he remained until his heroes found and rescued him.
Was Kay Kavus a real king?
Kay Kavus is a mythological figure from Persian folklore and the Zoroastrian tradition, representing the Kayanian dynasty, though he has no confirmed historical counterpart.
Who rescued Kay Kavus from the forest?
The great hero Rustam, the most famous champion in Persian mythology, led the search to find and save the humbled king after his disastrous flight.
