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Presents:
Bridging Minds: The Life and Legacy of Rostam
Date: October 23, 2026
Time: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm CST
Location: Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute & Zoom
8 South Michigan Avenue, Floor 7
Chicago, IL 60603
1.5 CE Credits
This fall, Bridging Minds will explore one of the great stories of ancient Persia: the life and legacy of Rostam.
Rostam holds a special place in the minds of many contemporary Iranians. Together, we will explore his long life journey as told in the Shahnameh, or the Persian Book of Kings.
Sepideh Firouzi will lead a discussion of this ancient tale and Rostam’s continued presence in Iranian cultural life. She will also present her paper on the Rostam Complex, the Eastern counterpoint to the Western Oedipus Complex.
October 23 11:30 AM – The Legend Of Rostam. Illustrated with Persian Court Manuscript Paintings
The recommended reading is the contemporary translation Rostam: Tales of Love and War from the Shahnameh, translated by Dick Davis and written by Abolqasem Ferdowsi. It is available on Amazon or through your local bookstore.
The Simorgh (shown above saving Rostam) continues to be important in Iranian and Persian imagination. This YouTube video is an excellent discussion of its enduring presence through the ages: