TEHRAN- Iranian director Maryam Kazemi is set to bring the legendary Persian mythical character Arash the Archer to life on stage at the Tehran Theater Complex.

The production, which is currently in its final rehearsals, will feature a cast of 64 actors, including Nasser Avijeh, Arezou Afshar, Nazanin Safa, Hesam Kalantari, Mehrdad Zamani, Farbodd Tajvidi, and Erfan Meidanlou.

The cast also includes several child actors who will be making their debut on stage, including Diana Ilchi, Avina Ilchi, Rayan Rezai, Tiara Hesamzadeh, Ailin Sadat Hosseini, Barsam Rafiei, and Yashar Shojai.

The production is expected to premiere at the main stage of the Tehran Theater Complex in the near future.

Arash the Archer, a legendary figure in Iranian mythology, is a heroic archer who is said to have set the boundary between Iran and Turan with his arrow. According to folklore, Arash launched an arrow from the top of a mountain, putting his own life in its launch. The arrow traveled for days, eventually landing on the other side of the Oxus River, hundreds of miles away from the original launch site.

The story of Arash's origins is complex, with various sources suggesting that the name "Arash" may be derived from the Parthian dynasty's name "Arsaces". However, one mythological account suggests that Arash descends from Kai Kobad, a king of the Parthian dynasty.

In the myth, Arash is tasked with firing an arrow to mark the boundary between Iran and Turan. He is given a special bow and arrow by an angel, and at dawn, he fires the arrow, which travels a great distance before landing and marking the future border between the two nations. The distance the arrow travels varies depending on the source, with some accounts suggesting it traveled over 1,000 leagues or 40 days' walk.

Despite the variations in the story, Arash remains a popular figure in Iranian mythology and culture. His name is still commonly used among Iranians, and his legend has been retold and reinterpreted in various forms of Iranian literature and art.

Photo: Iranian stage director Maryam Kazemi in an undated photo

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