Myth and medicine: a historical perspective on caesarean section in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh

Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh , composed around 1000 CE, contains a remarkable narrative of the birth of the Persian hero Rostam, which describes a procedure resembling a caesarean section, termed ‘Rostam-zad’ or ‘Rostamina’. This account, predating Roman associations with the procedure, offers insights into ancient Persian medical practices, including surgical techniques, anaesthetic methods and postoperative care. The story details a lateral incision, the use of a cannabis and camphor concoction for pain management and suturing with a healing salve, culminating in maternal survival—a rare outcome in ancient surgical births. By analysing this narrative, this paper explores the intersection of myth and medicine, highlighting the sophistication of Persian medical knowledge and challenging Eurocentric narratives in the history of medicine. The Shahnameh ’s depiction not only reflects empirical surgical and pharmacological practices but also underscores the role of epic literature in preserving medical history, offering valuable perspectives on the cultural and scientific heritage of ancient Persia. This article also draws on contemporary scholarship, offering a comparative exploration of this cultural and medical tradition alongside Greco-Roman, Indian and Islamic medical texts. Additionally, the article clarifies that Ferdowsi’s purpose in composing the Shahnameh was primarily to preserve the Persian language and mythohistorical identity, not to record medical procedures. The present study treats the narrative of Rostam’s birth as a ‘mytho-medical’ episode, a symbolic story that nevertheless preserves empirical medical knowledge embedded in Persian cultural memory.