Babr-e Bayān[1] (Persian: بَبْرِ بَیان) or Palangina (پلنگینه) is the name of a suit that Rostam, the legendary Iranian hero wore in wars. The suit had a number of preternatural features. It was invulnerable against fire, water and weapon. Its color was dark and apparently it was hairy. Rostam, before going to battle, wore three levels of defensive suits: he first put on a zereh, then a gabr or jowshan, and lastly the Babr-e Bayan. According to some verses in Shahnameh, Babr-e Bayan had been made out of the skin of a leopard (the name Palangineh refers to this). This account is also mentioned in some Sogdian texts. According to Faramarznameh, after the death of Rostam, the suit was passed to his son, Faramarz.[1] The story of the armor is part of the five interpolated tales in Shahnameh that demonstrated the extent of Rostam's popularity.[2]
- ^ a b Khaleghi-Motlagh, Dj. "BABR-E BAYĀN". ENCYCLOPÆDIA IRANICA. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ^ van Zutphen, Marjolijn (2014). Farāmarz, the Sistāni Hero: Texts and Traditions of the Farāmarznāme and the Persian Epic Cycle. Leiden: BRILL. p. 102. ISBN 9789004268265.