A Heavenly Gift for Herat

Discovery of Grape and Wine in Herat -My Home City
Edited and translated by Asef Fekrat



Herat, on the west of Afghanistan, is an ancient city, with a long history. In Avesta (Darmester, Zand Avesta, 2110) is mentioned that “Herat is the sixth good place that God has created in the world”. Almost all historians and geographers, who have written about Herat, unanimously have told that it is one of most important, populous, fertile cities, and a centre of trade and full of knowledge goods. There are stories about famous kings, including Alexander the Great, who loved this city. Alexander built an Alexandria there about which are interesting stories. The city is also famous for its art and architecture. Herat, for its glorious period in 15th century, has gotten the title of the “Centre of the East Renaissance”. It is located on a crossroad of the world trade. It has been called the Gate of India because it always has been the first place that conquerors entered on their way to India.
It has four proper seasons, long and fantastic sunset, delicious fruits, beautiful pine and cedar trees, more than hundred kinds of grapes, and many other worth mentioning things. These several kinds of grapes all exist, and each one has its own name. Herati grapes are the world’s most famous and delicious grapes. It is as sweet and fine as if it doesn’t have skin. But the wonderful thing for the city is that there is an old story of discovery of wine there for the first time. The story of discovery of grapes and wine in Heart, is mentioned in a famous book - Nawrooznaama- that means ( the book on Equilibrium Day) written by great and famous scholar and poet of 12th century, Omar Khayyam. This story is also turned into poetry by Asef Fekrat. Here, you read a translation of that story that originally is written in Persian.

Wine a Heavenly Gift for Herat

In the heart of Asia
Is located an ancient city now called Herat
Its ancient names were Aria, Hari, and Herai
Once there was a king
Who lived in the citadel called Shamiran-dezh
It means the castle of Shamiran
Therefore, the king entitled Shamiran shah
Famous, brave, just and kind
Loved his subjects and they loved him
In his time, Herat was populous and the people were well-to-do
One day, around the Equinox that they call Nawrooz
The king, the royal family, and courtiers were in country side
Entertaining, hunting, and sightseeing
Suddenly, over their heads, in the deep sky, appeared an eagle
Coiled by a fearful serpent, looked miserable and helpless
Flapping its wings, as if it entreated for help
Shamiran shah addressed his courtiers:
“Who is who wants to save the eagle from this terrible serpent?”
His son, Prince Badhan, stood in front of his father; kissed the earth,
The king gave a hint that meant permission
The Prince kneeled, took the bow, pulled the arrow, targeted the serpent
Without harming the bird, the serpent fell far away, nailed into the earth by the arrow
The eagle, released, enjoyed its freedom and turned around the crowd, several times
One would say it was appreciating the Prince and thanking the king
Finally, the bird disappeared
That year passed well and another spring came
The countryside became green and trees flourished with blossoms
At the same time they were sitting at the same place
Perhaps, the story of the eagle and the serpent had been forgotten
Suddenly, the eagle reappeared
Free, and flapping its wings energetically and joyfully
Turned around, above their heads, several times
Fled down before the court of the king
Threw something from its beak on the earth
Then fled up, turned around the sky several times and disappeared
The king bade the servants to see what the bird had thrown
There were some seed or grain-like things, never seen before
Chief Gardener was summoned to examine what the seeds were
He kissed the earth in front of the king and said:
“God saves the king!
Since we can remember, nobody has seen nor mentioned such a thing
However, let us sow them and wait if they sprout and grow”.
***
They sew the seeds that sprang after some days
The little plant was quite different from the beginning
Fine and winding branches, beautiful well-shaped leaves
The plants grew and brought up clusters of fruit
When the fruit ripened, one would have said they were shining jewels
***
When the fruit looked quite ripened
Chief Gardener picked some clusters
Put them in golden plates and brought them to the king
The king was excited but said:
“Nobody should eat the fruit without experiment
Lest it be a poison “
Put the fruit in hives and take its juice
They put them into hives, and closed the doors
After some times the gardener saw that the hives were boiling
He came to inform the king
Kissed the earth and said:
“God saves our king, the juice in hive is boiling
Without heat and fire”
The physicians of the court said:
Let it boil now, and bring it when it ceased boiling
***
When the juice was ready
Chief Gardener poured some into crystal jars
Brought them to the court, and placed them in front of the king
The king summoned the ministers, physicians and wisemen
Told them to think what they should do
At last, they gave their advice to which the king agreed:
“At prison, there are many guilty people
Convicted to sentence, and waiting for execution
Give them some of this mysterious juice
If they died, they would have been punished
If they survived, let them be free as rewarded
***
They brought a prisoner who was to be executed the next day
Bade him to sit and gave him a cup of the juice
He avoided screaming: “No poison,
Kill me by a sword or hang me!”
However, soldiers forced him to drink
He frowned when he drank and said:
“I never had tasted such a bitter thing.”
But after a while, he rose his head and said:
“May I have another cup?”
They give him other cup and he wanted more
After a third cup and he wanted fourth
They gave him as much as he asked
The more he drank the more he liked to drink
His face became ablaze and his eyes turned red
He laughed, he screamed, he wept, he cried
He said different things he never would have said before
Eventually, he fell in a deep heavy sleep
He remained asleep for three days and three nights
When he got up he said: “Where is that miraculous water?
Please give me some more.”
The king released him as a thanksgiving
****
Then the king summoned all wisemen and all physicians
To decide and test the mysterious drink
They agreed that it was a gift from God and had come from the heaven
But no one should exceed drinking
If one drinks orderly and in a proper way
It will be like the water of life and antidote
But if one exceeds in drinking it will be worse than a poison
They celebrated the event all around country
Then the king ordered to distribute the seeds all over the country
After some time there grew numerous grape gardens and orchards
They called the plant “tak” and “raz”
They called the grapes “angoor”
They called the wine “ mai”
Khayyaam, the great Persian poet and scholar says:
If you drink wine, drink with wise people
Or drink with a beautiful smiley tulip-face sweetheart
Don’t drink too much, don’t be addicted, don’t drink in public
Drink sometimes, drink a little, and drink in private.

Resources:
Darmesteter. Zand Avesta -------> Uraniski. Iranian Etymology. Tehran. ?
Khayyam, Omar. Nawrooznaama (Persian). Editor: Mojtaba Minowi. Tehran. 1321 (Persian calendar).
Saifi Herawi. ( The History of Herat ) (Persian). Editor: Zobair Seddiqi. Culcutta – India. 1943http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/wineday/2000/wd0900/wd090500.html