Humay-ē Chehrzad

In the Kayanian legendary-historical cycle Humay-ē Chehrzad appears as the daughter (and in some variants possibly also the wife) of Kay Bahman. When Kay Bahman falls ill while Humay is six months pregnant, he appoints her vice-regent until the birth of her child. After Bahman's death Humay ascends the throne and rules Iran. Sources preserve a degree of narrative variation about her precise genealogical relation to Bahman; later chroniclers such as Al-Maqrizi reportedly identify her with Semiramis, reflecting a process of literary conflation in some traditions.

The sources provide no physical description of Humay-ē Chehrzad. She is represented in the tradition by her political role and actions: a pregnant royal designated vice-regent, a ruling queen who conceals and protects a royal infant, a commander of state responses to foreign attack, and ultimately a mother who retires in favor of her son. Later identification with Semiramis in some chronicles may have influenced portrayals of her as a paradigmatic ancient queen, but explicit iconographic or bodily descriptions are not recorded in the supplied material.

Humay's documented capacities are political and narrative rather than supernatural. She is appointed vice-regent during Bahman's fatal illness while pregnant, gives birth and conceals her son Kai Darab for eight months, then places the infant in a box and sets him afloat on the Euphrates where he is found and raised. During her reign she dispatches an army under the commander Rashnwad to repel a Greek assault on Iran's western borders; after the campaign and about 32 years on the throne she retires and transfers kingship to her son. The sources do not ascribe magical powers or other supernatural abilities to her.