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Tahmeena, Tahmina, Tehmina or Tahmineh (Persian: تَهمينه‎) is a female character in the Shahnameh. Her name is mentioned as the wife ofRostam and as the daughter of Samanganshah, the sovereign of Samangan.

[edit]References in the Shahnameh

In the Shahnameh, Rostam and Sohrab's story begins when Rostam loses his horse, Rakhsh. Grieved and angry, Rostam reaches at Samangan, where he was greeted by the king, who offered him the assurance that Rakhsh was too well known for his hiding place not to be soon discovered.

The king of Samangan invites Rostam to stay for the night, therefore, he provides a lodging for the hero in his own palace.

That night, Tahmineh comes to Rostam's bedchambers and declares her love for him. The scene is so described in the Shahnama:

At sight of her Rostam the lion heart was cast into amazement.

Calling down the Creator's blessing on her, said, ` What is your name? What seek you in the darkness of the night and what do you desire?

She answered, ' l am Tahmina.

You would say that I am rent in twain with longing.

I am daughter of the king of Samangan and I come of the stock of lions and leopards.

On earth I have no peer among persons of royal birth; indeed beneath the dome of heaven there rarely exists anyone like me.

Outside the veil no one has ever beheld me, nor has anyone ever heard my voice.

But of you I have heard from all men as a legend and have been told histories of you in plenty; that you fear no Div, lion, leopard or serpent, and how bold you are in action.

I have craved for your shoulders and arms and breast.

Now God has vouchsafed your presence in this City.

If you desire me, I yield myself to you, and neither bird nor fish will set eyes on me hereafter.

One thing is sure, that I have so devoted myself to you as to have killed wisdom in favour of love