Across the arid lands of Persia, where dawn poured gold over mountains and the moon glimmered on silver sands, there once lived a man with two daughters, one his own and the other his late wife’s child. The elder was called the Moon-Faced Beauty, for her complexion glowed like moonlight. The younger, the Sun-Faced Bride, was radiant as the morning sun. Together, they were the jewels of their father’s heart.
But when he remarried, his new wife’s heart darkened with envy. She could not bear the sight of such beauty and grace, especially in children not her own. Jealousy burned in her like a fever, and she began to plot cruel ways to rid herself of them forever.
Journey through enchanted forests and islands in our Southeast Asian Folktales collection.
One day, she called the sisters to her side. Her eyes gleamed like cold glass as she said, “My daughters, I have heard that the Moon keeps a lamp of pure silver light. Fetch me that lamp, or never return.” The sisters, innocent and obedient, bowed their heads. With only a bundle of bread and dates, they set out across the endless desert.
The road stretched beneath their aching feet for days. The sand bit their skin, and the wind howled through the dunes. When they grew weak with hunger, they met an old dervish resting beneath a lone tree. His beard was white as cotton, and his eyes were kind but wise.
“Where do you go, young ones?” he asked.
“To fetch the Moon’s silver lamp,” said the elder.
The dervish frowned. “That is no easy path. But since your hearts are pure, I will guide you. When you meet the Moon, do not gaze directly into her eyes. Speak humbly, and she will grant your wish.”
The sisters thanked him, offered their last piece of bread, and continued onward. When night came, the sky opened in shimmering glory, and the Moon descended, a woman of light, draped in silk clouds. Her face was calm, her gaze deep as eternity.
The Moon-Faced Beauty knelt low and said, “O Mother of Night, we come with respect. Our stepmother sent us to bring your silver lamp.”
The Moon smiled gently. “Few mortals approach me with such humility. You may take this beam of light, but guard it well, for envy follows beauty as shadow follows the sun.”
She placed a crystal vial in their hands, glowing softly with lunar radiance. The sisters bowed and thanked her, their path lit all the way home. But when they returned, their stepmother’s eyes blazed with fury.
“So you lived,” she hissed. “Then you shall go again! Bring me now the fire from the Sun’s hearth, or never show your faces again!”
Though their hearts trembled, the sisters obeyed once more. As they walked through rocky plains and blistering heat, a small talking bird fluttered beside them, its feathers glinting like gems.
“Kind maidens,” chirped the bird, “why do you wander under such cruel heat?”
They told their tale, and the bird, moved by their goodness, said, “The Sun’s fire is fierce. But if you approach with truth and courage, he will not burn you. Carry this drop of dew upon your tongue, it will protect you.”
With gratitude, they journeyed onward. When they reached the mountain peak, the Sun appeared as a radiant prince, surrounded by blazing rays.
“Who dares approach the fire of heaven?” he thundered.
The younger sister stepped forward. “We mean no harm, O Lord of Light. We seek a spark from your hearth, for it was commanded of us.”
The Sun’s fierce glow softened. “You ask for what would burn most mortals to ash. But I see your hearts are true.” He drew from his flame a single ember and placed it in a golden shell. “Take this gift, and may truth shield you always.”
The sisters returned home once again. Their stepmother, furious that they survived, snatched the ember and vial greedily. But the moment she touched them, the silver light and fire blazed together, revealing her deceitful soul. The divine forces she had coveted turned against her, and her heart was consumed by her own envy.
In time, peace returned to the home. The two sisters lived in harmony, blessed by the heavens they once dared to approach. Their kindness, humility, and courage had conquered malice and deceit.
Discover the wisdom of Persian poets and Arabian storytellers in Western Asian Folktales.
Moral Lesson
This Persian folktale teaches that true beauty lies not in appearance but in purity of heart. Envy leads to ruin, while kindness and humility open the path to divine favor and justice.
Knowledge Check
1. Who are the main characters in “The Moon-Faced Beauty and the Sun-Faced Bride”?
The two sisters — one radiant like the sun and the other like the moon — are the story’s central figures.
2. What did the stepmother demand the sisters retrieve first?
She ordered them to fetch the silver lamp from the Moon.
3. What role does the dervish play in the story?
He serves as a wise spiritual guide, helping the sisters navigate their journey.
4. What symbolic meaning does the Moon’s lamp hold?
It represents purity, enlightenment, and divine favor earned through humility.
5. What lesson does the Sun teach the sisters?
That truth and courage allow one to endure even the fiercest trials.
6. What moral values does the story emphasize?
Kindness, humility, and faith are rewarded, while jealousy and greed destroy the envious heart.
Source: Adapted from “The Moon-Faced Beauty and the Sun-Faced Bride,” collected in Persian Tales by D. L. R. Lorimer & E. O. Lorimer (1919).
Cultural Origin: Persian Folktale, Iran.
