In the continuation of the captivating story of Sawulak, a mythical narrative that weaves together ancient characters and myths, we introduce Nahid, a character of profound significance. This article delves into the origins and essence of Nahid, exploring her unique qualities and role in this enchanting saga.

Meet Nahid:

To truly appreciate the character of Nahid, we must first acquaint ourselves with her origins. Nahid, also known as Anahita, is the Old Persian incarnation of an Iranian goddess, revered as the embodiment of "the Waters" (Aban) in Indo-Iranian cosmology. She is closely associated with concepts of fertility, healing, and wisdom. Iran even houses a temple dedicated to Anahita, highlighting her enduring cultural significance.

In Middle and Modern Persian, she is referred to as Aredvi Sura Anahita or Ardwisur Anahid, while in Armenian, she is known as Anahit. Notably, the symbol of goddess Anahita is the Lotus flower, celebrated through the Iranian Lotus Festival, which takes place at the beginning of summer.

Anahita's presence transcends geographical boundaries, as Greek and Roman historians of classical antiquity identify her as Anaïtis or assimilate her with deities from their own pantheons. Her influence extends beyond the realm of mythology, with a silicaceous S-type asteroid, 270 Anahita, bearing her name.

Nahid's character is a striking contrast to Sawulak. As a woman, she possesses a unique blend of essential powers and pure energies, setting her apart in this fantastical narrative. Her journey is poised to be one fraught with challenges, and we eagerly anticipate the unfolding of her story.

In this installment, we find Sawulak in a state of peaceful slumber after conquering the earth. To understand his journey and significance, I encourage readers to refer to the companion article titled "The Path of the Sawulak" (accessible at https://medium.com/@sarira-merikhi-art/path-of-the-sawulak-8bff05f770bc). As he rests, Nahid, a celestial legend of benevolence, descends to earth, marking the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in this extraordinary tale.

I've titled this piece "Let There Be Light," inspired by one of the verses from the Bible. When God uttered the words, "Let there be light," during the act of creation, and light suddenly emerged, it symbolized God's incredible creative prowess and absolute mastery over all. The tangible light that God brought forth on the very first day of creation beautifully symbolizes the transformative work He accomplishes within the hearts of those who place their trust in Christ, the True Light. There's no longer a need to wander in the obscurity of sin and death; through Christ, we are assured that we will "never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

The story of Sawulak and Nahid is a testament to the timeless allure of mythology and its enduring relevance in our lives. By drawing on ancient characters and myths, the author has crafted a narrative that promises to captivate and inspire readers as it unfolds. Stay tuned for the further adventures of Nahid and Sawulak, where the interplay of power, destiny, and mythology takes center stage.

This is Nahid. Ever since she set foot on the ground (after Sawulak’s conquest of the world), she has faced such a scene. There are no good forces on Earth, and Sawulak has destroyed all of them, and now strange and dark creatures rule the Earth.

Inspired by Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream," Nahid has reacted to the Earth's situation in this way, and now she must take the next steps...

In a world plunged into darkness by the malevolent "Sawulak", a beacon of hope emerged - Nahid. Descending to Earth, she was confronted with the chaos and destruction that Sawulak had sown. The once vibrant world was now a shadow of its former self, its life force drained by Sawulak's relentless onslaught.

Undeterred, Nahid made a solemn vow. She would undo every single act of devastation that Sawulak had inflicted upon their world. She understood that this was no small task. The damage was extensive, and Sawulak's energy seemed inexhaustible. But Nahid was resolute. She would chip away at the destruction, piece by piece, gradually reducing Sawulak's energy until she could finally destroy him.

This chapter of the tale brings us to a pivotal moment in Nahid's mission. She has captured the bear, a symbol of the bear market. This act is a direct counter to Sawulak's earlier deed, where he slayed the Bull (read here: https://medium.com/@sariramerikhi/path-of-the-sawulak-8bff05f770bc), plunging the market into a downward spiral. Nahid's capture of the bear signifies her determination to reverse the tide, to restore balance to the market and weaken Sawulak's influence.

As Nahid sets about destroying the bear, we see the symbol of Sawulak - a two-headed snake - lurking ominously in the background. It's a stark reminder of the ever-present threat that Sawulak poses. But it also underscores Nahid's courage and resolve in the face of such formidable adversity.

This piece is a labor of love, a testament to the countless hours spent perfecting every detail. Each symbol has been meticulously incorporated, adding layers of depth to the narrative. It's a visual feast, inviting viewers to delve deeper, to uncover the rich symbolism and appreciate the intricate interplay of elements.

But the saga is far from over. Nahid's journey is fraught with challenges. There are tasks yet to be accomplished, battles yet to be fought. As we eagerly await the unfolding chapters, we find ourselves rooting for Nahid, our champion in this epic battle against Sawulak.

A tale as old as time is reborn with a vibrant Persian soul.

Nahid descends upon a world in disarray, a world where the once-revered Pandora's box has lost its luster and form, morphing into an Iranian pitcher—a vessel synonymous with the rich cultural heritage of Iran.

This pitcher, however, is no ordinary clay pot. It is the transformed embodiment of Pandora's box, the Greek mythological artifact that once contained all the evils of the world. In this reimagined scenario, the calamities unleashed by the box have ravaged Earth, leaving behind a landscape where hope is as scarce as water in a desert. Sawulak, a figure of destruction drawn from the depths of mythological darkness, has cast a shadow over the land, embodying the evils that once sprung from Pandora's fateful curiosity.

Nahid's mission is to restore balance, to bring back the lost value of life and the essence of hope that lingers in the pitcher, just as it remained in Pandora's box after all the other evils had escaped.

Pandora's box, a term that has transcended its mythological origins to become a metaphor for unleashing great troubles, finds its roots in the ancient Greek epic "Works and Days" by Hesiod⁸. According to the myth, Pandora was the first woman on Earth, fashioned by the gods as a punishment for humanity after Prometheus stole fire from Olympus. Each deity endowed her with gifts, hence her name meaning "the one who bears all gifts".

Pandora was given a pithos, a large storage jar, which she was forbidden to open. However, driven by the curiosity instilled in her by the gods, she lifted the lid, and out poured all the miseries of the world—sickness, death, and a myriad of other sorrows⁹. In a desperate attempt to seal the jar, she trapped one thing inside: hope.

The story of Pandora's box serves as a theodicy, an attempt to explain why evil exists in the world. It also speaks to the human condition, our innate curiosity, and the unintended consequences that can arise from our actions. The myth underscores the belief that alongside the darkest of evils, there remains an undying glimmer of hope, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

The Rise Before the Light captures a sacred and transformative moment in the aftermath of destruction. Sawulak’s long shadow still hangs in the air, but within a glowing sanctum, something powerful stirs , not from a single hand, but from many. This is the moment when the world stops waiting to be saved and begins to save itself.

Nahid stands at the heart of this awakening , not as a distant deity, but as a symbol of returning strength. Her wings, once stripped by the violence of cosmic darkness, are on the verge of returning , not through divine command, but through the energy sent by those who still believe. The people, the creatures, the spirits , all lift their hands in unison, offering what little power they have left, because they know that light cannot rise on its own.

Each figure beneath Nahid represents a fragment of the world Sawulak tried to break. Their gestures of surrender are not defeat, but devotion, pure, fierce, and unshakable. Their combined force acts like a current, flowing upward to infuse Nahid with the strength she needs to fly again.

This isn’t the moment of victory. It’s the breath before flight, the whisper before a roar. But it marks a shift: from silence to song, from despair to renewal. As the storm clouds hold their breath, Nahid stands ready , not only to soar, but to carry light back into the world that once forgot how to shine.

In this house of collective willpower, The Rise Before the Light reminds us that healing begins when the broken unite, and that even the mightiest wings need others to lift off

For ages the world lived under a sky that would not lift. Sawulak, the horned keeper of fear, scarred cities, hollowed markets, and taught people to worship scarcity. Night knew our names and spoke them back as doubt.

Then a star fell through the dark: Nahid. She was not thunder. She was a steady flame, one that doesn’t ask permission to shine.

What Came Before

Across earlier chapters, Nahid walked the broken earth and tested the weight of silence. She stitched lamps in abandoned streets, renamed constellations for the lost, and—when it had to be done, hunted the Bear, cutting a path through the economy of despair. All the while, Sawulak’s presence lingered at the edges: a whispering, two-headed serpent, one mouth promising safety, the other sharpening panic. Darkness pressed in, but the light kept learning.

The Ring Is the World

The final image brings the truth into focus: the word FIGHT hangs like a red verdict across a dim atlas. No audience, no referees, just the planet as a ring and time keeping score.

• Nahid stands left: sun-crowned, fists raised, a dress that moves like tidewater—human, resolute, unblinking.

• Sawulak faces her: horned, hooved, scarred, wearing a skirt the color of lost blood. His hide is marked with the debts he etched into others.

This is not violence for spectacle. It is accountability made visible.

The Exchange

Sawulak speaks first, as tyrants do, with volume. He summons old numbers, old chains, old bargains. But power without truth is only costume. Nahid steps forward. The first strike is not a blow, it is clarity. The second is memory. The third is mercy, because the world deserves a way forward not built on humiliation.

The serpent makes one last move, coiling both heads around the globe. Nahid opens her hands and the coil meets daylight. Lies shrink in oxygen. The wrap loosens. The unseen crowd, watching from kitchens, rooftops, and cracked screens—feel their lungs return.

The Fall

Sawulak staggers. Not because light is louder, but because it is simpler. There is nothing to negotiate with the sun. He drops to a knee, horns tilting, and the skirt that once looked ceremonial now reads as camouflage. He is only dust that learned to threaten.

Nahid doesn’t finish him; she finishes the night. The red word FIGHT fades to FLIGHT in the mind’s ear as darkness lifts from habit. The atlas behind them brightens, not with fireworks, but with windows returning to work.

Aftermath: What Victory Means

Victory is not a throne. It is maintenance. Nahid walks forward, not upward, into streets that need mending, markets that need fairness, children who deserve quiet rooms for sleeping and loud rooms for invention. The Bear is gone. The serpent is gone. The work remains, and that’s good news: hope prefers verbs.

About the Image

The engraving-like texture ties the mythic past to our fractured present. The Earth centered behind the fighters turns the duel into a collective outcome: this is everyone’s fight. The graffiti-scarlet FIGHT shows urgency without romance. Nahid’s sun-crown recalls Persian and planetary iconography; Sawulak’s beastly form and ritual skirt expose tyranny’s theater. Every stroke says the same thing: light doesn’t argue, it arrives.

Coda

A star is born the first time someone refuses to inherit fear. In this series, that someone had a name: Nahid. The last image doesn’t close a door; it opens morning. Sawulak leaves no legend, only a warning. The rest is sunrise.

My Note

After two and a half years, I finally managed to bring this journey to its end, and my heart is full.

To every artist and collector who stood beside me, who believed in the works and in the story: thank you. Your support made this light brighter.

Closing this chapter feels like watching the finale of your favorite series: there’s excitement, but also a soft sadness. Still, when I look at each piece, I know I gave everything I could and told my story the only way I knew how.

The details came from the depths of myth, Persian and Greek legends, lithographs, pop art, woven together through hours, weeks, and months of creation. The most precious thing is knowing they are now forever minted on the blockchain I love.

This is not just an ending. It’s proof that hope, like Nahid, always finds a way.

In the continuation of the captivating story of Sawulak, a mythical narrative that weaves together ancient characters and myths, we introduce Nahid, a character of profound significance. This article delves into the origins and essence of Nahid, exploring her unique qualities and role in this enchanting saga.

Meet Nahid:

To truly appreciate the character of Nahid, we must first acquaint ourselves with her origins. Nahid, also known as Anahita, is the Old Persian incarnation of an Iranian goddess, revered as the embodiment of "the Waters" (Aban) in Indo-Iranian cosmology. She is closely associated with concepts of fertility, healing, and wisdom. Iran even houses a temple dedicated to Anahita, highlighting her enduring cultural significance.

In Middle and Modern Persian, she is referred to as Aredvi Sura Anahita or Ardwisur Anahid, while in Armenian, she is known as Anahit. Notably, the symbol of goddess Anahita is the Lotus flower, celebrated through the Iranian Lotus Festival, which takes place at the beginning of summer.

Anahita's presence transcends geographical boundaries, as Greek and Roman historians of classical antiquity identify her as Anaïtis or assimilate her with deities from their own pantheons. Her influence extends beyond the realm of mythology, with a silicaceous S-type asteroid, 270 Anahita, bearing her name.

Nahid's character is a striking contrast to Sawulak. As a woman, she possesses a unique blend of essential powers and pure energies, setting her apart in this fantastical narrative. Her journey is poised to be one fraught with challenges, and we eagerly anticipate the unfolding of her story.

In this installment, we find Sawulak in a state of peaceful slumber after conquering the earth. To understand his journey and significance, I encourage readers to refer to the companion article titled "The Path of the Sawulak" (accessible at https://medium.com/@sarira-merikhi-art/path-of-the-sawulak-8bff05f770bc). As he rests, Nahid, a celestial legend of benevolence, descends to earth, marking the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in this extraordinary tale.

I've titled this piece "Let There Be Light," inspired by one of the verses from the Bible. When God uttered the words, "Let there be light," during the act of creation, and light suddenly emerged, it symbolized God's incredible creative prowess and absolute mastery over all. The tangible light that God brought forth on the very first day of creation beautifully symbolizes the transformative work He accomplishes within the hearts of those who place their trust in Christ, the True Light. There's no longer a need to wander in the obscurity of sin and death; through Christ, we are assured that we will "never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

The story of Sawulak and Nahid is a testament to the timeless allure of mythology and its enduring relevance in our lives. By drawing on ancient characters and myths, the author has crafted a narrative that promises to captivate and inspire readers as it unfolds. Stay tuned for the further adventures of Nahid and Sawulak, where the interplay of power, destiny, and mythology takes center stage.

This is Nahid. Ever since she set foot on the ground (after Sawulak’s conquest of the world), she has faced such a scene. There are no good forces on Earth, and Sawulak has destroyed all of them, and now strange and dark creatures rule the Earth.

Inspired by Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream," Nahid has reacted to the Earth's situation in this way, and now she must take the next steps...

In a world plunged into darkness by the malevolent "Sawulak", a beacon of hope emerged - Nahid. Descending to Earth, she was confronted with the chaos and destruction that Sawulak had sown. The once vibrant world was now a shadow of its former self, its life force drained by Sawulak's relentless onslaught.

Undeterred, Nahid made a solemn vow. She would undo every single act of devastation that Sawulak had inflicted upon their world. She understood that this was no small task. The damage was extensive, and Sawulak's energy seemed inexhaustible. But Nahid was resolute. She would chip away at the destruction, piece by piece, gradually reducing Sawulak's energy until she could finally destroy him.

This chapter of the tale brings us to a pivotal moment in Nahid's mission. She has captured the bear, a symbol of the bear market. This act is a direct counter to Sawulak's earlier deed, where he slayed the Bull (read here: https://medium.com/@sariramerikhi/path-of-the-sawulak-8bff05f770bc), plunging the market into a downward spiral. Nahid's capture of the bear signifies her determination to reverse the tide, to restore balance to the market and weaken Sawulak's influence.

As Nahid sets about destroying the bear, we see the symbol of Sawulak - a two-headed snake - lurking ominously in the background. It's a stark reminder of the ever-present threat that Sawulak poses. But it also underscores Nahid's courage and resolve in the face of such formidable adversity.

This piece is a labor of love, a testament to the countless hours spent perfecting every detail. Each symbol has been meticulously incorporated, adding layers of depth to the narrative. It's a visual feast, inviting viewers to delve deeper, to uncover the rich symbolism and appreciate the intricate interplay of elements.

But the saga is far from over. Nahid's journey is fraught with challenges. There are tasks yet to be accomplished, battles yet to be fought. As we eagerly await the unfolding chapters, we find ourselves rooting for Nahid, our champion in this epic battle against Sawulak.

A tale as old as time is reborn with a vibrant Persian soul.

Nahid descends upon a world in disarray, a world where the once-revered Pandora's box has lost its luster and form, morphing into an Iranian pitcher—a vessel synonymous with the rich cultural heritage of Iran.

This pitcher, however, is no ordinary clay pot. It is the transformed embodiment of Pandora's box, the Greek mythological artifact that once contained all the evils of the world. In this reimagined scenario, the calamities unleashed by the box have ravaged Earth, leaving behind a landscape where hope is as scarce as water in a desert. Sawulak, a figure of destruction drawn from the depths of mythological darkness, has cast a shadow over the land, embodying the evils that once sprung from Pandora's fateful curiosity.

Nahid's mission is to restore balance, to bring back the lost value of life and the essence of hope that lingers in the pitcher, just as it remained in Pandora's box after all the other evils had escaped.

Pandora's box, a term that has transcended its mythological origins to become a metaphor for unleashing great troubles, finds its roots in the ancient Greek epic "Works and Days" by Hesiod⁸. According to the myth, Pandora was the first woman on Earth, fashioned by the gods as a punishment for humanity after Prometheus stole fire from Olympus. Each deity endowed her with gifts, hence her name meaning "the one who bears all gifts".

Pandora was given a pithos, a large storage jar, which she was forbidden to open. However, driven by the curiosity instilled in her by the gods, she lifted the lid, and out poured all the miseries of the world—sickness, death, and a myriad of other sorrows⁹. In a desperate attempt to seal the jar, she trapped one thing inside: hope.

The story of Pandora's box serves as a theodicy, an attempt to explain why evil exists in the world. It also speaks to the human condition, our innate curiosity, and the unintended consequences that can arise from our actions. The myth underscores the belief that alongside the darkest of evils, there remains an undying glimmer of hope, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

The Rise Before the Light captures a sacred and transformative moment in the aftermath of destruction. Sawulak’s long shadow still hangs in the air, but within a glowing sanctum, something powerful stirs , not from a single hand, but from many. This is the moment when the world stops waiting to be saved and begins to save itself.

Nahid stands at the heart of this awakening , not as a distant deity, but as a symbol of returning strength. Her wings, once stripped by the violence of cosmic darkness, are on the verge of returning , not through divine command, but through the energy sent by those who still believe. The people, the creatures, the spirits , all lift their hands in unison, offering what little power they have left, because they know that light cannot rise on its own.

Each figure beneath Nahid represents a fragment of the world Sawulak tried to break. Their gestures of surrender are not defeat, but devotion, pure, fierce, and unshakable. Their combined force acts like a current, flowing upward to infuse Nahid with the strength she needs to fly again.

This isn’t the moment of victory. It’s the breath before flight, the whisper before a roar. But it marks a shift: from silence to song, from despair to renewal. As the storm clouds hold their breath, Nahid stands ready , not only to soar, but to carry light back into the world that once forgot how to shine.

In this house of collective willpower, The Rise Before the Light reminds us that healing begins when the broken unite, and that even the mightiest wings need others to lift off

For ages the world lived under a sky that would not lift. Sawulak, the horned keeper of fear, scarred cities, hollowed markets, and taught people to worship scarcity. Night knew our names and spoke them back as doubt.

Then a star fell through the dark: Nahid. She was not thunder. She was a steady flame, one that doesn’t ask permission to shine.

What Came Before

Across earlier chapters, Nahid walked the broken earth and tested the weight of silence. She stitched lamps in abandoned streets, renamed constellations for the lost, and—when it had to be done, hunted the Bear, cutting a path through the economy of despair. All the while, Sawulak’s presence lingered at the edges: a whispering, two-headed serpent, one mouth promising safety, the other sharpening panic. Darkness pressed in, but the light kept learning.

The Ring Is the World

The final image brings the truth into focus: the word FIGHT hangs like a red verdict across a dim atlas. No audience, no referees, just the planet as a ring and time keeping score.

• Nahid stands left: sun-crowned, fists raised, a dress that moves like tidewater—human, resolute, unblinking.

• Sawulak faces her: horned, hooved, scarred, wearing a skirt the color of lost blood. His hide is marked with the debts he etched into others.

This is not violence for spectacle. It is accountability made visible.

The Exchange

Sawulak speaks first, as tyrants do, with volume. He summons old numbers, old chains, old bargains. But power without truth is only costume. Nahid steps forward. The first strike is not a blow, it is clarity. The second is memory. The third is mercy, because the world deserves a way forward not built on humiliation.

The serpent makes one last move, coiling both heads around the globe. Nahid opens her hands and the coil meets daylight. Lies shrink in oxygen. The wrap loosens. The unseen crowd, watching from kitchens, rooftops, and cracked screens—feel their lungs return.

The Fall

Sawulak staggers. Not because light is louder, but because it is simpler. There is nothing to negotiate with the sun. He drops to a knee, horns tilting, and the skirt that once looked ceremonial now reads as camouflage. He is only dust that learned to threaten.

Nahid doesn’t finish him; she finishes the night. The red word FIGHT fades to FLIGHT in the mind’s ear as darkness lifts from habit. The atlas behind them brightens, not with fireworks, but with windows returning to work.

Aftermath: What Victory Means

Victory is not a throne. It is maintenance. Nahid walks forward, not upward, into streets that need mending, markets that need fairness, children who deserve quiet rooms for sleeping and loud rooms for invention. The Bear is gone. The serpent is gone. The work remains, and that’s good news: hope prefers verbs.

About the Image

The engraving-like texture ties the mythic past to our fractured present. The Earth centered behind the fighters turns the duel into a collective outcome: this is everyone’s fight. The graffiti-scarlet FIGHT shows urgency without romance. Nahid’s sun-crown recalls Persian and planetary iconography; Sawulak’s beastly form and ritual skirt expose tyranny’s theater. Every stroke says the same thing: light doesn’t argue, it arrives.

Coda

A star is born the first time someone refuses to inherit fear. In this series, that someone had a name: Nahid. The last image doesn’t close a door; it opens morning. Sawulak leaves no legend, only a warning. The rest is sunrise.

My Note

After two and a half years, I finally managed to bring this journey to its end, and my heart is full.

To every artist and collector who stood beside me, who believed in the works and in the story: thank you. Your support made this light brighter.

Closing this chapter feels like watching the finale of your favorite series: there’s excitement, but also a soft sadness. Still, when I look at each piece, I know I gave everything I could and told my story the only way I knew how.

The details came from the depths of myth, Persian and Greek legends, lithographs, pop art, woven together through hours, weeks, and months of creation. The most precious thing is knowing they are now forever minted on the blockchain I love.

This is not just an ending. It’s proof that hope, like Nahid, always finds a way.