So the story goes that Iran was ruled by Zahhak, an evil tyrant who had two snakes growing from his shoulders that required a daily meal of human brains. For decades, the country lived in terror as young men were sacrificed to feed the snakes. One day, Kaveh, a simple blacksmith who had already lost several sons to the snakes, marched into the tyrant court when his last remaining son was arrested. Zahhak, trying to maintain a facade of justice, released the son but asked Kaveh to sign a document attesting to the King's "justice" and "mercy." Kaveh read the document, tore it into pieces in front of the court, and marched out. He took off his leather blacksmith's apron, placed it on a spear, and used it as a banner to rally the people. This apron, the Derafsh-e Kaviani, became the symbol of Iranian independence and resistance against tyranny.