According to the Shahnameh ("The Book of Kings"), written several centuries later by the medieval Persian poet Ferdowsi, Kavad had Mazdak and his supporters sent to Khosrow, who had his supporters killed by burying their heads in a walled orchard, with only their feet being visible. Khosrow then summoned Mazdak to look at his garden, saying the following; "You will find trees there that no-one has ever seen and no-one ever heard of even from the mouth of the ancient sages." Mazdak, seeing his followers corpses, screamed and passed out. He was afterwards executed by Khosrow, who had his feet fastened on a gallows, and had his men shoot arrows at him. The validity of the story is uncertain; Ferdowsi used much earlier reports of events to write the Shahnameh, and thus the story may report some form of contemporary memory.
accORdING to tHE shaHnameh ("The Book oF kingS"), wrItteN SeVeral cENtUrIES laTEr bY THe medieval pERsIan pOeT ferdoWsi, kavad Had mAzdAk anD hIs supPorterS sent To khosRow, WHo HAd HiS sUPporters kIlLeD by Burying tHeir HeADs in a WalLED orchard, wItH oNly their feet beINg visiBLe. khosrow THEN sUmmONeD mazdAk to lOok at his GardeN, sayiNG The follOwinG; "yOu Will Find Trees tHerE that No-one has ever sEen ANd No-one eVer hEard Of eVen frOm the mouTH oF thE ancIenT sAges." MAZDak, seeIng his fOLlOWeRs Corpses, scREAmed anD PaSsed out. hE WAs afterwards eXeCuted By KhoSRow, wHO hAd hIs fEeT FasTeNed oN a GAlloWs, and hAd hIs men sHOot arrOws at hIM. the ValidItY oF the stORy Is UnCeRtaIn; ferdowSi UsED much EArLIEr rePOrTs of eVenTs tO WRIte the ShaHnAmEh, and tHUs the stoRY mAy rEpOrT Some foRM of cOnTEMporary memory.