
Oxen Haul the Dragon to Caesar
From C5.12, Goshtasb Slays the Dragon. It illustrates C5.12.38–49:
- C5.12.38Ahran brought oxen, carts to haul the load,And charged his men to bear it down the road.
- C5.12.39He said, “Convey it to the Caesar’s court,Before the legions, chiefs of high report.”
- C5.12.40Before the oxen and the carts he sped,Toward Caesar’s court, with eager steps ahead.
- C5.12.41When news of this was heard through all of Rum,The veterans rushed from every hall and room.
- C5.12.42They saw the mighty dragon, slain and still,Brought down by that strong warrior’s strength and skill.
- C5.12.43As oxen brought it downward to the plain,The crowd cried out at such a monster slain.
- C5.12.44The dragon and the wound it bore drew cries;It strained both ox and wagon with its size.
- C5.12.45The wagon wheels rang out with creak and groan;The oxen seemed too weak to haul alone.
- C5.12.46All those who saw that sword-blow, deep and wide,And heard the ox and wagon, loudly cried:
- C5.12.47“Did Ahran strike that beast so fierce a blow,Or did the sword of Ahriman strike so?”
- C5.12.48Then Caesar left his palace, with a callTo worthy chiefs and sages, one and all.
- C5.12.49Around the dragon, from the dawn till dark,They held high revel, stirred by wonder’s spark.
In the picture
Woodcut panels, identity sheets and banners © 2026 New Naqqali LLC, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0: share and adapt them for non-commercial use, with credit to New Naqqali. Rights & permissions.
New Naqqali
