Character · The Shahnameh · Volume III

Ashtadاشتاد

ash-TAHD

An Iranian noble and warrior of Khosrow Parviz; with Kharrad Barzin he carries Qobad's message to the imprisoned Khosrow.

In the poem: First at E6.25, Soroush Saves Khosrow from Bahram; last at E8.2, Khosrow Parviz Answers Shiruyeh
Named: 10 times, in 3 sections
Main stories: E8 Shiruyeh’s Coup and the End of the Great Reign (9); E6 Khosrow Parviz (1)

In the poem’s own words

The 3 sections that name Ashtad most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Ashtad. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.

E6.25

Soroush Saves Khosrow from Bahram

Bahram’s elephant is shot from under him and he fights on foot. Khosrow rides out with fourteen chosen men, who scatter; chased into a blind cave, he prays and is carried to safety by Soroush. Bahram, seeing it, despairs of his fortune, and Khosrow renews the battle.

E6.25.71
And Ashtad Pirooz, a warrior rare,Whose stroke made foemen flee in wild despair.

Ashtad named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E8.1

Shiruyeh Takes the Throne

Crowned as Qobad, Shiruyeh promises justice and sends Ashtad and Kharrad Barzin to Tisfoon with a written charge against his father. Galinush admits them. A quince rolls from Khosrow’s cushion to the floor; he reads his house’s ruin in it, hears the charges out, and answers with a rebuke.

E8.1.18
Qobad perceived the choice in every glance:Ashtad was one, well versed in circumstance.
E8.1.23
Kharrad Barzin set forth upon the way,With Ashtad Gashasp, sorrowing that day.
E8.1.54
When old Kharrad and Ashtad had dismounted,Those sages whose renown the wise recounted,

Ashtad named 8 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E8.2

Khosrow Parviz Answers Shiruyeh

Khosrow answers every charge: his flight from Hormizd, his vengeance on Bandvi and Gostaham, the comfort of his sons’ prison, the sealed horoscope, his treasuries, the frontier armies, his gifts to Caesar, the worthlessness of the Cross. Then he blesses the world, names the dead kings, and says farewell.