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Character · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II

Gostaham (son of Nohzar)گستهم

gos-ta-HAM

An Iranian champion, son of Nohzar and brother of Tus.

In the poem
First at B1.5, Afrasiab Battles Nohzar Again; last at C5.2, Goshtasb Departs in Anger
Named
109 times, in 56 sections (including 34 where the name may belong to Gostaham (son of Gazhdaham), Gostaham, Gostaham)
Main stories
C3 The Battle of the Twelve Rukhs (46); C4 The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow (17); B12 Forood and the Snowstorm Campaign (11)
Parents
Nohzar
Plates
Vol I: IV
Genealogical plate: The Kings of Iran
Volume I, Plate IV: The Kings of Iran. Tap to open the genealogies.

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Gostaham (son of Nohzar) most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Gostaham (son of Nohzar). Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
B7.3

Pilsam Battles the Iranians and Alkus’ Battle

Piran’s brother Pilsam unhorses Gorgin and holds off four champions until Piran protests and Rostam drives him away. Alkus then fells Zavareh, taking him for Rostam, but Rostam lifts Alkus from the saddle on his spear, and the seven champions rout the Turanians.

  • B7.3.17
    Then Gostaham, well proven in the fray,Sprang up like fire and rushed across the way.
  • B7.3.22
    His helmet flew like ball across the plain,And Gostaham stood bareheaded in the strain.
  • B7.3.24
    When Zangeh saw Gostaham’s plight from right,He spurred to aid him through the press of fight.
Gostaham (son of Nohzar) named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B12.10

Giv Battles Forood

Giv climbs the mountain, and Forood kills his horse. When Bijan mocks his father, Giv strikes him with his whip. Bijan swears revenge, borrows a horse from Gostaham, and rides up in Siavash’s mail, which Giv sends him.

  • B12.10.38
    Then Bijan went to Gostaham and said:“Lend me a mountain horse with fearless tread,
  • B12.10.41
    But wise Gostaham replied: “This course is wrong;Do not ascend the mountainside headlong.
  • B12.10.53
    Then Gostaham replied: “This rage is wrong;Wise judgment does not sanction wrath so strong.”
Gostaham (son of Nohzar) named 6 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.14

The Iranians Make a Night-Attack, Tus, Giv, Rohham Are Surrounded but Are Saved

Short of food, Gudarz urges a night attack. Tus, Giv and Rohham strike Piran’s camp and split his standard, but Houman surrounds them. Bijan and Gostaham ride to the rescue, and at dawn the Iranians withdraw to the mountain.

  • B13.14.15
    The Kaviani standard Gostaham bore,And Tus gave counsel for the coming war.
  • B13.14.45
    They thought of Shidush, Bijan in the fray,And Gostaham; would no one come their way?
  • B13.14.50
    But Giv and Tus returned not from the plain;Shidush and Gostaham cried out in pain.
Gostaham (son of Nohzar) named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B14.20

Rostam Fights Kafur the Maneater

Fariborz returns with the Shah’s gifts. Rostam marches to Sughd, then to Bidad, whose man-eating king Kafur overwhelms Gostaham’s force until Rostam kills him. Rostam undermines and burns the walls of Tur’s ancient fortress, takes it, and sends Giv raiding towards Khutan.

  • B14.20.16
    With Gostaham, two seasoned chiefs he led;On steeds in bargostvan, at foes they sped.
  • B14.20.23
    Kafur met Gostaham; the armies closed,And rank on rank in battle stood opposed.
  • B14.20.26
    Then Gostaham beheld that army stand,And saw the world within the crooked Div’s hand.
Gostaham (son of Nohzar) named 6 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C3.43

Gostaham Pursues Lahhak and Farshidvard

Afrasiab’s relief force turns back at Daghui on hearing that Piran is dead. Bijan warns Gudarz that Gostaham cannot beat two such chiefs alone, and when nobody else will ride he threatens to cut off his own head until Gudarz angrily lets him go.

  • C3.43.1
    Then Gostaham put on his battle gear;He bade farewell to all the chieftains near.
  • C3.43.3
    The soldiers watched him go and spoke in fear:“Can Gostaham withstand both warriors here?”
  • C3.43.8
    Bijan heard Gostaham had gone to faceLahhak and Farshidvard in that lone chase.
Gostaham (son of Nohzar) named 7 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C3.45

The Deaths of Lahhak and Farshidvard

A horse’s neigh betrays the brothers. Gostaham cuts down Farshidvard, then beheads Lahhak after an exchange of arrows that wounds them both. Badly hurt, he reaches a spring, drinks, and lies through the night praying that Bijan will be moved to come and find him.

  • C3.45.2
    Then Gostaham arrived beside the placeWhere those two men had halted in their race.
  • C3.45.13
    They saw brave Gostaham ride out alone;No other rider came; he rode his own.
  • C3.45.16
    He bears the banner of the brave in hand;It is but Gostaham who seeks our band.
Gostaham (son of Nohzar) named 8 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C3.46

Bijan Comes upon Gostaham

Bijan finds a riderless horse with its saddle turned, follows its tracks and finds Gostaham by a spring. He binds the wounds with his own shirt, hears his friend’s wishes, kills two fleeing Turks and spares a third to help, loads the dead brothers and starts back.

  • C3.46.11
    There Gostaham lay fallen on the ground,His jowshan, helmet bloodied, dust around.
  • C3.46.21
    At Bijan’s words, brave Gostaham now stirred,And drew a breath before his voice was heard.
  • C3.46.40
    Like lightning down the slope he rode in dreadThat Gostaham might soon lie cold and dead.
Gostaham (son of Nohzar) named 7 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C3.49

Bijan Returns with Gostaham

The lookout reports three burdened horses. Bijan brings in the dead brothers and the dying Gostaham, who asks only to see the Shah. Khosrow binds on him an amulet inherited from the first kings; after two weeks he recovers. The Shah then summons his armies against Afrasiab.

  • C3.49.7
    A third horse carried Gostaham, close pressedIn the Turk’s arms, with sorrow in his breast.
  • C3.49.11
    Then Bijan told of Gostaham’s great pain,Of Farshidvard and fierce Lahhak slain.
  • C3.49.12
    He told of all the horsemen’s deeds that day,And Gostaham’s distress throughout the fray.
Gostaham (son of Nohzar) named 8 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 56 sections that name Gostaham (son of Nohzar)
  1. B1.5 Afrasiab Battles Nohzar Again
  2. B1.6 Nohzar’s Third Battle with Afrasiab
  3. B1.12 Zal Hears of Nohzar’s Death
  4. B1.14 Zav, the Son of Tahmasp, Is Elected Shah
  5. B3.1 Kay Qobad Takes the Throne
  6. B5.6 Rostam Fights the Div Arzhang
  7. B7.1 Rostam and the Seven Warriors Go Hunting
  8. B7.3 Pilsam Battles the Iranians and Alkus’ Battle
  9. B11.3 Kay Khosrow Surveys His Kingdom
  10. B11.5 The Mustering of the Pahlevans
  11. B11.8 Kay Khosrow Inspects the Army
  12. B12.4 Forood and Tokhvar Survey the Troops
  13. B12.5 Bahram Meets Forood on the Mountain
  14. B12.10 Giv Battles Forood
  15. B12.22 The Turanians Defeat the Iranians
  16. B13.9 The Second Battle of Iran and Turan
  17. B13.10 The Turanians Use Sorcery
  18. B13.14 The Iranians Make a Night-Attack, Tus, Giv, Rohham Are Surrounded but Are Saved
  19. B14.7 Rostam Exhorts the Troops
  20. B14.20 Rostam Fights Kafur the Maneater
  21. B14.21 Afrasiab Hears of Rostam’s Coming
  22. C1.2 Rostam Is Summoned to Fight Akvan
  23. C2.2 Irman’s People Appeal to Khosrow
  24. C2.4 Gorgin Tricks Bijan
  25. C2.15 Giv Brings Word to Rostam
  26. C2.20 Rostam Arms His Men
  27. C2.26 Afrasiab Comes against Rostam
  28. C3.3 Kay Khosrow Sends Gudarz against Turan
  29. C3.6 The Armies Are Set in Array
  30. C3.9 Houman Challenges Rohham
  31. C3.24 Iran and Turan Fight a Pitched Battle
  32. C3.25 Giv’s Horse Falters before Piran
  33. C3.26 The Battle of Eleven Rukhs Is Arranged
  34. C3.40 Gudarz Returns from Battle
  35. C3.41 Lahhak and Farshidvard Bewail Piran
  36. C3.42 Lahhak and Farshidvard Return to Turan
  37. C3.43 Gostaham Pursues Lahhak and Farshidvard
  38. C3.44 Bijan Follows Gostaham
  39. C3.45 The Deaths of Lahhak and Farshidvard
  40. C3.46 Bijan Comes upon Gostaham
  41. C3.49 Bijan Returns with Gostaham
  42. C4.2 Kay Khosrow Musters against Afrasiab
  43. C4.3 Afrasiab Hears of Piran’s Death
  44. C4.4 Kay Khosrow Hears of Afrasiab’s Advance
  45. C4.10 The Armies Meet in Battle
  46. C4.14 Khosrow Crosses the Jihun
  47. C4.16 Gang-Behesht Shelters Afrasiab
  48. C4.21 Gang-Behesht Falls to Kay Khosrow
  49. C4.33 The Shah’s Answer to Khosrow
  50. C4.38 Khosrow Returns to His Father’s City
  51. C4.39 Khosrow’s Return from Turan
  52. C4.51 Zal Admonishes Kay Khosrow
  53. C4.55 Kay Khosrow Gives His Last Counsel
  54. C4.62 Kay Khosrow Vanishes in the Snow
  55. C4.63 The Pahlevans Are Lost in the Snow
  56. C5.2 Goshtasb Departs in Anger

Family

Parents
Nohzar
Siblings
Tus
Volume I · Plate IVThe Kings of IranManuchehr to Kay Qobad · A7–B3

On the maps

B7.1The Frontier Hunt and the Clash of the Seven ChampionsB11.3–B11.7The Realm Restored: Kay Khosrow’s Fronts and the Division of CommandsB13.9–B13.26The Siege of Mount Hamavan and the Gathering of the WorldB14.20Rostam Fights Kafur the ManeaterC2.20–C2.27Rostam's Merchant-Disguise Rescue to KhutanC3.6–C3.39The Battle of the Twelve RukhsC3.42–C3.45The Pursuit of Lahhak and FarshidvardC4.2–C4.14Kay Khosrow's Last Offensive and the Crossing of the Jihun

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
B1The Crisis after Manuchehr5B3Kay Qobad1B5The Seven Labors of Rostam1B7The Fight of the Seven Warriors4B11Kay Khosrow’s Kingship3B12Forood and the Snowstorm Campaign11B13Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign6B14The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin8C1Rostam and the Div Akvan1C2The Tale of Bijan and Manijeh5C3The Battle of the Twelve Rukhs46C4The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow17C5Lohrasp1

More in the Glossary and the index of characters.