New Naqqaliشاهنامه
Character · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II

Kamusکاموس

kah-MOOS

Kamus of Kashan, the mightiest of the Khan’s allies, captured and killed by Rostam.

In the poem
First at B12.26, The Iranians Return to Khosrow; last at C8.20, Zal Advises Rostam
Named
88 times, in 32 sections
Main stories
B13 Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign (51); B14 The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin (33); C8 The Tragedy of Rostam and Esfandiyar (2)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Kamus most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Kamus. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
B13.22

The Khan Surveys the Iranian Army

The Khan rides out on his elephants to view the Iranians and admires their courage, rebuking Piran for belittling them. Piran proposes resting and fighting in relays, but Kamus demands an all-out attack and the invasion of Iran, and the Khan agrees.

  • B13.22.22
    Kamus went forward, Manshur at his side,Biward, wise Shangul, and the Khan in pride.
  • B13.22.40
    Kamus replied: “This counsel is not right;I will have none of waiting for the fight.
  • B13.22.53
    The Khan said: “No plan better can be made;None like Kamus can marshal an armed brigade.”
Kamus named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.24

Piran Consults the Khan of Chin

Kamus scorns Piran’s five months of failure and boasts that he will kill Rostam. The Khan backs him. Piran is relieved to hear that the new arrival is only Fariborz. Tus rouses his men with Rostam’s coming, but they urge him to wait for Rostam.

  • B13.24.5
    Kamus said, “Keep command of your own force;You have Afrasiab’s warriors and horse,
  • B13.24.20
    The Khan said, “You have let Kamus attack;He speaks a word and never turns it back.
  • B13.24.36
    Though Kamus counts great Rostam not a manOf weight in war before his fighting clan,
Kamus named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.25

Giv and Tus Battle Kamus

Kamus leads his army to Hamavan and challenges the Iranians. Giv shoots at him and is wounded by his spear. Tus comes to help, but Kamus kills his horse. The two Iranians fight him on foot until nightfall.

  • B13.25.2
    From fierce Kamus’s camp a shout began,The man-subduing chief who led the van.
  • B13.25.24
    When fierce Kamus advanced to fight that day,He found no cause for pause or for delay.
  • B13.25.34
    But when he neared Kamus, that massive frame,He thought, “A raging elephant could match the same.”
Kamus named 9 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.27

Iran and Turan Set Their Battle Lines

Houman spots Rostam’s dragon banner and warns Piran, but Kamus scoffs. The allied army deploys around the Khan’s elephants. Rostam views the vast enemy from the mountain, marvels, and orders the Iranian advance, sparing the exhausted Rakhsh.

  • B13.27.18
    No Khan, Kamus, nor Shangul will remain,Nor Turan’s warriors standing on the plain.”
  • B13.27.20
    Then back to fierce Kamus in haste he came,To Manshur, Fartus, chiefs of warlike name.
  • B13.27.25
    Kamus said, “Wise one, all your words ariseFrom dark forebodings and unhappy surmise.
Kamus named 8 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.29

Piran Reckons with Rostam’s Coming

Piran insists that the unknown archer cannot be Rostam, who never fights on foot, and describes Rostam’s strength, arms, tiger-skin and horse. Kamus, far from afraid, swears by God not to rest until he has avenged Ashkabus.

  • B13.29.7
    Save Tus, no chief among them wins renown;Gorgin and Fariborz Kamus cannot down.
  • B13.29.9
    He rushed to fierce Kamus with grief laid bare,To tell Manshur and Fartus, and to share:
  • B13.29.12
    Kamus replied, “Today our honored nameWas overturned, and glory changed to shame.
Kamus named 5 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.31

Kamus Slays Alva

The armies deploy, and Kamus rides out with his ox-headed gorz to challenge ‘the footman’. No Iranian chief will face him. Only Alva, Rostam’s spear-bearer, rides out, and Kamus unseats him with one thrust and tramples him to death.

  • B13.31.3
    Kamus held Turan’s right; behind him layThe elephants and baggage in array.
  • B13.31.12
    It was Kamus, with soldiers at his side,With elephants, tabiras, martial pride.
  • B13.31.26
    Alva advanced, intent upon the fray,And sought to meet Kamus in arms that day.
Kamus named 5 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.32

Rostam Slays Kamus

Rostam comes out with his kamand to avenge Alva. Kamus mocks it as a thread and slashes Rakhsh’s armor, but Rostam snares him with the kamand, drags him from the saddle and carries him bound to the Iranian lines, where the warriors hack him to pieces.

  • B13.32.3
    Kamus said, “Do not boast about that thread,Though sixty coils around your arm are spread.”
  • B13.32.8
    Kamus the brave spurred on his battle steed,And charged at Rostam with a warrior’s speed.
  • B13.32.14
    Kamus, still fearless, gripped his steed with force,Pressed hard the stirrups and gave rein to horse.
Kamus named 8 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B14.1

The Khan Learns Kamus Is Slain

After a short invocation, news of Kamus’s death stuns the Turanian camp. Houman despairs, Piran urges the Khan of Chin to find out who the terrible warrior is, and the Khan vows to bring him down with his own kamand.

  • B14.1.6
    Soon word reached Chin’s Khan: “Kamus is dead;His life upon the field of vengeance fled.
  • B14.1.11
    How can our warriors still confront the foe,When brave Kamus has fallen to the blow?
  • B14.1.13
    Whoever bound Kamus with twisted cordUpon the field, and mastered such a lord,
Kamus named 6 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 32 sections that name Kamus
  1. B12.26 The Iranians Return to Khosrow
  2. B13.1 The Prelude
  3. B13.18 Afrasiab Sends Aid to Piran
  4. B13.22 The Khan Surveys the Iranian Army
  5. B13.24 Piran Consults the Khan of Chin
  6. B13.25 Giv and Tus Battle Kamus
  7. B13.26 The Coming of Rostam
  8. B13.27 Iran and Turan Set Their Battle Lines
  9. B13.28 Rostam Battles Ashkabus
  10. B13.29 Piran Reckons with Rostam’s Coming
  11. B13.30 Iran and Turan Prepare for Battle
  12. B13.31 Kamus Slays Alva
  13. B13.32 Rostam Slays Kamus
  14. B14.1 The Khan Learns Kamus Is Slain
  15. B14.2 Chingish Faces Rostam
  16. B14.3 Houman Bears the Khan’s Message
  17. B14.4 Piran Consults Houman and the Khan
  18. B14.6 Turan’s Counsel before Battle
  19. B14.7 Rostam Exhorts the Troops
  20. B14.8 The Battle Lines Are Drawn
  21. B14.12 Rostam Battles Sava
  22. B14.13 Rostam Slays Gahar of Gahan
  23. B14.14 The Khan Is Taken Prisoner
  24. B14.16 Rostam Divides the Spoils
  25. B14.19 Afrasiab Hears of His Army’s Defeat
  26. B14.21 Afrasiab Hears of Rostam’s Coming
  27. B14.22 Afrasiab Writes to Puladvand
  28. B14.27 Rostam’s Return to Court
  29. B14.28 Rostam Returns to Sistan
  30. C4.57 Zal Petitions Khosrow for Rostam
  31. C8.13 Esfandiyar Makes Excuse to Rostam
  32. C8.20 Zal Advises Rostam

On the maps

B14.1–B14.15The Grand Coalition: The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
B12Forood and the Snowstorm Campaign1B13Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign51B14The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin33C4The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow1C8The Tragedy of Rostam and Esfandiyar2

More in the Glossary and the index of characters.