New Naqqaliشاهنامه
Character · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II

Tahamtanتهمتن

ta-ham-TAN

‘Mighty-bodied’: an epithet of Rostam.

In the poem
First at B4.1, The Reign of Kay Kavus, His Sitting upon the Throne, and His Intent to March to Mazandaran; last at C2.24, Rostam Rescues Bijan from the Pit
Named
24 times, in 20 sections (including 22 where the name may belong to another figure of the same name)
Main stories
B8 The Tragedy of Rostam & Sohrab (11); B5 The Seven Labors of Rostam (3); B13 Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign (3)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Tahamtan most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Tahamtan. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
B4.1

The Reign of Kay Kavus, His Sitting upon the Throne, and His Intent to March to Mazandaran

The poet reflects on good trees and crooked shoots. Kay Kavus, rich and proud, is enchanted by a Div disguised as a minstrel who sings of Mazandaran, and resolves to conquer it. The alarmed nobles send for Zal, who sets out to counsel the Shah.

  • B4.1.89
    If he grows sharp, the road is open still;Tahamtan waits with army and with will.”
Tahamtan named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B5.1

Rakhsh Fights a Lion

Riding hard for Mazandaran, Rostam catches and roasts a Gur-e-Khar, then sleeps in a reed-bed while Rakhsh grazes. A lion attacks, and Rakhsh kills it. Rostam wakes and scolds his horse for fighting alone.

  • B5.1.25
    Above the darkened mountain rose the Sun;Tahamtan woke when sweetest sleep was done.
Tahamtan named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B5.3

Rostam Fights a Dragon

An unseen dragon twice approaches in the night. Twice Rakhsh wakes Rostam, who sees nothing and threatens to kill the horse. The third time God reveals the beast; Rostam demands its name and, with Rakhsh biting its shoulder, cuts off its head.

  • B5.3.36
    The dragon grappled fiercely in the fray,But from Tahamtan found no path away.
Tahamtan named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B5.7

Rostam Slays the White Div

At noon, while the Divs sleep, Rostam enters the White Div’s cave, wakes him and, after a long and bloody wrestle, hurls him down and tears out his liver. The blood restores the Iranians’ sight. They sack Mazandaran, and Kavus decides to send its king a letter.

  • B5.7.12
    He struck down chiefs and drove the rest away;None dared remain to bar Tahamtan’s way.
Tahamtan named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B6.7

Kavus’s Message to Afrasiab

Kavus seeks troops from Rum, and loyal Iranians report that they have resisted Afrasiab. Kavus orders Afrasiab out of Iran; Afrasiab claims the throne by descent from Tur and by conquest. In the battle that follows the Turanians are routed and Afrasiab flees home.

  • B6.7.46
    From center Tahamtan roared through the fray,One charge tore through their center’s firm array.
Tahamtan named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B8.3

Rostam Arrives at the City of Samangan

The king of Samangan comes out on foot to meet Rostam and promises to find Rakhsh. His anger soothed, Rostam accepts the king’s hospitality, feasts with wine and music, and is led to a perfumed bed.

  • B8.3.14
    The king replied: “No man of noble nameWould dare to bring Tahamtan such a shame.
  • B8.3.20
    At this, the burden left Tahamtan’s mind,His anxious thoughts at last were left behind.
  • B8.3.25
    The rud-players gathered, music filled the room,So Tahamtan might cast away his gloom.
Tahamtan named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B8.15

Rostam Slays Zhendeh Razm

At night Rostam slips into the Turanian camp disguised as a Turk and studies Sohrab at his feast. Zhendeh Razm, Tahmineh’s brother, sent along to point out Rostam to Sohrab, challenges the stranger and is killed by one blow. Rostam reports back to Kavus.

  • B8.15.2
    Tahamtan came, his waist for battle bound,With vengeance in his heart, his purpose sound.
  • B8.15.48
    Tahamtan knew that Giv kept watch that night,Iran’s own picket stationed for the fight.
Tahamtan named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.26

The Coming of Rostam

Rostam arrives by night. Gudarz and the chiefs weep as they tell him of the slain and describe the huge enemy army and the fearsome Kamus. Rostam mourns, reflects on the fickleness of the world and vows vengeance.

  • B13.26.7
    When Gudarz saw Tahamtan’s face appear,His own face vanished underneath his tears.
  • B13.26.25
    Tahamtan’s standard rose within the night;The army reached him by its guiding sight.
Tahamtan named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 20 sections that name Tahamtan
  1. B4.1 The Reign of Kay Kavus, His Sitting upon the Throne, and His Intent to March to Mazandaran
  2. B5.1 Rakhsh Fights a Lion
  3. B5.3 Rostam Fights a Dragon
  4. B5.7 Rostam Slays the White Div
  5. B6.7 Kavus’s Message to Afrasiab
  6. B7.1 Rostam and the Seven Warriors Go Hunting
  7. B8.2 Rostam Goes on a Chase
  8. B8.3 Rostam Arrives at the City of Samangan
  9. B8.4 Tahmineh Seeks Out Rostam
  10. B8.7 Afrasiab Sends Envoys to Sohrab
  11. B8.12 Kavus Summons Rostam from Zabulistan
  12. B8.13 Kavus’s Anger at Rostam
  13. B8.15 Rostam Slays Zhendeh Razm
  14. B8.16 Sohrab Questions Hajir on Iran’s Chiefs
  15. B10.13 Rostam’s Harrowing of Turan
  16. B10.23 The Contest of Piran and Giv
  17. B13.24 Piran Consults the Khan of Chin
  18. B13.26 The Coming of Rostam
  19. C2.15 Giv Brings Word to Rostam
  20. C2.24 Rostam Rescues Bijan from the Pit

On the maps

B7.1The Frontier Hunt and the Clash of the Seven ChampionsB8.2–B8.3Rostam's Stray Hunt and the City of SamanganB8.7–B8.18The Fatal Convergence: Sohrab's March to the White Castle

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
B4The War with Mazandaran1B5The Seven Labors of Rostam3B6The Folly of Kay Kavus1B7The Fight of the Seven Warriors1B8The Tragedy of Rostam & Sohrab11B10Vengeance for Siavash and the Retrieval of Kay Khosrow2B13Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign3C2The Tale of Bijan and Manijeh2

More in the Glossary and the index of characters.