New Naqqaliشاهنامه
Place · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II

Hamavanهماون

ha-mah-VAN

The mountain where the Iranian army is besieged by the Khan’s forces.

In the poem
First at B13.11, The Retreat to Mount Hamavan; last at C4.59, Tus Receives Khosrow’s Patent
Named
23 times, in 13 sections
Main stories
B13 Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign (22); C4 The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow (1)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Hamavan most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Hamavan. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
B13.11

The Retreat to Mount Hamavan

The Turanians celebrate through the night while the Iranians tend their wounded and mourn. Gudarz grieves for his slain sons and grandsons, and Tus curses his fate. They bury the dead, send word to Khosrow and march for Mount Hamavan.

  • B13.11.27
    Move army, tents, and baggage out tonight;Seek Hamavan, its strong and guarded height.
Hamavan named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.12

The Turanians Besiege Hamavan

The Iranians march for three days without food and occupy Hamavan. Piran urges caution until reinforcements come, but Houman insists on pursuit. Scouts find the Iranians entrenched on the mountain, and Houman taunts them before summoning Piran’s whole army.

  • B13.12.5
    They reached Mount Hamavan and set their trainUpon its outer slopes above the plain.
  • B13.12.49
    He turned at once and rode to wise Piran,And brought him word of Tus and Hamavan:
  • B13.12.50
    “They hold Mount Hamavan, its summit manned;They block the road, and armed for battle stand.”
Hamavan named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.13

Piran’s March to Mount Hamavan

Piran reaches Hamavan and taunts Tus for hiding like a mountain sheep. Tus blames him for Siavash’s death and warns that Rostam is coming. Piran surrounds the mountain and decides to starve the Iranians into asking for quarter.

  • B13.13.2
    Piran reached Hamavan’s guarded span,While dust concealed the world from horse and man.
  • B13.13.18
    We could not forage on the battlefield;So toward Mount Hamavan my army wheeled.
Hamavan named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.15

Khosrow Learns of His Army’s Plight

News of the defeat reaches Khosrow, who summons Rostam, praises his past deeds and begs his help. Rostam agrees at once. The Shah opens his treasury and orders thirty thousand men, with Fariborz leading the van.

  • B13.15.22
    Those who escaped the slaughter still surviveOn Hamavan, where broken spirits strive.
Hamavan named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.19

The Coming of the Khan of Chin

Piran rides to the allied camp, dazzled by its silken splendor, and kisses the ground before the Khan. The Khan honors him and asks about the Iranians. Piran scorns them as a beaten remnant, and the Khan calls for wine.

  • B13.19.11
    What troops and chiefs are gathered in their train?Why do they hold Mount Hamavan’s domain?”
  • B13.19.17
    Dishonored, foiled, and weakened in the fight,They fled to Hamavan in headlong flight.
Hamavan named 2 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.

  • B13.24.47
    Soon Tus was told: “The land with koust resounds;Great Rostam comes toward Hamavan’s bounds.
  • B13.24.50
    A shout rose high from Hamavan’s steep wall;The earth boiled under hoofbeats one and all.
  • B13.24.73
    A joyful shout rose from Hamavan’s crest;Glad voices passed through every fighting breast.
Hamavan named 3 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.

  • B13.25.21
    On Hamavan they set all the ranks right,And formed their battle order for the fight.
  • B13.25.27
    He turned toward Hamavan with smiling face,And gazed upon the warriors in that place.
  • B13.25.31
    Then shouting toward Mount Hamavan, he cried:“You lion-men who stand on battle’s side,
Hamavan named 3 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.

  • B13.26.23
    They heard he reached Mount Hamavan at last,And old Gudarz had seen him as he passed.
  • B13.26.44
    From Hamavan as far as Shahd’s broad strandStretch standards, elephants, mahd, and fighting band.
Hamavan named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 13 sections that name Hamavan
  1. B13.11 The Retreat to Mount Hamavan
  2. B13.12 The Turanians Besiege Hamavan
  3. B13.13 Piran’s March to Mount Hamavan
  4. B13.15 Khosrow Learns of His Army’s Plight
  5. B13.18 Afrasiab Sends Aid to Piran
  6. B13.19 The Coming of the Khan of Chin
  7. B13.21 Gudarz Hears of Rostam’s Coming
  8. B13.22 The Khan Surveys the Iranian Army
  9. B13.23 Fariborz Reaches Mount Hamavan
  10. B13.24 Piran Consults the Khan of Chin
  11. B13.25 Giv and Tus Battle Kamus
  12. B13.26 The Coming of Rostam
  13. C4.59 Tus Receives Khosrow’s Patent

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
B13Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign22C4The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow1

More in the Glossary and the index of places.