New Naqqaliشاهنامه
Place · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II

Kashanکشانی

ka-SHAHNalso Kashanianalso Kashani

Kamus‘s land. The text also has ’Kashanian‘ and ’Kashani’.

In the poem
First at B13.18, Afrasiab Sends Aid to Piran; last at C6.5, Arjasp’s Letter to Goshtasb
Named
17 times, in 14 sections
Main stories
B13 Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign (8); B14 The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin (6); C4 The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow (2)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Kashan most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Kashan. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
B13.18

Afrasiab Sends Aid to Piran

A messenger announces that Afrasiab has sent a vast allied army: the Khan of Chin, Manshur, Kamus of Kashan and kings from Kashmir to the Slav lands. Piran rejoices and boasts that he will lay waste all Iran.

  • B13.18.12
    Then comes Kamus, the swordsman none can beat,From Kashan, who has never known defeat.
Kashan named 1 time 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.

  • B13.25.50
    Against a single foe, two warriors go,Yet Kashan’s chief still hungered for the blow.
Kashan named 1 time 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.

  • B13.27.72
    From Kashan, Shakn, and Wahr their armies came,From Chaghan, Chin, Saklab, and Hind by name.
Kashan named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B13.28

Rostam Battles Ashkabus

Ashkabus of Kashan beats Rohham in single combat. Rostam comes out on foot, mocks him and shoots his horse, then kills him with one arrow through the chest. The Khan, seeing the huge arrow, accuses Piran of hiding the enemy’s strength.

  • B13.28.19
    The Kashanian laughed to see him dare,Then checked his steed and fixed him with a stare.
  • B13.28.23
    The Kashanian said, “You have no horse;You give yourself to slaughter in due course.”
  • B13.28.48
    The Kashanian died upon the plain,As though his mother bore her son in vain.
Kashan named 3 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.

  • B13.32.7
    Your fate now drives you, man of Kashan’s line;The dust shall be your bed by fate’s design.”
  • B13.32.12
    He cast the kamand round the Kashan lord;Then spurred the raging Rakhsh and drew the cord.
Kashan named 2 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.

  • B14.1.7
    For chiefs of Balkh and Shakn, that bitter dayGrew dark; on Kashan, too, the shadow lay.”
Kashan named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B14.5

Piran Comes before Rostam

Rostam names himself to Piran and brings greetings from Kay Khosrow and Farangis. Piran pours out his grief for Siavash and his divided loyalties, and pleads for peace. Rostam demands the guilty men or Piran’s defection; Piran secretly chooses war.

  • B14.5.53
    From Shakn, Kashan, Saklab, Hind they came,From lands to Sind’s great sea, all free of blame.
Kashan named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B14.6

Turan’s Counsel before Battle

Piran warns his kinsmen and the Khan that Rostam has come for vengeance, while the kin of Kamus and Chingish swear to burn Sistan. Shangul, king of Hind, mocks the fear of ‘one Sagzi’ and promises to lead the attack. Houman foresees disaster.

  • B14.6.28
    To avenge Kamus, with tearful eyes, we goWith Kashan’s troops to Chin, our hearts in woe.
Kashan named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 14 sections that name Kashan
  1. B13.18 Afrasiab Sends Aid to Piran
  2. B13.25 Giv and Tus Battle Kamus
  3. B13.27 Iran and Turan Set Their Battle Lines
  4. B13.28 Rostam Battles Ashkabus
  5. B13.32 Rostam Slays Kamus
  6. B14.1 The Khan Learns Kamus Is Slain
  7. B14.5 Piran Comes before Rostam
  8. B14.6 Turan’s Counsel before Battle
  9. B14.12 Rostam Battles Sava
  10. B14.17 Rostam’s Letter to Kay Khosrow
  11. B14.19 Afrasiab Hears of His Army’s Defeat
  12. C4.3 Afrasiab Hears of Piran’s Death
  13. C4.14 Khosrow Crosses the Jihun
  14. C6.5 Arjasp’s Letter to Goshtasb

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.
B13Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign8B14The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin6C4The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow2C6Goshtasb, Zardosht, and the War with Arjasp1

More in the Glossary and the index of places.