Davāzdah Rokh[1] (Persian: دَوازدَه رُخ) (Twelve combats) is a story in Shahnameh. This relatively long story (almost 2,500 verses) is described as one of the finest stories of Shahnameh in terms of "plot, dramatic description, and insight into human nature".[1]
It takes place on the border between Iran and Turan, where a number of Iranian heroes fight with a number of Turanian heroes. In all cases, Iranian heroes defeat their Turanian competitors. Goudarz is the chief of Iranian heroes and Piran Viseh is the chief of Turanian heroes. The battle begins when Piran's brother, Houman, challenges the Iranians and is killed by Bizhan in a single combat. The two armies then join battle, without either side prevailing. Finally they agree to abide by the outcomes of a series of single combats (mard o mard) between the greatest heroes of the two armies:
- ^ a b Khaleghi-Motlagh, Djalal. "DAVĀZDAH ROḴ". ENCYCLOPÆDIA IRANICA. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ "?Bayasanghori Sh?hn?meh? (Prince Bayasanghor?s Book of the Kings)". Archived from the original on August 5, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2009.