Zohák

Also known as: Bíwurasp · Family: Arabs · Role: son of Mirtás · First appears: Mirtás-Tází, and his Son Zohák · Part 1

In the Story of Mirtás-Tází, and his Son Zohák, Zohák, also called Bíwurasp, was the son of Mirtás and possessed ten thousand Arab horses. Iblís approached him disguised as a virtuous man, won his oath of secrecy, and urged him to kill his father and take the throne. By Iblís’s treachery, Mirtás fell into a pit and died of his injuries; Zohák then usurped his throne. Iblís gained influence over the new king, became director of his kitchen, and kissed his shoulder, causing two black serpents to spring from it. Returning in disguise as a physician, Iblís told Zohák the serpents could not be cured and advised feeding them human brains.

After gaining the imperial crown, Zohák defeated Jemshíd, who became a wanderer, and later had him captured and sawed in two. His people seized Shahrnáz and Arnawáz, Jemshíd’s sisters, and held them in his harem until Feridún released them. In the Story of Mirtás-Tází, and his Son Zohák, Zohák’s dream of a warrior binding and dragging him was interpreted by the Múbids as foretelling that Feridún would succeed him and strike him down. His spies captured Abtín, whom Zohák put to death; he then killed the pasture keeper, the keeper’s tribe, and the cow that had supplied milk to Feridún, whom he sought in vain.

In the Story of Kavah, the Blacksmith, Zohák ordered an annual register of his people. When Kavah protested that two of his sons were to be killed to feed the serpents, Zohák released them. But Kavah reviled him and left the court with his children. Feridún overthrew Zohák’s talisman and defeated the enchanted monsters, while Arnawáz explained that Zohák had gone toward Ind expecting to meet Feridún and hoping to obtain a magician to subdue him. Feridún released Shahrnáz and Arnawáz and destroyed the talisman; Zohák’s army and people revolted and embraced Feridún’s cause. At Feridún’s camp, Zohák tried to attack him by night, but Feridún struck him with his mace, crushing his temple bone.