رستم rustam P n. prop. One of the twelve cham- pions of Persia. His combat with Isfandyār is famous in the east; it lasted two days: and, as the brazen body of his enemy was proof against his arrows, he at last killed him with his mace. He was son of Zāl, who was son of Sām, son of Narīmān. He was general to Kaikāʼūs, and considered by the Persians des- cended from Māmūn, son of Benjamin, son of Jacob. He overcame Afrāsiyāb, king of Tur- kistān, who was joined by the Indians and Tartars: nevertheless, he fell into disgrace with his master, principally on account of his rejecting the religion of Zoroaster; and, it was upon this occasion that he killed Kaikāʼūsʼs son Isfandyār above mentioned. He was killed by the wound of an arrow in an engagement with Bahman (or Artaxerxes Longimanus) son of Isfandyār. Hence a hero is called Rustam.
