The ox-headed mace is associated with the heroes of the Shahnama (Book of Kings), the poet Firdausi’s epic of pre-Islamic Iran completed in 1010 CE. The mace reproduces the hero Bahram Gur’s weapon made in memory of the cow that nursed him.

A mace of Iranian design, with a bronze head in the shape of an ox's head. Based on a piece of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor collection. ... From the museum: "The ox-headed mace is associated with the heroes of the Shahnama (Book of Kings), the poet Firdausi’s epic of pre-Islamic Iran completed in a.d. 1010.

The illustrator here has mistakenly provided Kafur with a mace—an ox-headed one at that, against which Rustam defends himself with a shield, as described in the epic—and Rustam with a sword, instead of the other way around. Nevetheless, the scene is full of movement and action.

Dec 15, 2002 · gurz “club, mace”), also referred to as gorz-e gāvsār/sar (ox-headed club/mace), a weapon often mentioned and variously described in Iranian myths and epic . The name gorz and its descriptions can be found in most texts dealing with mythical, religious, and epic topics.

“As Zahhak’s foot touched the ground, Faraydun leapt forward like the wind and brought his ox-headed mace crashing down on Zahhak’s head, so that his helmet was shattered.” Faraydun is about to deliver a second—and fatal—blow when the angel Surush appears and proclaims, “His time has not yet come.”

In more recent times, ox-headed maces were considered prestigious symbols and attributes of Iranian kings and Zoroastrian priests, and are carried by the priest during his initiation as well as in other ceremonies.

Zahhak’s evil slaughter and unjust rule continued for many years until ultimately a young man named Faridun, whom Zahhak had seen in a dream, led an army against the king. Eventually Faridun brought his ox-head mace down on Zahhak’s head, immobilizing him.

A ceremonial mace with the head of a cow or ox believed to be Persian, Indian, or Indo-Persian, based on other examples online. It is believed to date between 1800-1900 and may represent elements of Zoroastrian or Hindu religion and belief.

The ox headed-mace is associated with the hero of the Shahnamah, Bahram Gur who made his weapon in memory of the cow that nursed him. It was later inherited by other heroes including Feridun and Rustam. A similar example is in the Metropolitan Museum, New York (36.25.1882).

A mace of Iranian design, with a bronze head in the shape of an ox's head. Based on a piece of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor collection. ... From the museum: "The ox-headed mace is associated with the heroes of the Shahnama (Book of Kings), the poet Firdausi’s epic of pre-Islamic Iran completed in a.d. 1010.