It began as the leather apron Kaveh wore at his forge. On the day he stood up to Zahhak he tied it to a spear, so that people would have something to follow.

Fereydun took it for a good omen. He covered the leather in brocade and gold, hung it with jewels and named it after the blacksmith. Every king after him added jewels of his own, until people said it shone at night like the sun. In every war of the Shahnameh it is carried at the head of Iran's army.