Zal is assisted by the Simorgh in a tale from this country, which originated worship of the god Ahura Mazda.
A mythical hero from this modern-day country is suckled by a cow whose hairs are each a different color. This country is liberated after a mace with a cow-shaped head is used to strike down a wicked king with two snakes growing from his shoulders. A creation myth from this country describes how the first two humans are born after the death of a primordial man and bull who live for three thousand years. One of this country's heroes instructs a jewel to be placed in his (*) unborn child's hair if she is a daughter, and wrapped around his child's arm if he is a son. It is not Russia, but a hero from this country burns a magic feather to summon an enormous bird that instructs him to perform a C-section on his pregnant wife. Zal is assisted by the Simorgh in a tale from this country, which originated worship of the god Ahura Mazda. For 10 points, name this modern-day country whose national epic, the Shahnameh, contains myths based on its native Zoroastrian religion.
A mythical hero from this modern-day country is suckled by a cow whose hairs are each a different color.
Iran [or Persia; or Islamic Republic of Iran; or Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran]