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Persian mythology is the collective term for the beliefs and practices of the culturally and linguistically related group of ancient peoples who inhabited the Iranian Plateau and its borderlands, as well as areas of Central Asia from the Black Sea to Khotan (modern Ho-t'ien, China). KEY TEXTS The central collection of Persian mythology is the '' Shahnameh '' of Ferdowsi , written over a thousand years ago. Ferdowsi's work draws heavily, with attribution, on the stories and characters of Mazdaism And Zoroastrianism , not only from the '' Avesta '', but from later texts such as the '' Bundahishn '' and the '' Denkard '' as well. RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND The characters of Persian mythology almost always fall into one of two camps. They are either good, or they are evil. The resultant discord mirrors the ancient conflict, which in Persian mythology is based on the Zoroastrian concept of the dual emanation of '' Ahura Mazda '' ( Avestan , or ''Ormuzd'' in later Persian). '' Spenta Mainyu '' is the source of constructive energy, while '' Angra Mainyu '' is the source of darkness, destruction, sterility, and death. Found in abundance in Persian mythology are the ''s, the adherants of the pre-Zoroastrian form of Mazdaism considered the ''daeva'' holy and sacred beings. It is only after the religious reforms of Zarathustra (Zoroaster) that the term ''daeva'' became associated with Demon s. Even then the Persians living south of the Caspian Sea continued to worship the ''daeva'' and resisted pressure to accept Zoroastrianism, and legends that involve ''daeva'' survive to this day. For instance, that of the legend of the ''Div-e Sepid'' (white ''daeva'') of Mazandaran . Moreover, '' Angra Mainyu '' or '' Ahriman '' in Persian, once the Zoroastrian epitomy of evil, lost its original Zoroastrian/Mazdaist identity in later Persian literature, and was ultimately depicted as a ''div''. Religious depictions of ''Ahriman'' made in the era following the Islamic invasion show ''Ahriman'' as a giant of a man with spotted body and two horns. GOOD AND EVIL depicting popular mythical stories of Iran.]] The most famous legendary character in the Persian epics and mythology is Rostam . On the other side of the fence is Zahhak , a symbol of despotism who was finally defeated by Kaveh The Blacksmith who led a popular uprising against him. Zahhak was guarded by two vipers which grew out of his shoulders. No matter how many times they were beheaded, new heads grew on them to guard him. The snake like in many other Oriental mythologies was a symbol of evil. But many other animals and birds appear in Iran ian mythology and especially the birds were signs of good omen. Most famous of these is Simorgh , a large beautiful and powerful bird, Homa , a royal bird of victory whose plume adorned the crowns and Samandar , the phoenix. s of Paradise . However another evil woman, Patiareh, now symbolizes whores and prostitutes. RELATED SUBJECTS
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EXTERNAL LINKS Iran Almanac 2006 is also published. http://www.iranalmanac.com |
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