The Transformation of a Myth: Rostam-e Dastān

Subject Areas : Mytho

محمود  رضایی دشت ارژنه ¹ (استادیار زبان و ادبیات فارسی دانشگاه شهید چمران اهواز)

Received: 2015-05-25 Accepted : 2015-05-25 Published : 2009-12-22

Keywords: Shāhnāmeh, Zahhāk, Rostam, Garshāsb, Ferdowsī, Dastān, Zāl, Sām, Narimān, Mardās,

Abstract :

    According to Shāhnāmeh of Ferdowsī, Rostam-e Dastān is the champion of champions and mythical hero of ancient Persia, constituting some of the most popular parts of the Shāhnāmeh. He is the son of Zāl (the son of Sām and the grandson of Narimān). Also, his legend indicates that Rostam's mother is a decedent of Zahhāk, the son of Mardās. But in the older version of this myth, Dastān is a title for Rostam,  Narimān a title for Garshāsb, Mardās a title for Zahhāk, and Sām is the name of the extended family of Garshāsb. The present paper tries to show that the myth of Rostam has been transformed in Shāhnāmeh.