A Comparative Study of the Honor of the Mazd Religion in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh and Sassanid Pahlavi Texts

Subject Areas : Comparative Literature Studies

farzad dolatkhah ¹ , ramin sadeginejad ² , Rasoul Ebadi ³

1 - PhD Student of the Department of persian language and literature, Ahar branch, Islamic Azad University، Ahar- Iran
2 - Department of persian language and literature, Ahar branch, Islamic Azad University، Ahar- Iran
3 - Department of Arabic language and literature, Ahar branch, Islamic Azad University، Ahar- Iran

Received: 2021-12-10 Accepted : 2022-02-19 Published : 2022-09-21

Keywords: Baz, Barsam, Ferdowsi’s Shah Nameh, myazad,

Abstract :

Hospitality and welcoming a guest is one of the most distinguished characteristics of Iranians, showing their personal and social identity. The term Myazad means hospitality and setting table for the guest with specific traditions. Honor of setting table for the guest is one of the most distinguished symbols of hospitality among ancient Iranians. This has been mentioned in the Sasanid and Pahlavi writings and some chapters of most writings of those eras have been dedicated to such tradition and honor. On the other hand, Ferdowsi’s Shah Nameh is a highly valuable work in which one can study old and ancient traditions of Zoroastrians including setting table. The aim of the present study is to show valuable aspects of guest and honor of the tradition thorugh comparative study of Mayzad ancient tradition in the Pahlavi writings and Ferdowsi’s Shah Nameh. Happy face of the host with the guest, sacrificing animals specially lamb and sheep to the guest, boiling vegetable seeds in milk with the aid of Harkareh stone, spreading bread in table, respecting the guest, taking Barsam at hand and chanting Baj or praying next to the sacred fire, eating food with closed mouth, washing hands thanking God after having meal (Zamzam) are among the main symbols of honoring the guest in Mayazad ancient tradition, shown in different parts of Shah Nameh and Pahlavi Sasanid writings.