List of Articles Trial by Ordeal

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  1 - "Myth of Trial by Ordeal" and Fire in Shāhnāmeh
  Naqmeh Dādvar
  During several centuries, what has remained of the fasinating ritual of "trial by ordeal" is swearing. Trial by ordeal was a common ritual among the nations and religions, and was considered a judicium Dei and the ultimate test to distinguish innocencent from guilty. So More

  During several centuries, what has remained of the fasinating ritual of "trial by ordeal" is swearing. Trial by ordeal was a common ritual among the nations and religions, and was considered a judicium Dei and the ultimate test to distinguish innocencent from guilty. Some instances of it have been cited in Vis and Rāmin, Masnavi, Salāmān va Absal, Makhzan al-Asrār, History of Yaqoubi, Haft Eqlim, Āsār al Belād va Akhbār al Ebād, Tadhkirat-ul-Awliyā, Avesta, Torah, Pahlavi texts and code of Hammurabi inscription. "Passing of Siyāvash through the fire" is the most familiar example of trial by ordeal in the collective memory of Iranians. The reasons why the "myth of trial by ordeal" in Shāhnāmeh is an outstanding example, is the main subject of the present article. So, at first, the significance of fire among the ancient nations and religions is considered. Then, after citing some tests of "passing through the fire" in historical, religious and literary texts, the myth of "passing of Siyāvash through the fire" as the most impressive and lasting instance is introduced. Manuscript profile