The Comparison of Esfandiyār’s Invulnerability in Pahlavi Texts and his Vulnerable Eyes in the Shāhnāma of Ferdowsi

جستارهای نوین ادبی

Article 2, Volume 45, Issue 2 - Serial Number 177, November 2013, Pages 25-59   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/jls.v45i2.18911

Authors

Aghdas Fatehi^* ; Tahereh Khoshhal Dastjerdi; Mohsen Aboulghasemi

Abstract

According to Wejarkard ī dēnīg, the brave and blessed Esfandiyār becomes brazen-bodied by the praying of the prophet Ašū – Zarduxšt in the ceremony of Drōn Yašt. The prophet gives him some pomegranate seeds and Esfandiyār is rendered invulnerable. Pahlavi Zand ī Vandidād says that Esfandiyār cannot be hurt, harmed, threatened or wounded by sword, knife or any other weapon because of his invulnerability. However, in the Shāhnāma of Ferdowsi, Esfandiyār has vulnerable eyes. There are some similarities between the characteristics and functions of Esfandiyār of the Shāhnāma and Achilles in Greek mythology due to the combination of the old Iranian and ancient Greek cultures. The overwhelming influence of the Greek culture in Persia was because of a ruling Greek government in Bacteria from 250 to 130 B.C.

Keywords

Esfandiyār; invulnerability; Wejarkard ī dēnīg; the Shāhnāma of Ferdowsi; vulnerable eyes