jjares reviewed Persian Mythology: Captivating Myths of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Legendary Creatures on + 3270 more book reviews
During the years 3000 through 2001 BC, a group of people moved from India to a large area, generally called Iran today. They referred to themselves as 'Aryan' (having nothing to do with that Nazi designation later). This was based on their religious, cultural, and linguistic relationships. Their religious practices became integrated with the Persian native religion of Zoroastrianism (founded ~ 1500 - 1000 BCE by Zarathustra - or Zoroaster). Zoroastrianism is a dualist religion, essentially pitting a beneficent creator, who vies with an evil being (who tries to destroy).
Part 1 - Religious Myths --
This book is broken into three parts. The author kindly explains the background of the story about to be told. Generally, the author explains where the story comes from. This story is in the form of a dialogue between the beneficent creator (Ahura Mazda) and the prophet Zarathustra. 'The Myth of Yima' serves as both a creation story and a flood story. Then, there is the story of Angra Mainyu (the evil being) and his demons trying to kill Zarathustra but flee because of Zarathustra's holiness.
In the 9th century, 'The Bundahishn' was compiled and tells the story of creation and the battle between the good god (Ahura Mazda) and the evil god (Angra Mainyu).
Part 2 - Bakhtiyar Nameh --
This is a collection of stories compiled by a Persian author (Marvazi) around the turn of the 7th century. There is a frame story that tells about Prince Bakhtiyar, from his birth, abandonment by his royal parents, to his eventual reunion with his family. Within the frame story, we find two internal tales.
Part 3 - Tales from the Shahnameh --
These are tales of ancient and probably mythical kings who discover things necessary to human survival (such as fire or clothing). In one tale, there is a Simorogh (she has the body of a large bird and the head of a lion), a benevolent, mythical bird of Persian mythology and literature, who is integral to this tale. There is also a story about the greatest Persian hero of myth -- Rostam and his stallion, Rakhsh.
Overview: Through CAPTIVATING HISTORY, I've had the opportunity to read quite a few mythologies of the world. At first, I really wasn't much interested in the subject. As I've continued to read more, I've become absolutely fascinated by the variety and complexity of the thinking behind these tales of creation, the discovery of necessary skills/implements for human life, and tales to explain a culture's belief systems.
Part 1 - Religious Myths --
This book is broken into three parts. The author kindly explains the background of the story about to be told. Generally, the author explains where the story comes from. This story is in the form of a dialogue between the beneficent creator (Ahura Mazda) and the prophet Zarathustra. 'The Myth of Yima' serves as both a creation story and a flood story. Then, there is the story of Angra Mainyu (the evil being) and his demons trying to kill Zarathustra but flee because of Zarathustra's holiness.
In the 9th century, 'The Bundahishn' was compiled and tells the story of creation and the battle between the good god (Ahura Mazda) and the evil god (Angra Mainyu).
Part 2 - Bakhtiyar Nameh --
This is a collection of stories compiled by a Persian author (Marvazi) around the turn of the 7th century. There is a frame story that tells about Prince Bakhtiyar, from his birth, abandonment by his royal parents, to his eventual reunion with his family. Within the frame story, we find two internal tales.
Part 3 - Tales from the Shahnameh --
These are tales of ancient and probably mythical kings who discover things necessary to human survival (such as fire or clothing). In one tale, there is a Simorogh (she has the body of a large bird and the head of a lion), a benevolent, mythical bird of Persian mythology and literature, who is integral to this tale. There is also a story about the greatest Persian hero of myth -- Rostam and his stallion, Rakhsh.
Overview: Through CAPTIVATING HISTORY, I've had the opportunity to read quite a few mythologies of the world. At first, I really wasn't much interested in the subject. As I've continued to read more, I've become absolutely fascinated by the variety and complexity of the thinking behind these tales of creation, the discovery of necessary skills/implements for human life, and tales to explain a culture's belief systems.
