Persian Mythology

Ancient Persia provides a mine of folk lore and myth as rich as its civilization. This volume covers a range of Persian myths, and the place of these myths in political, ritual and personal life.

A joyful mythical ride through the intimate and powerful stories of the Persian legendary landscape. From such texts as the Shah Nameh (the Persian Book of Kings), Masnavi-e Ma’navi, the Anvar-i Suhayli fables and works by the great poet Nizāmī, come ancient tales of a civilization that once stretched across the known world. Find here the wonderful stories of the magical bird the Simurgh, the Seven Labours of Rustem, the evil demon onager-giant Akwán Díw and the tragic romance of Laili and Majnun. Persian literature is amongst the most beautiful and inventive of all cultures, offering a joyful read of creation, love and conquest. FLAME TREE 451. From myth to mystery, the supernatural to horror, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.

Discusses the mythology of ancient Persia and of religions which have flourished there, notably Zoroastrianism.

A new translation of the late-tenth-century Persian epic follows its story of pre-Islamic Iran's mythic time of Creation through the seventh-century Arab invasion, tracing ancient Persia's incorporation into an expanding Islamic empire. 15,000 first printing.

Author Don Nardo examines the ancient civilizations and peoples of Persian mythology. Origin / creation stories, early gods, mythical kings and heroes, and Zoroastrianism are all covered. This volume has a map of ancient Persia, a visual organizer grouping major characters, a table of major characters with name pronunciations and brief descriptions, a glossary, sidebars, fact boxes, and bibliography of sources for further study, and a subject index.

Includes legends of the early world of Persia, the epic of the Kings, Story-tellers, myths and mythology, and more.

Persian mythology developed in what is now Iran after about 1500B.C. About a thousand years later, a religion known as Zoroastrianism emerged in the region. It held on to many of the earlier beliefs but added new themes, deities, and myths. The result was a mythology based on a dualistic vision: a cosmic conflict between good and evil. The stories which form the basis of Persian mythology come from early Persian religious belief. One refers to these - and similar stories from any culture - as "mythology" in the present day only because the theological paradigm has changed and a universe of many gods, spirits, angels, and demons has been replaced either by the monotheistic or atheistic model. In their time, however, they would have served the same basic purpose as the scripture of any religion does in modern times: to teach important spiritual and cultural values and assure people of order and meaning in the face of an often chaotic and frightening world. In this book of captivating myths from the rich culture of ancient Persia, you will encounter: The struggle between the good creator, Ahura Mazda, and the evil destroyer, Angra Mainyu The story of Ahura Mazda's creation of the world and the Blessed Immortals who guard it and keep it in existence How Yima the good shepherd enlarged the world to make room for all its creatures and then saved it from an apocalyptic winter The victory of the prophet Zarathustra over the demons sent to kill him The story of Kuyamars, the very first Persian king, and his grandson Hushang, who discovered fire The downfall of King Jamshid the Magnificent, who thought he was as powerful as God The evil Prince Zahhak, who had serpents growing out of his shoulders The fearsome but kindly Simorgh, a mythical giant bird with a lion's head The great hero Rostam and his faithful stallion, Rakhsh And more!