The Origin of the Battle Between Elephant and Sheep in a Parable in Golestan
Subject Areas : پژوهشهای ادبیات کلاسیک ایران
1 - رشتۀ زبان و ادبیات فارسی دانشگاه بیرجند
Keywords: Parable Myth Sheep Elephant study of origin.,
Abstract :
Parables (proverbs) as a part of culture and experience of old-time people represent lots of thoughts, perceptions and beliefs that have endured the course of times. Therefore, researching the parables can lead us to the origins of our ancestors’ thoughts. Sometimes, myths which are related to group unconsciousness in a mysterious way are used in parables, or in another word, sometimes parables mirror group unconsciousness, especially mythical thoughts. One of these parables which the writer believes represents a very old belief in Iranian culture is “Sheep is clean and the elephant is carrion” in the first chapter of Golestan of Sa’adi. The mythical origin of this parable is studied in this research, and it is shown that how the elephant as an Ahrimanic creature confronts the sheep as an Ahurai force, and how the fight between an elephant and a sheep can represent a fundamental belief in Iranian culture in the form of a parable. .