Iranian Mythology and Islamic Revolution: The Shah and the Ayatollah

Abstract

Secondly, the author builds up the theoretical frame of the book. For this reason, he explains legends in Iranian mythology and assimilates Muhammed Rıza Shah and Khomeini with them. He emphasises two legends written in Shahnameh by Ferdowsi, which have a particular importance for Iranian mythology. The first one is the legend of Jamshid and Feridun. The myth was that the Zoroastrian God Ahura Mazda got angry with the guiltiness and cupidity of the people and took the sunlight from the earth. As a result the Zoroastrian devil Ahriman ruled over the world. But the saviour Jamshid brought peace to humanity by dethroning Ahriman. Then Ahura Mazda was pleased with this situation and gives sunlight again. Eventually, Jamshid was kept by solemnity and power which lead to a negligence of the loyalty against Ahura Mazda. This would lead him to take the sunlight from the earth again. Zahak dethroned Jamshid with the help of Ahriman and caused tyranny to return. People were oppressed by the tyrant Zahak and prayed to Ahura Mazda for a