The Absence of Arash Kamângir in Shâhnâme

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Abstract

According to most researchers, the story of Arash did not exist in Abu Mansoori Shâhnâme and other Books of Kings, but a group of researchers believe that this story existed in the sources used for writing Shâhnâme and was omitted by Ferdowsi. Nevetheless, the evidence is against this last claim. Regarding the fact that even in Pahlavi texts there has not been more than one reference to this story, it can be concluded that the story should have not be mentioned in Books of Kings. Arash might have been either one of the saints in Parti culture, a popular hero, or a name remained from a pre-Zoroastrianism. Arash has been a warrior in Manoochehr army and by no means can be one of the kings or king-heroes; it is thus illogical to look for his heroic stories in Shâhnâme and other Books of Kings.

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