" Zaar": From an Ancient God to a Therapeutic Ritual in the South of Iran

Zaar has a therapeutic role, and it is very common in the south of Iran. This ritual has been also reported in some other countries such as the Persian Gulf countries, Egypt, and some areas in Africa. The southern people of Iran, from one hand, believe that Zaar is related to the concept of Ahle-hava, and on the other hand, it is known as a genie that has a long background in the primitive religions of Africa and other ancient faiths. However, there are many distinctions between the initial origins of Zaar and its current rituals. An accurate understanding of this ritual can be possible only through analyzing its origins. This area has stayed almost untouched except in a few papers and dissertations about Zaar. In this paper the reports of the believers in Zaar in the south of Iran have been compared and evaluated with the ancient mythological stories using a documentary- historical research method and the analytical approach. This study indicates that there are some significant similarities and affinities between the Zaar ritual in Hormozgan district and the ancient mythologies and faiths of the world specially the god of wind (vaay) and the idle gods in the African Mythology. In conclusion, it can be said that these mythologies and the ancient faiths have had a fundamental and effective role in development of the Zaar ritual in the south of Iran.