A forgotten proverb in Haft Peykar and its mythological, folkloric effect

Proverbs represent the cultural wealth of nations. Many proverbs are forgotten and lost during the time and we are never aware of their roots and their formation. This paper addresses a forgotten proverb used in a Haft Peykar couplet. The expression “The old woman is a wolf” is an expression probably considered as a proverb in Nizami age. This proverb seems to be welcomed in Persian literature from Turkish, Kurdish or Azeri. This study takes a descriptive, qualitative approach to examine the mythological and folkloric effects of this proverb. Comparing an old woman with a wolf is not new in Persian literature. They both represent death and world in culture, and world folklore and they signify snow, witchcraft, sexual drive ad moon. In this paper we have analyzed some overlapping points between old woman and wolf. In literature, wolf is the symbol of trickery and fraud. It seems that the main motivation behind taking an old woman for a wolf is their wide-range wisdom, experience and cunningness. Due to their command on the matrimonial secrets, old women have played significant roles in social relations of the past and they could connect men and women who wanted relationship.