The Roots of Hedonism in the Shāhnāmeh and the Influences of Epicurean Thoughts on the Shāhnāmeh

Hedonism is a philosophy which encourages pleasure-seeking as a means of forgetting the pains of life and improving one’ s living. Hedonists believe in seizing the day for pleasure. This philosophy and manner of life has a very long record in history. Epicure, the Greek philosopher, founded a school of hedonism which in spite of very strong oppositions moved itself along and acquired a number of adherents. The Epicureans, reject gods and after-life and believe that the life of man is limited to this world. Therefore, man should be happy as long as he lives in this world. Such thoughts can also be observed in the Shāhnāmeh by Ferdowsi. The Iranian Kings and heroes, in their feasts and celebrations drink wine and listen to the music of the troubadours. However, wine and music are not enough and they also seek the company of women. The kings and heroes also enjoy hunting and the game of polo. The Shāhnāmeh is abundant with pleasures and scenes of enjoyment and the philosophy of Epicure also prescribes pleasure-seeking and enjoyment. However, the adjustment of pleasure-seeking in the Shāhnāmeh with the philosophy of Epicure is questionable. It is hardly possible to see the pleasure-seeking in the heroic world of the Shāhnāmeh and the one in the philosophy of Epicure, the gloomy philosopher, the same. There are certainly some basic distinctions between them which are stated in the section on Epicureanism and the Shāhnāmeh.