The study of the importance of horse in the mythology of Iran and other nations and its reflection on Shahnameh

Myths are narratives regarding the beliefs of the ancient nations about themselves, God, the world and the supernatural world in a symbolic language in a form of a story. In fact myths have appeared to justify rites, traditions, and social, cultural, and moral regulations and the purpose of Mythology is to discover the hidden thoughts in myths which is regarded as the foundation of culture and the temperaments of every nation. The discovery of the minds and souls of a people whose wishes and desires, their fears and hopes are expressed symbolically in the mythic narratives. Myths teem with images of the animals that were once human. One of the important elements in mythology is the absence of distinct borderlines between humans and animals. The relationship between man and animals, man and gods in the ancient past, in myths and narratives is of utmost importance. Because of its special characteristics horse is the most distinguished among the animals in Mythology. This article deals with the standpoint of horse in the mythology of Iran and those of the other countries such as Egypt, China, Greece, and India in order to portray an in depth analysis through their comparison