A Study of Ayyaran?s Practices in Epic and Ayyari Texts

Ayyari (chivalry) techniques and practices form a significant portion of epic texts and heroic stories. Ayyaran are men of noble character that are introduced in the story during the ineffectiveness of war and conflict. They increase suspense in story by using special techniques. In this study, ayyaran’s practices have been investigated in a number of epic and Ayyari texts. This Study has been done with the aim of elaborating on the functions and analyzing the devices which create complication or resolution in many stories. For this purpose, after naming each technique, some examples will be given. The investigated texts include Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, Samak Ayyar, Tarsusi’s Darabnameh, Beighami’s Darabnameh, Borzoonameh and Eskandarnameh. This study has been organized using content analysis method based on library resources. According to the results, the techniques employed by ayyaran for reaching their goal were as follows: changing clothes, transfiguration, disguise, using anesthetic drugs, ring, lasso and box, hiding a defense instrument in the shaft of the boot, entering the enemy’s territory secretly, sniffing the soil to detect a location, and talking in different languages. These techniques/methods show how in epic-Ayyari stories the uniformity of events are avoided and how the readers’ attention is drawn to the influential and important elements which are sometimes beyond war and conflict.