An Investigation into the Absence of Rostamin Pre-Islamic Sources

In pre-Islamic sources, no mention is made of Rostam. Only a brief reference to him can be traced in four texts: Yadegar-e Zariran, Drakht-i Asurig (The Assyrian Tree), Bundahishn, and a narrative called the Sogdian story of Rostam. In Bundahishn, he is referred to twice but briefly and no comprehensive account of him could be drawn from the reference made to him in Drakht-i Asurig. Notwithstanding that almost all pre-Islamic sources, predominantly the religious/governmental sources, treated this mythological and historical towering character with silence, much is said about him in the post-Islamic sources and texts in a way that the majority of the heroic texts in post-Islamic era are centered around Rostam and his kin. Despite the gulf between the pre-Islamic and post-Islamic era germane Rostam, he is venerated as the most prominent and popular national hero in Persian literature. He is portrayed as one who has immense influence on national epic, folk narratives and even mystical literature. In the light of the contention that existed between Rostam and the Saints of Zoroastrianism such as Kay-Kavus, Vishtaspa, Tous, and Sepandiyar, Rostam’s affinity with Babr-e Bayan (Palangine), some of the hidden evidence present in the Shahnameh, and also taking into account some other hypertext evidence presented in this article, this presumption comes to mind that maybe Rostam was meant to be censored from the pre-Islamic religious/governmental sources. Furthermore, it seems that Mobeds played a pivotal role in associating Rostam with Zahhak and describing his caesarean birth as a demonic birth from his mother’s flank.