Cock running for Scapegoating: A Folk Medical Belief in Khāghāni’s Divan

One of the distinguishing features of Khāghāni’s Divan is the reflection of various people’s beliefs, socio-cultural customs of the people of that time including childish games, and superstitious beliefs .The popular and sometimes superstitious beliefs that have been prescribed in the past for the treatment of various disease have been reflected among the ancient Persian literary works especially Khāghāni’s Divan. One of these ancient medical beliefs about the treatment of animals and insects bites and stings, the treatment of some other disease, such as plague and colic, was the use of a tired cock which has run a lot before Dhabīḥah. In Folk medical and traditional books, different ways have been examined in order to use them in the case of this medical belief. To make run the old cock with other animals, however and according to ancient beliefs makes their meat tender. This research investigates these cases based on verses of Khāghāni’s Divan.