Comparative study of narratives regarding Scythians’ interment rite in Shahnameh with actual burial service performed in Iran using funeral remains found in Khoram Abad cemetery in Meshkin shahr

 Shahnameh Ferdowsi is considered as one of the most invaluable sources regarding the customs, traditions, and rituals of different ancient societies living in our land.  One of these rituals one comes across in Shahnameh is a ritual surrounding the death of kings and great heroes, and since some of these figures belonged to Scythian race it is the purpose of this article to compare their manner of burial with the actual interment rite performed in Iran using rare example of burial remains uncovered by archeologists in the recent excavation as evidence.  According to the researches done it has been established that the burial ceremony carried out by Scythian people in Khoram Abad cemetery in Meshkin shahr to a large extent corresponds with Ferdowsi’s composition regarding burial rituals conducted for Scythian heroes.  Ferdowsi’s description of how glorious tombs were erected for Scythian heroes could well represent what is found in imperial coffins in Khoram Abad cemetery in Ardabil.  In both cases the existence of horse near the corpses were greatly emphasized.