A Comparative Approach to Esfandīār's Dragonish Characteristics

The present paper draws on mythological criticism to comparatively approach Persian and Indian epics in analyzing Esfandiar's character in Shahnameh as well as Vritra in Indian epic. More specifically, the paper proposes that Esfandiar's battle with Rostam reflects many dragonish elements of Vritra in Indian mythology, a perspective quite different from what is commonly considered about Esfandīār's battle with Rostam. The findings suggest that the account of Esfandīār's battle with Rostam is a transformed version of the account of the battle of Vritra, the drought dragon, with Indira in Indian mythology. Esfandyar's connection with religious foundations, which is due to the artistic manipulations of storytellers or theologians in later periods, causes Esfandīār's character to move away from his dragon pedigree and, instead, get closer to religious and heroic figures. Esfandīār in his invincibility, his death caused with an arrow shot at a vulnerable spot and other characteristics are unmistakeably similar to those of the drought dragon of Indian mythology. That which makes Esfandīār insist on tying Rostam's hands in a demonic dream also reflects an important structural part of Vritra's battle with Indira.