A Comparative Study of Similar Mythological Themes and Origins in Iranian, Chinese and Scandinavian Myths

Mythological and historical evidence point toward cultural, social, political and economic connections between the territories of Iran, China and Scandinavia in the distant past. In addition, the study of cultural interactions and similarities between the three countries – with certain focus on mythological themes – is of great importance. Therefore, this study aims to examine and analyze some of the mythological themes which these three lands have in common. To this purpose, analytical and comparative methods are used to answer the following question: Are there similar mythological themes between the three territories of Iran, China and Scandinavia? Findings of the article indicate that firstly, there are mythological similarities between the tribal residents of these three lands and secondly, the reasons for the similarity of mythological themes between Iran, China and Scandinavia are three-fold: 1. historical: Scythians lived between Iran and China and the three territories had developed trade relations. Furthermore, in the Samanid period, Norse Scandinavians were connected to Iranians through the fur trade. 2. Mythological: the mythical land of the ancient peoples was undivided before the division of the world by Fereydoun’s descendants. 3. Psychoanalytical: the collective unconscious that people of these lands shared. By deciphering some of the myths of the three nations, such as the wheel of these gods and their switching bodies, it is found out that some myths of the three nations are complementary to other myths as if they are the lost pieces of a puzzle that, if put together, form a whole.