Reflections on the Absence of Arash the Archer in the Shahnameh

The myth of "Arash Kamangir" (Arash the Archer) is an ancient Iranian myth that predates Zoroastrianism. Arash Kamangir plays a significant role in heroic Persian prose and poetry prior to the emergence of Rostam, one of the main characters in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh. This research aims to demonstrate that the myth of Arash is closely related to the myths of "sun, fertility, and wind". It further argues that Rostam is a transformation of Arash, which explains why the Shahnameh does not mention Arash. Rostam appears to embody the characteristics of Arash, Zu, and Manuchehr. Like Arash, Rostam saves Iran from drought (Afrasiab) and, similar to Zu and Manuchehr, he assists Iranians. Additionally, Rostam, like Arash and Manuchehr, is mortal. The name of Rostam's horse, Rakhsh, and his son, Sohrab, are reminiscent of sunrays. The names Rudabeh, Rostam's wife, and Rostam himself, as well as Zu's role in creating rivers and irrigation, further suggest the transformation of the character of Arash into Rostam.