The Connection between Myth and Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh; An attempt at Reproducing Iranian National Identity

Ferdowsi,s Shahnameh is one of the most impressive masterpieces written by a great Iranian thinker. It is a fluent and well-expressed text. Hence, many believe that it is a simple text without any misty ideas. However, if we examine Shahnameh by methods made available through new social sciences, it will be seen as one of the most unexplored cultural texts. In this paper, the author surveys Shahnameh, employing the structural method. In this view, it seems that tying myth and politics, Ferdowsi considers his era's problems, and believes that the reconstruction of past norms, values and structures is the way to save his society.He employs myths to make a link between various components of Iranian identity.