The Issue of Nightattacks in Shahnameh

Shahname is an epic poem book which artistically shows the culture and civilization of Iran in the form of the battles between the warriors of Iran and the enemies. Ferdowsi, to a complete perfection, brings the arts and techniques of the battlefield in front of the eyes of the reader so that they feel as though they are part of the battle and they feel the war with their entire being. His dexterity is obvious in describing the battle scenes and the formation of the armies, arranging the "meymane" and the "meysare", the heart and the wing of the army, sending the vanguards and the spying groups, the Nightattacks, describing in detail the weaponry and the use and traits of each one. Surveying the style of the Nightattacks in the Shahname shows that Ferdowsi was not only an expert in matters concerning face-to- face encounters, man-toman fights and collective and communal wars, which were among the official and organized styles common in chivalrous battles, but he also knew a lot about the Nightattacks, which, according to some epic manuscripts, was the unfair style of the enemy. He knew the arts and the techniques very well, sending spying groups before the Nightattacks and selection of warriors trained for proper speed and agility, are all examples of his battle knowledge. In describing the scenes of the Nightattacks of the Turanians on the Iranian army, he keeps in mind the principles of the Nightattacks, such as ambushing, trench digging, dispatching pioneers, putting a look out on a high ground and starting a fire He also correctly shows the proper ways of aborting their attacks and pushing the night warriors back. In this article, I have tried to survey and explain the style of the Nightattacks, their traits, principles, and delicacies in the Shahname and other epic battle manuscripts such as Garshaspname, Adab ol’horb val’shoja’at, Samak ayyar, etc.