The mythical Connection of Iranian Creation with the Goya-derakht in Illustrated Versions of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 art department; alzahra university

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Painting, Faculty of Art, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran,

10.22051/pgr.2025.47316.1266

Abstract

A review of historical texts indicates that ancient beliefs played a significant role in the creation of some literary works. The Shahnameh, as a prominent Persian epic, reflects certain aspects of these beliefs, including the figure of Goya-derakht. The present article aims to explore the origins of Goya-derakht in the Shahnameh and examine its connection to the myth of the human-plant. To achieve this, the study investigates the possible manifestation of the creation myth in the speaking tree and addresses the following questions: What is the relationship between Goya-derakht in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and the myth of Mashya and Mashyana? To what extent do the physical and symbolic characteristics of Goya-derakht, as depicted in existing illustrations, resemble those of Mashya and Mashyana?
In this research, ancient textual sources, including Bundahishn, Tarikh al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Mas'udi, and Tarikh-e Bal'ami, are analyzed to deepen the understanding of the creation myth. Subsequently, the findings are compared with the verses in the Shahnameh that describe Goya-derakht. Additionally, the depictions of Goya-derakht in five illustrated manuscripts of the Shahnameh are identified, analyzed using a descriptive-analytical approach, and compared with Ferdowsi’s descriptions of Goya-derakht. The findings suggest that Goya-derakht in the Shahnameh is derived from the Iranian creation myth. Both Goya-derakht and the myth of Mashya and Mashyana share symbolic elements such as the connection between humans and plants, dual gender identity, and the concept of farr-e izadi (divine glory). The analysis of ancient texts and Shahnameh illustrations reveals that the transformation of the myth of Mashya and Mashyana over time led to the formation of Goya-derakht, which reflects its mythological roots symbolically in the Shahnameh.

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Painting Graphic Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 16 March 2025

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