Iranian Persian Language and Literature Promotion Society Research on Mystical Literature HTTPS://JP 4 2 2010 08 23 Narratology of Haftgordan Story (Based on the Narratives of Anushiravan Marzban and Ferdowsi) Narratology of Haftgordan Story (Based on the Narratives of Anushiravan Marzban and Ferdowsi) 103 124 16315 FA Arash Akbari Mafakher Center for Excellence of Ferdowsi Studies in Ferdowsi University of Mashad Roghaye Sheybani Ph.D student of Persian language and literature, Ferdowsi University of Mashad Journal Article 2016 06 14 This article aims at a narratological study of the “Haftgordan story” of Ferdowsi’s <em>Shahnameh</em> and the story of “Afrasyab-ibn Pashang” as narrated by Anushirvan Marzban in <em>Hormozdyar</em>. After a review of the summaries of the two narratives, a comparative structural study of the works coupled with a study of their mythical and ritual origins are presented. These studies show that Ferdowsi’s account of the story is characterized by its bucolic, nationalistic and rationalistic nature as well as the exclusion of some ritual (Rostam as a Zoroastrian hero) and mythical (Afrasyab’s visit to Satan) parts. Although it seems that the exclusion of  ritual parts may have occurred some time before Ferdowsi, it is quite probable that the omission of mythical parts was his own decision. Conversely, Anushiravan’s narrative, originating from priestly order with emphasis on the teachings of Mazdisnai, is more original and unified, and it enjoys from an equally mythical and ritual deep structure that is more in harmony with the similar patterns in Persian stories. This story particularly plays an important role in the analysis of the Persian epic in its transmission from priestly to bucolic narration. This article aims at a narratological study of the “Haftgordan story” of Ferdowsi’s <em>Shahnameh</em> and the story of “Afrasyab-ibn Pashang” as narrated by Anushirvan Marzban in <em>Hormozdyar</em>. After a review of the summaries of the two narratives, a comparative structural study of the works coupled with a study of their mythical and ritual origins are presented. These studies show that Ferdowsi’s account of the story is characterized by its bucolic, nationalistic and rationalistic nature as well as the exclusion of some ritual (Rostam as a Zoroastrian hero) and mythical (Afrasyab’s visit to Satan) parts. Although it seems that the exclusion of  ritual parts may have occurred some time before Ferdowsi, it is quite probable that the omission of mythical parts was his own decision. Conversely, Anushiravan’s narrative, originating from priestly order with emphasis on the teachings of Mazdisnai, is more original and unified, and it enjoys from an equally mythical and ritual deep structure that is more in harmony with the similar patterns in Persian stories. This story particularly plays an important role in the analysis of the Persian epic in its transmission from priestly to bucolic narration. https://jpll.ui.ac.ir/article_16315_a6b5715a29f0e0d42b6d90edb643f7b9.pdf