Bankizadeh Z, Moareknejad R, Hosseini M, Davazdahemami Z. (2014). The Comparative Study of Creation Myth in Zarvan Cult and Myths of Australian Aborigines.
mth.
4(8), : 10
URL:
http://mth.aui.ac.ir/article-1-1969-en.html
1- * MA, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. , As_bankizadeh@yahoo.com
2- MA, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
3- Professor, Faculty of Visual Arts, Art University of Tehran, Iran.
4- MA, Art University of Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (1139 Views)
Creation myths reflect human’s belief in the creation of the world, human beings and their end whose manifestation can also be seen in the belief of Zarvan cult in Iran. Since the idea of world creation has manifestations among all nations, it seems that Creation myth in Iranian and Australian cultures has various common points. To investigate this hypothesis, the Creation myth is studied comparatively-descriptively in the two cultures and its symbols are also explored in order to find their similarities and differences. The clearest similarity between the two cultures is that both of them believe in a superior force which is called Zarvan in Iran and “Wagilag Sisters” among Australian aborigines. Another common feature of these cultures is that Zarvan created Ahuramazda and Ahriman in eternal time, and “Wagilag Sisters” created the world and creatures in “Dream Time” which is a manifestation of eternal time. In Zarvan cult, there are some indications of Ahuramazda and Ahriman as good and evil forces whose manifestations can be found in Lorestan metals, and snake as the force of Ahriman. Symbols like “snake” and “sacred water hole” are considered in the myth of “Wagilag Sisters” which are seen in rock engravings and bark paintings. In addition, snake, rainbow snake, is an ancestral being that lives in the heaven and underground in the sacred water hole. Zarvan gave the power of creation of the world and its creatures to Ahuramazda through Barsam. In turn, Ahuramazda creates the world by “Good Vayo” and “Wagilag Sisters” by sacred “digging sticks” or “stone spears. In these two myths, in addition to creating the world birth is also emphasized.
Article number: 10
Type of Study:
Research |
Subject:
Other