In Shahnameh and other epic poems where the reflection of myths is the life of primitive and ancient Iranian communities, animals and other creatures are of great importance and go beyond their normal features and position. Myths that are the facts from the thoughts and ideas of the early man are mixed with different stories and are expressed symbolically and mysteriously.  Among the animals, “leopard” is one of the role players whose name has been mentioned in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and other epic poems and has accounted for themes and motifs. This paper seeks to examine the place of leopard in past myths and civilization as well as in the most valuable epic work, i.e. Shahnameh, and four other epic poems (Garshasbnameh, Kushnameh, Bahmannameh and Borzunameh) and extract, classify and analyze the most important mythological-epic and ritual motifs of this animal. These motifs includ...

In Shahnameh and other epic poems where the reflection of myths is the life of primitive and ancient Iranian communities, animals and other creatures are of great importance and go beyond their normal features and position. Myths that are the facts from the thoughts and ideas of the early man are mixed with different stories and are expressed symbolically and mysteriously.  Among the animals, “leopard” is one of the role players whose name has been mentioned in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and other epic poems and has accounted for themes and motifs. This paper seeks to examine the place of leopard in past myths and civilization as well as in the most valuable epic work, i.e. Shahnameh, and four other epic poems (Garshasbnameh, Kushnameh, Bahmannameh and Borzunameh) and extract, classify and analyze the most important mythological-epic and ritual motifs of this animal. These motifs includ...