Lesson Objective: Students will investigate the relation of art, literature, and culture by studying the symbolism of birds in general, and Simurgh in particular, with regard to the Persian culture. The Image of Simurgh سیمرغ in the...
moreLesson Objective: Students will investigate the relation of art, literature, and culture by studying the symbolism of birds in general, and Simurgh in particular, with regard to the Persian culture. The Image of Simurgh سیمرغ in the Shahnama The image of birds and flights has been used as a symbol of the ascension of the human soul in art and literature of various cultures. From the deities and angels of the ancient Near East to the winged souls of Plato's Phaedrus and the Bibles' angels, the winged souls were depicted as the one who had the power to lift the soul to paradise. As a result, the symbolism of flight has been used to highlight the ascension of the soul and metaphors of birds flying expressed various modes of mystical experience. The soul, according to all the bird symbolism, "ascends like a heavenly bird to find its identity." In the Shahnama, Simurgh is a supernatural bird and the helper of humanity. Simurgh is known to be the symbol of the divine help غیبی امداد to human in Iranian mythology and Persian literature. Simurgh appears first in the story of Zal .زال When King سام Sam's son, Zal, is born, he has hair as white as snow. Sam, who perceives the baby as a demon, orders to take him to the Alborz mountain and leave him there. But the magical Simurgh finds Zal and carries him to her nest. Simurgh then takes care of Zal as one of her own. Years later, in his dream, Sam is reminded of his bad behavior toward his son. Thus, he decides to find Zal. As he finds Zal at the outskirt of the mountain, he decides to take him to his castle, but Zal hesitates and does not want to leave Simurgh. Simurgh, on the other hand, sends Zal toward his father, Sam, while giving
