A Comparative Study of the Narratives of Tomb Construction in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and the Median and Achaemenid Rock-Cut Tombs (With an Emphasis on Cultural and Ritualistic Reflections)

Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license

Authors

1 Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.

2 Department of Persian Language and Literature, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh is not merely an epic work; it serves as a comprehensive mirror reflecting the diverse cultures and rituals of ancient Iranian societies. The rites related to the burial of the dead, particularly the construction of rock-cut tombs (dokhme), form a significant part of these documented customs, existing during a specific historical period.

This research aims to investigate the Shahnameh’s narrative on dokhme-building for kings and heroes and compare it with the characteristics and rituals evident in Median and Achaemenid rock-cut tombs. The construction of such tombs for royalty was a hallmark of Median and Achaemenid art and archaeology, and corresponding architectural features can be traced within the Shahnameh. Employing a comparative-interpretive approach within cultural archaeology, this study analyzes the Shahnameh’s textual data against the architectural and archaeological evidence of Median and Achaemenid gordakhmeh. The significance of this research lies in its potential to uncover traces of Median and Achaemenid kings, culture, and rituals embedded within Ferdowsi’s epic. The findings confirm that the Shahnameh refers to burials in rock-cut tombs for certain figures, structures for which parallels can be observed in surviving ancient tombs."

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References

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Iranian History of Culture
Volume 2, Issue 2
September 2025
Pages 225-244

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History

  • Receive Date: 17 September 2025
  • Revise Date: 29 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 30 November 2025
  • Publish Date: 23 September 2025

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