An Inquiry into the Components of Ancient Iranian Resistance Literature

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature at Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

10.22103/jrl.2025.25496.3057

Abstract

The fight against oppression and injustice, and resistance in the face of threats to the material and spiritual assets of human beings, is by no means a recent phenomenon; rather, it is deeply rooted in the innate disposition and the intellectual and religious beliefs of Iranians since ancient times. Although in various historical periods, political and social conditions, and weak governing structures have hindered the emergence of its national manifestation, extant texts from different eras attest to the indomitable and valiant spirit of the Iranian people. This study sought to substantiate this proposition within the written heritage of Iranians, namely the surviving texts from ancient Iran. From very early times, Iran has been confronted with numerous wars and upheavals; consequently, its people have continually lived under pressure and have struggled persistently to preserve their land and ancient culture. In addition to territorial conflicts, ancient religious beliefs and a worldview grounded in dualistic concepts, such as Ahura Mazda and Ahriman, good and evil, light and darkness, and so forth, provided a fertile context for the manifestation of a spirit of resistance against notions perceived as evil, darkness, and wrongdoing. Among the most significant surviving texts of this period are the Avesta, the Behistun Inscription, Yadgar-e Zariran (The Memorial of Zarir), Letter of Tansar, and Karnameh-ye Ardashir-e Babakan (The Book of the Deeds of Ardashir, Son of Babak). Employing a descriptive–analytical method and drawing upon library-based sources, this study extracted the components of resistance embedded in these texts. The findings indicated the presence of strong markers of a spirit of endurance and resistance against factors threatening cultural and territorial integrity, in ways that correspond to the historical context and the intellectual, religious, and environmental frameworks of people in ancient times.

Keywords

References

References [in Persian]
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Online Source:
 
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Journal of Resistance Literature
Volume 17, Issue 33
February 2025
Pages 108-126

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