A Research about Homay

Homay is a well-known osprey which belongs to predator group. Popularity of this bird in Persian literature is because of its mythological position, as the shadow of this bird over the head of everyone brings him happiness and even makes him king. In ornithology, this bird is placed in Vulture family. Homa (Homia, Hooma or Homaie or Homiay) in Avesta means happy. In Shahnameh, there is a reference to “Homay peykar” (Homay body) awl. Also in Avesta, there is a reference to a bird called Warghan, which splendor was separated from Jamshid's body in the form of this bird. Some called Warghan as Symorgh or royal falcon and some, following Professor F. Wolf, called it falcon. Dr. Moien stated that Warghan is one of Homay’s meanings. Warghan bird is mistaken by Symorgh, but in fact Warghan is modern Homay. Although Homay is a famous bird there are scarce writings about it so that in 7 volumes of articles indexd by Iraj Afshar, which include 1908-1998, there is no article about it. This holds true in Iranica Encyclopedia, too. Thus we can say that this is the first article about Homay in Persian language.