Iranian Identity in the poctic Works of the Seljuk Era

One of the most important resources of Iranian identity is the Persian literature. In this study, the Iranian identity was examined in poems of six prominent poets of the Great Seljuk court including Adib Saber Tarmezi, AzraqiHeravi, Anvari, Amir-Ma'azi, Abdul WassaJabali and LamiehGorganiby emphasizing on three categories: 1) application of the terms Iran and Ajam; 2) mythological characters of ancient Iran; 3) Iranian celebrations by Content Analysis method. As the results showed, the term "Iran" was used sixty-seven times and "Ajam" was used ninety times in poems. Thirty-seven mythological characters of ancient Iran were mentioned in these poems. Ten important characters were mentioned 515 times in poems, which indicates the extensive use of Iranian mythology in poems of Seljuk poets. The result also showed that Nowrouz and Mehregan were widely held in the Seljuk court and Seljuk kings encouraged occasional ballades. It was also found that IranianVazirs (ministers) and Diavanids (bureaucrats) supported these poems and greatly contributed to supporting Iranian identity in Seljuks court.