Mythical Implications of Cup in Classic Literature

Jām (cup) is one of the main themes frequently used in Persian poetry. In Persian literature there emerged a new trend under the name of “Khamriye Sorayi” (poems on wine) due to the frequently used theme of cup, and a number of well-known poets were involved in its emergence. Using the word “cup” led to forming such compounds as Jām-e Jam (cup of Jamshid), Jām-e Jahān Namā (cup of orrery) and Jām-e Jahān Bin (cup to display the world) and paved the way for the further use of this word in mystical literature. The early legends, myths and historical narratives in which the word “cup” had been mentioned could be considered the origin for the realization of the theme in later literary works. Those early narratives reveal the cup as belonged to either Jamshid or Kay khosrow. The present research is an attempt to study – through a historical review – the concept of the cup and its being the focus of interest in verse and prose literature as well as the way poets have dealt and acknowledged the theme in their works.