Analysis of the Anthropological Concept of "Homeland" in Shahnameh (Based on Analysis of Place Structures)

"Shelter" is one of the basic human archetypes that is embodied in the "homeland"; A body for the emergence of the worldview and social structure of people with common cultural, political, linguistic, and historical characteristics. Anthropologists have proposed two components to the definition of "homeland": the originality of the border and what is seen within the borders. According to this issue, land, government, and enemy are components that each have a share in creating this concept and according to the paradigm of each historical period, it becomes more or less important. In Shahnameh, "Iran" or "Iranshahr" is the homeland in which all narrations are formed; But the fusion of real and surreal places, mythical and historical governments, and various enemies in Shahnameh makes it difficult to identify the homeland. "Place" is the most important and obvious component for defining the concept of homeland, so in this study, in order to obtain the definition of "homeland", the "places" of Shahnameh are divided, described, and analyzed. "Surreal places" are a reflection of the Iranian mentality about the settlement and the ideal king, and "real places" depict governmental and social structures. The study of real places and surreal places reveals the fact that "homeland" in Shahnameh is a mental, collective concept and includes a sphere of civilization; it is a collection of cities and people that are interconnected and managed by a powerful central government and protected from enemy damage.