Common Functions of Metal, Water, and Fire in Iranian Mythology

Metal, fire, and water have always been the symbols of holiness and purity in Iranian beliefs and mythology. The mysteriousness of these three essences in the eyes of the ancestors has led to the creation of numerous mythological halos. Different characteristics and functions have been attributed to these halos, but this variation is just superficial. In the present study, attempt has been made to reveal the characteristics, functions, and uses of metal, fire, and water as well as their links with eternity and other concepts by removing the unstable variation of the functions of the mythological halos attributed to them and going beyond their superficial aspects.