The Status of Kaviani Flag in Shahnameh of Ferdowsi

In the wars between Iran and Aniran, Kaviani flag had a high and critical status. This flag was significant in that sometimes it was impossible to continue to fight without raising it. Iranians would try to hoist the flag during the war no matter what it takes. On the other hand, Touranians too knew the important status of the flag, so when they would encounter even a ripped flag, they would loudly shout that “Iran’s force is in this flag”. Thus, they would try to fail Iranians by possessing it. What was the significance of Kaviani flag that even a ripped part of it would change the end of the war and why would Iranians and Aniranis do anything to possess it? In this research, different evidence from the world’s mythological stories are studied, and it is concluded that Kaviani flag has nothing to do with Kaveh the Blacksmith and was more than just a simple flag. As Iranian’s idol, it is linked to the past when the primitive men would leave their life as a pledge with an object. Evidently, they had no fear of death as long as the object was sound and safe. However, men who had pledged their life would think that any damage to the object means they are doomed to failure and death. Therefore, victory or failure of Iranians in war depended upon raising or destruction of Kaviani flag.