A Comparative study of Ardavirafnameh and Seyr-ol-Ebad by Sanaie

Allegorical travelogues inspired by religious teachings and traditions appear in literature all around the world. Sey-ol-Ebad Elal-Maad by Sanaie and Ardavirafnameh are among the most significant travelogues in Persian literature. Ardavirafnameh is a religious and moral allegory, while Seyr-ol-Ebad is philosophical and mystical. Both are written based on a hierarchical order: the former mentions the three stages of heaven and hell based on religious narratives, and the latter regards the theory of stages of wisdom. In both works there are guides for the heroes: in Seyr-ol-Ebad the guide is a wise elderly who is the symbol of active wisdom, and in Ardavirafnameh, two angels named Soroush Paak, and Izad Azar support the hero.
This study attempts, through a descriptive-analytical and comparative approach, to explain the similarities and differences of Ardaviraf nameh and Seyr-ol-Ebad. In this regard, the background for the appearance of these works was studied, and the findings showed that during the time they were being composed, religious controversies and divisions were at their peak. It can therefore be concluded that spiritual and allegorical travelogues were written when freedom was not a pervasive concept, and the writers created these works to console their turbulent inner world.