Manifestation of Female Functions in the Lamentations and Dirges of Women in Shahnameh

Woman and her functions are among the most important issues in mythology and epic in a way that Carl Gustav Jung introduces woman-mother as one of his archetypes. Based on the different cultures and societies in which women live, they play different roles in the mythology around the world and in Iran. Women’s functions appeared as goddesses in myths, and as great deeds by great women in epics. The effects of goddesses on women in epics are either direct or indirect. One of the reflections of female functions in epics is their attitude in their lamentations and dirges. This is an analytical-descriptive study to examine the lamentations and dirges of some prominent woman figures in Shahnameh such as Tahmineh, Faranguis, Jarireh, Katayun and her daughters, in order to study their roles such as advice giving, kindness, fertility, fighting with enemies, benevolence, training, etc. These are among the most important functions for mother goddesses and the woman archetype.