The standpoint of Babylon in Persian mythological beliefs and its manifestation in Persian Literature

Iranshahr is the common name of the lands in Iran’s terrain recognized in Persian mythology and in Pahlavi texts as the land of light and the territory of Ahuramazda. This idea is repeated in geography books in the Islamic era and in Persian literary texts. The result of this view regards Iranshahr as a center for the ancient world which is sacred and should remain intact from the invasion of evil doers. On the other hand, Babylon had been an immense influential civilization in Mesopotamia rising after Summerians and had a great impact on other civilization of Middle East and North of Africa and in particular influenced Europe by its astronomical beliefs. After Cyrus’s capture of Babylon and its incorporation into Iran’s soil, it had been always regarded as part of Iranshar, a fact reflected also in geographic texts. Regarding this issue, Babel like Iran should be seen as a sacred and auspicious land, yet according to Iranian’s beliefs Babylon is assumed a place where demons and sorcerers arise and certain Iran’s miseries proceeds from this place and this is contrary to all the positive attributes given to Iranshahr. Using descriptive analytic approach in this research it is argued that since Babel is located in the west of Iran’s mythological geography where the sun sets, therefore according to cult of Mithras, its adherents believe that such strategic position had brought ominous outcome for the western lands, Babylon included.