The Role and Function of Religious and Historical Characters in Iranian Folktales

Myths and stories have kept their link with history and religion as a branch of popular literature and have provided an appropriate field for recreation of historical and religious figures. This essay has studied the four-volume collection of Iranian stories utilizing a descriptive-analytical approach and examined the historical-religious characters appearing in these stories. The results of the research show that these characters have appeared in the thirty nine stories from the collection of Iranian stories by Enjavi Shirazi - as the statistical population of this research. The historical and religious characters and celebrities studies are as follows in order of frequency: Solomon, Imam Ali, Iblis(Devil), Alexander, Khidr, Prophet Muhammad, Abbas and Zakaria. The Prophets, the Imams and Awlia - o - Allah (lovers and supporters of the Lord) are the most remarkable characters supporting the heroes of the story. Often, these characters appear in opposition to the two forces of "the good and the evil", and they help the hero in the challenges that the anti-hero has created for him. Among these, Solomon because of the relationship between him and the supernatural and surreal creatures who constantly have a rich presence in the stories, and objects associated with him, they are the most abundant forces supporting the heroes of the stories. Stories such as Zechariah's testimony or Alexander's personality in adventures like seeking life water have been recreated in accordance with popular beliefs.