The Hero's Journey in Kār-Nāmag ī Ardashīr ī Pāpakān: A Mythological Approach

Kār-Nāmag ī Ardashīr ī Pāpakān (The Book of the Deeds of Ardeshir, Son of Papak), a mythological and epic text in Middle Persian (Pahlavi) language, introduces the founder of the Sassanid state as a hero and a mythological figure. The main question of the present research is why and how this text confronted with the rival, Parthian discourse, and tried to dominate its own discourse. The important hypothesis of the research is that human, natural and supernatural forces in this narrative, in coordination with each other, have presented a new discourse that refers to another type of thought and, consequently, another kind of lifestyle. In the narration of Kār-Nāmag, by the efforts of himself and his allies, as well as with the help of other characters and absorbing his competitors, the hero engages in a continuous battle. The present study, with a mythological approach and based on Joseph Campbell's hero's journey steps, examines the influential factors leading to the complex path to victory. The present study uses a descriptive-analytical method to explain the reason for the hero's journey. Through the narration of Kār-Nāmag, it becomes clear how the country saved from disunion and the kingdom of Iranshahr maintained its cohesion. Each of the characters in the book plays a role in leading Iranshahr back to national unity and is reminiscent of the role of the Iranian mythological liberation figures.