Reflection of Haft Khan Rostam, Esfandiyar (Rostam-Esfandiyar’s Seven Labours) and Hercules’ Twelve Labours

Myths are stories from the ancient times, and pre-historical adventures which still serve a deeper purpose to reflect some truth, and have been transferred from the past to the future generations. Due to culture exchanges, Iranian and Greek nations had similar and common myths in past. That's why champions like Rostam and Esfandiyar in Iran and Hercules in Greece were sacred and have been treated respectfully. Some myths appear in numbers, for instance seven and twelve. In Ferdowsi's Shahnameh it has been referred to Rostam and Esfandiyar's seven labours and these narrations could be related to twelve labours of Hercules. Investigations into mythological labours will reveal cultural similarities of Iran and Greece. There mythological champions including Rostam, Esfandiyar and Hercules had supernatural capacities. These differences and commonalities will reveal the cultural development pattern of these nations to a high extent.  The common characteristic of these three champions is the selection of the road not or less taken instead of the easy one.