The Hero's Seven-Stage Trials

The story of epic heroes passing from several dangerous phases is a Indo-European motif that is called seven-phase / multi-phase adventure. The ritual/ mythical basis is hero’s initiation and a proof of his heroic maturity. In Iranian heroic tales there are many warriors other than Rostam and Esfandyar, such as Faramarz, Shahryar, Homay, Rostam (for second time), Bahman, Sam, Jamshid and Jahanbakhsh also pass from several (five, six, seven & ten) stages. This motif has some examples in non-Iranian tales.The important point in Iranian tales of seven-/multi-stage journeys is use of mythical elements and monstrous beings as obstacles of phases, existence of guides, several roads and existence of a dragon in the third phase.Passing from trials to gain access to perfection and a high rank or goal is a similar theme between these epic journeys and seven phases in mysticism and Mithraism which are separate aspects of one ancient subject.Classic Persian spelling of haft-khan has been haft-khwan but the author believes it should be spelled as ‘haft-khan