Iranian Studies

Iranian Studies

Was Frēdōn, the Possessor of Three Powers, a Warrior, a Physician, or a Prophet? (Based on the Three Texts: Sūdgar Nask, Waršt-Mānsar Nask and the Manichaean Text “dr”)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Poorchista Goshtasbi Ardakany 1
Zohreh Zarshenas 2
Farzaneh Goshtasb 2
1 Ph.D Candidate of Ancient Iranian Languages, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran
2 Professor of Ancient Iranian Languages, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jis.2025.389555.1336
Abstract
Frēdōn is one of the most famous mythical heroes of Iran who defeated Zahhak and imprisoned him on Mount Damavand. In this study, the myths about Frēdōn that appear in the Sūdgar Nask and Waršt-Mānsar Nask, along with the Manichaean text “dr”, in which Frēdōn’s name is mentioned as the destroyer of fever and disease, are compared with the Avesta and Zand to determine whether the myth of Frēdōn in these texts is authentic or not. According to the investigations, it was found that the myth of “beating and imprisoning Zahhak by Frēdōn” is an original myth that is also found in Avesta and is also mentioned in the Shahnameh, Garshaspnameh, and Kushnameh with similarities to the Sūdgar Nask. The myth of “Frēdōn’s use of enchantment and magic to overcome the Māzandar Daēvas” is not original and was created by the guest verses in this chapter, and it has not been mentioned in the Shahnameh and Kushnameh.The myth of “Frēdōn’s healing and his struggle with fever and illness” that appears in the Manichaean text “dr” is an original myth and appears in the Avesta. The myth of “Ohrmazd’s offering the mission of religion to Frēdōn and Frēdōn’s disobedience to Ohrmazd” that is mentioned in the Waršt-Mānsar Nask is a created myth and is made by the guest verses mentioned in this chapter.
Keywords
Sūdgar Nask '
Waršt-Mānsar Nask '
Manichaean texts '
Frēdōn '
Shahnameh '
'
Myth
Subjects
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Iranian Studies
Volume 15, Issue 4
Winter 2026
Pages 129-150