Mythology & Folklore

(A demon throwing Rostam into the sea) Tortoise Bowl-On-The-Back and the Fox There once was a tortoise sowing seed when a fox stopped by saying “may Gog give you strength.” Soon the seed was ready for reaping and the fox came by to say the same thing as before. He came again at harvest time, but this time he came for his share. The two began to fight, leading to a proposed race. The tortoise had his brother hide in the threshing floor since he knew he couldn’t beat the fox. When the fox got to the barn, he realized he lost. He had been tricked. The greedy are put to shame.  The Story of the Wolf-Bride Once there was a father who had a son and one day an akhund prophesied his son would be torn apart by wolves. The father built an underground chamber for his son to live. As he grew older, it was time for him to marry so the son married the father’s brother’s daughter. In the chamber, the girl turned into a wolf and tore him to pieces. When daylight came, the woman found the dead brid...

  (As-nas Cards in the Brooklyn Museum: Wikipedia) Fayiz and the Peri Wife There once was a married man named Fayiz who was handsome and had a good heart. One day he went to the mountains to play his flute when a maiden woman can to accompany him. They fell in love and she asked to go to her house in the mountains. Fayiz didn't know anything about her, but they went off together and got to her house which was beautiful. She sent for the mulla to wed them.  She said to the mulla that if the man is faithful he will always be happy, but if he isn't faithful, he will constantly be in trouble. They got married and a few years later they had two sons. The wife was always threatening the husband to not share their secret or else he could never see their sons again. The man had a yearning to go home though, and he asked for permission. She cried out and recited something, transporting them to a place where flocks resided. The peri gave him permission to go home as long as he kept the ...

 Persian Tales These Persian Tales were all short stories that accumulated into one big story. There are many Jewish references in regard to Persian Jews. The stories came from Iranian territory which I found to be quite interesting and there were many cultural elements. I enjoyed these stories very much. (Arash the Archer at Saadabad, Tehran) The Wold and the Goat Once upon a time there was nobody on earth but God. There was a goat who had four children and one day he told them to sit back while he goes to retrieve grass for them. He warned them if the wolf comes and knocks on the door, don't open the door. Ask him to slip his hand through the crack and if it's black you know it's the wolf and if it's red you know it's me. Little did they know the wolf had been listening the entire time and he had dyed his hand red with henna.  The wolf came to the door and shoved his red hand through it and the children opened the door. He took off with three children, but Black E...