نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
This study examines the problem of evil in Iranian mythology, focusing on water-related myths and drawing on Georges Bataille’s theory. Bataille considers evil not merely as the absence of good but as an active, tragic force intrinsically connected to the sacred. Based on this approach, the concept of evil in Iranian myths is interpreted beyond simple moral dichotomies and is understood as a fundamental force within the structure of existence. The myth of Tishter exemplifies this perspective, where the sacrifices offered to Ahura Mazda are not only life-giving forces but also ethical and sacred actions aimed at restoring cosmic order. The battle between Tishter and Apaosha, contrary to purely natural interpretations, encompasses ethical and metaphysical dimensions and reflects the presence of evil within the flow of life and the order of the cosmos. A similar pattern is observed in the Indian tradition in the myth of Indra and Vritra, where acts of sacrifice and killing result in the restoration of cosmic balance and order. These concepts are also reflected in two plays: Nagahan by Abbas Nalbandian and Broken-Winged Angel by Ebrahim Maki. In Nagahan, life-giving elements transform into destructive forces, and the sacrifice of Fereydun is interpreted as a tragic and ontological necessity. In Broken-Winged Angel, the notion of sacrifice is linked to the process of awareness and liberation from human limitations, resembling the experience of escaping Plato’s cave. Despite formal differences, both works emphasize that evil and sacrifice are fundamental components for understanding the sacred and the cosmic order. Within this framework, evil is not merely a destructive force but a medium for perceiving the sacred, attaining awareness, and reconstructing cosmic order.
کلیدواژهها English
