Papers by Kolsoum Ghazanfari
Folklore, Apr 1, 2024
This article aims to introduce, explore, and analyse an oral folk tale called "Ahmad Sādāti and H... more This article aims to introduce, explore, and analyse an oral folk tale called "Ahmad Sādāti and His Companions", common in some Lur villages in Fārs and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces in Iran. The plot and storyline of this tale correspond to those of the myth of Ulysses and the giant Polyphemus in the Odyssey, attributed to Homer. The significance of this study lies in exhibiting the cultural exchange between Greek and local-indigenous subcultures of Iran. Greek and Persian cultures were in constant mutual contact from the mid-sixth century BC until late antiquity, and this contact became closer after Alexander's campaign and the rise of the Seleucids in Iran. The study area is located on the western margins of the Iranian plateau-the birthplace of two great dynasties of Iranian rulers in ancient times-which redoubles the importance of the issue under investigation.
Historical Study of War, 2023
In 36 BC, a unit of the Han Empire's army attacked and defeated the Xiongnu, who were one of the ... more In 36 BC, a unit of the Han Empire's army attacked and defeated the Xiongnu, who were one of the local powers in Central Asia and on the banks of what is now the Talas River. More recently, the Chinese from East Asia and the Parthians from West Central Asia had been trying to expand their influence in the region, and the nomadic tribes of the region could play the role of enemy or ally for both powers. A group of Roman soldiers, captured by the Arsacids during the war with the Romans, were present among the Xiongnu forces. The main question of this article concerns the role the Parthians played in the Battle of Talas. The findings of this study show that in the period under discussion, the Arsacids were trying to expand their influence through direct or indirect military operations as well as political intervention in Central Asia. On the other hand, their conflicting interests with the Han Empire in Central Asia and their enmity with the nomadic tribes of the region forced them to intervene in the political relations of this region. Therefore, they deliberately sent a group of their troops to the region to prevent the Chinese from advancing, which ended in failure.
A Study on the Religious Orientations of Ferdowsi and Daqiqi on the Basis of Zoroastrian Elements of the Shahnameh
The Battle of Til-Tuba (653 BCE) and Its Background Revisited
Journal of Cuneiform Studies, 2023
Most of the information on the Battle of Til-Tuba derives from the narratives found in Assurbanip... more Most of the information on the Battle of Til-Tuba derives from the narratives found in Assurbanipal’s annals, which are both brief and vague. Even though no Elamite documentation of the event is available, this study attempts to provide a clearer picture of this historical episode by comparing the annals with information preserved in a variety of other media. The results indicate that contrary to the report of the annals, Teumman did not initiate the war with Assyria. Rather, internal circumstances in Elam, including unrest and disorder, provided a good opportunity for Assyria to invade that land. Ultimately, the revolts and the betrayal of high-ranking government officials through the surrender of Hidalu laid the grounds for Teumman’s defeat at the Battle of Til-Tuba.
Journal of Iranian Studies, 2023
Primary Chinese sources are considered important for studying Parthian history. The Parthian Empi... more Primary Chinese sources are considered important for studying Parthian history. The Parthian Empire came to power almost simultaneously with the Han Empire and had political, economic, ... relations with it. Therefore, this government has been considered by Chinese sources. The geographical scope of this government, especially in the eastern regions, is one of the issues addressed in these sources, and due to the lack of resources in this period, it can be very useful in explaining this issue and completing the report of Western sources. In the present study, the main question is what range of territory do Chinese sources draw for the Parthians, and what was the Parthian share in this illustration? Our study shows that information from Chinese sources about the Parthian territory is valuable, especially for the eastern borders. The Parthians, on the other hand, seem to have sought to portray their territory as larger than it was in the eyes of the Chinese by defining themselves as the sole superpower of the West, while excluding the Romans from international political and economic relations.
Journal of Family Research, 2023
Family in both Zoroastrianism and Islam is a foundation of social life, thus assigning a position... more Family in both Zoroastrianism and Islam is a foundation of social life, thus assigning a position for the guardianship of the family became necessary; this responsibility was entrusted to the father or the husband and he was the master or guardian of the family. An examination of this issue in Zoroastrianism and Islam revealed many similarities between these two religions. Accordingly, the current study mainly aims to conduct a comparative study of sālārīh (guardianship) in Zoroastrianism and Islam. The research findings analyze the issue of sālārīh (guardianship) in each religion and identifies similarities and differences regarding this issue in these two religions as well.
Religious Studies, 2017
Divorce in Zoroastrian and Islamic Law,” Religious Studies, University of Religions and Denominat... more Divorce in Zoroastrian and Islamic Law,” Religious Studies, University of Religions and Denominations, vol. 4: 8, 105-121 (co-authored with Kolsoum Ghazanfari and Parvin Davari) In Islam and Zoroastrianism certain rules govern the divorce without which it is not valid. An examination of these rules and the legal details involved can shed more light on this important problem. The present study will examine the conditions of divorce and the right to divorce in Islam and Zoroastrianism and the financial obligations that come with the divorce. Our study show that in both religions certain conditions are imposed that make the divorce more difficult. Although there are certain similarities between the two religions, the divorce law in Zoroastrianism went through certain changes as the political situation changed and made the divorce more difficult as a desperate attempt to keep the foundations of Zoroastrian family strong under the rule of Muslims.
Some modern sciences have root in classic art, literature and culture. Remote sensing as a scienc... more Some modern sciences have root in classic art, literature and culture. Remote sensing as a science, art and technology of obtaining information about objects and areas from far distance has been started from the launch of the first Landsat on July 23, 1972. Remote sensing that is getting more and more importance in several domains of humankind’s life has a key role for obtaining information about the Earth. The success of image processing and interpretation requires understanding deep knowledge of the basic elements of remote sensing science, systems, art context and a broad disciplinary of human knowledge of the world. Therefore, the processes of visualization, image and photo interpretation bring to bear not only scientific knowledge but also all of the experiences that a person has obtained through his lifetime. Such learning cannot be exactly measured, precisely programmed or completely understood. In this paper, in order to develop the synergisms of combination scientific knowl...
حضور هخامنشیان در ایونیه: از پایان جنگ پلوپونزی تا صلح آنتالکیداس (404-387 پ.م)
برخلاف نبردهای پارسیان و یونانیان در دورۀ داریوش و خشایارشا، گزارش نبردها در دورههای سپسین (اردش... more برخلاف نبردهای پارسیان و یونانیان در دورۀ داریوش و خشایارشا، گزارش نبردها در دورههای سپسین (اردشیر یکم، داریوش دوم، اردشیر دوم) با روایاتی آشفته، فرعی و پراکنده در منابع یونانی به یادگار ماندهاند. پس از برقراری صلح موسوم به «کالیاس» در سال 449 پ.م. میان پارس و آتن، تاریخنگاری آتنی توجه خود را از هخامنشیان برگرداند و معطوف به رقیب یونانیاش اسپارت کرد. به این ترتیب، تا شصت سال بعد، یعنی تا زمان صلح موسوم به «آنتالکیداس» (صلح شاه) با یک بیتوجهی عمدی نسبت به حضور پیگیرانۀ هخامنشیان در جبهههای غربی و دخالتهای آن دولت در امور جهان یونانی مواجهایم. منابع متأخر تاریخی نیز رخدادهای این دوره را از دریچۀ چشم تبلیغاتی سدۀ چهارم پیش از میلاد آتن که مقتضیات و محدودیتهای خاص خود را داشت، نگریستهاند و پژوهشهای جدید نیز اگرچه تلاش درخوری در نور افشاندن به نکات تاریک و مبهم این دوره داشتهاند، تقریبا همه از زاویهای یونانشناسانه و اکثرا یونانمحورانه به کشاکش پارس و قدرتهای یونانی نگاه کردهاند. پرسش اصلی این پژوهش دربارۀ تداوم نفوذ دولت هخامنشیان در ایونیه و غرب آسیای صغیر در دورۀ پس ا...
Journal of Persianate Studies, 2015
Composed in 10th and 11th centuryce, theShāhnāmeh(The Book of the Kings) contains Iranian ancient... more Composed in 10th and 11th centuryce, theShāhnāmeh(The Book of the Kings) contains Iranian ancient history since the first king, Gayumart/Kayumars, up to the end of Sasanian era. One reason behind its popularity is the poet’s method and art in describing and explaining ancient religious elements in such a way that it does not cause religious bias among Zoroastrians and Muslims. This article shows that Ferdowsi has employed various methods to read religious issues of ancient Iran in the light of the social, cultural, and religious spirit of his own time. In his epic narratives, Ferdowsi paid serious attention to contemporary beliefs and social conditions, and this can account for the popularity of theShāhnāmehand its lasting influence.
تاریخ ایران (The Journal of Iran History), 2021
پژوهش در رابطه با نقش زنان در عرصه های گوناگون تاریخ ایلام از جمله مسائلی است که همواره مورد توجه... more پژوهش در رابطه با نقش زنان در عرصه های گوناگون تاریخ ایلام از جمله مسائلی است که همواره مورد توجه پژوهشگران بوده، با این حال، در تحقیقات انجام شده بیشتر به نقش مذهبی آنان توجه شده و نقش سیاسی کمتر مد نظر قرار گرفته است. مساله یادشده از این نظر بیشتر جلب توجه می کند که به رغم کمبود آثار برجای مانده از تاریخ ایلام، نقش سیاسی زنان به خوبی قابل ردیابی است. نوشتار حاضر درصدد پرداختن به چگونگی و میزان حضور و نقش سیاسی زنان در تاریخ ایلام میانه از سده 15 تا 11 پ.م. به صورت تفکیک شده در قالب دودمان های حکومتگر در این دوره است. در این پژوهش تلاش شده تا علاوه بر استفاده از منابع بومی و داده های باستانشناسی از داده های غیر بومیِ هم دوره نیز استفاده شود تا بتوان به تصویری روشن تر از مبحث مورد نظر دست یافت. نتایج این پژوهش نشان می دهد که زنان علاوه بر اینکه از اعضای مهم خاندان سلطنتی به شمار می رفته اند، شاهان نیز به واسطه آنان بر سریر قدرت می نشستند. در این دوره قدرت زنان چنان افزایش یافته است که حتی در کتیبه ها، شاهان اعطای پادشاهی به خویش را به واسطه آنها دانسته اند. زنان دوره ایلام میانه با استفاده از قدرت و نفوذ خویش برای دست یافتن به مقبولیت اقدامات مهمی از جمله ساخت معابد انجام داده اند که در نوع خود کم نظیر است. نپیر-اسو و نهونته-اوتو دو تن از بانوانی هستند که نقش سیاسی مهمی در تاریخ ایلام میانه داشته اند.
Study on the position of women in various fields of Elam history is one of the issues that have been considered by researchers. The studies, however, mostly has focused more on the religious role of women and less on their political status. This issue draws more attention, for that despite the deficiency of remained historical documents and evidences from Elam, the political role of women can be well traced. The present article seeks to study the manner and extent of the presence and political position of women in the history of Middle Elamite from the 15th to the 11th century BC. in the context of ruling dynasties in this period. The article, in addition to the use of indigenous sources and archaeological data, is attempting to use non-native data of the same period in order to obtain a clearer picture of the subject. Our reviews show that women, in addition to being important members of the royal family, the kings also sat on the throne of power through them. During this period, the power of women has increased so much that even in inscriptions, kings have considered themselves accepted by the gods due to their presence. The women of the Middle Elamite period, using their power and influence to achieve acceptance, have taken important measures, including the construction of temples, which is unique in its kind. Napir-asu and Nahhunte-utu are women who have played an important political role in the history of the Middle Elamite period.
مطالعات تاریخ فرهنگی (Cultural History Studies), 2021
اسطورهها و افسانه¬ها از جلوههای مهم فرهنگ جوامع کهن و باورهای زیست¬شدهي مردمان روزگار باستان... more اسطورهها و افسانه¬ها از جلوههای مهم فرهنگ جوامع کهن و باورهای زیست¬شدهي مردمان روزگار باستان محسوب مي¬شوند. این اسطورهها که اغلب در قالب اوهام، خرافات، باور¬های قومی و دینی و آیینها در عرصهي اجتماعی ظهور و بروز ميیافت، تمام جنبههای زندگی انسان باستانی را در بر میگرفت و به عبارتی جهان شناخت آنان بهشمار میرفت. فلات ایران و بهویژه لبهی غربی آن، جایگاه اقوام و مردمانی با باورها، آیین¬ها و اسطورههای بسیاری است که از روزگار باستان تا به امروز در پناه کوههای زاگرس ¬زيستهاند و امروزه کانون مهمی برای مطالعات اسطورهشناختی و ادبیات عامیانه (فولکلور) بهشمار میآید. از جمله این اقوام، لُرهای زاگرسنشین هستند که در مقالهی پیش رو شماری از بن¬مایههای اسطورهای و عامیانه مرسوم در میان آنان که ریشه در باورها و اسطورههای روزگار باستان دارد، بررسی و تحلیل میشود.
Myths and legends are important manifestations of the culture of ancient societies and the lived beliefs of ancient peoples. These myths, often manifested in the form of illusions, superstitions, ethnic and religious beliefs, and rituals in the social sphere. They encompassed all aspects of ancient human life. The plateau of Iran, especially its western edge is the place of tribes and peoples with many beliefs, rituals and myths, who have lived under the protection of the Zagros Mountains since ancient times. Today, this region is an important center for the study of mythology and folklore. Among these tribes are the Lors who settled in Zagros, which the present article is going to examine and analyze a number of their myths and folklore rooted in the beliefs and myths of ancient times.
Journal of History of Islam and Iran, 2021
Unlike the battles of the Achaemenids and the Greeks in the time of Darius I and Xerxes, the stor... more Unlike the battles of the Achaemenids and the Greeks in the time of Darius I and Xerxes, the story of the war in the later periods (Ardashir I, Darius II, Ardashir II) are preserved in Greek sources with chaotic, secondary and scattered narrations. With the establishment of the so-called Calias peace between Persia and Athens in 449 BC, Athenian historiography turned its attention away from the Achaemenids to their Greek rival Sparta. Thus, in the next 60 years until the so-called Antalcidas (or King's Peace), we will face a deliberate disregard for the Achaemenid presence on the Western fronts and its interference in the affairs of the Greek world. Late historical sources have also viewed the events of this period through the propagandistic eye of the fourth-century BC Athens, which had its own requirements and limitations. The main question of this research is the continued influence of the Achaemenid state in Ionia and western Asia Minor in the post-Peloponnesian period until the peace of 387 BC. Based on this research, it seems that contrary to what has been said a lot, the Persian victories were not achieved only with gold and bribes. In fact, Achaemenids achieved this success through a combination of war and diplomacy over the decades.
JHSS: Journal of Historical Sciences Studies. University of Tehran, 2020
Greco-Persian Wars are among the most important events of ancient history. The most important iss... more Greco-Persian Wars are among the most important events of ancient history. The most important issue regarding studying these wars has been the scarcity of sources. While no Persian or Asian sources have mentioned these wars, Greek sources have detailed them. Herodotus ends his book with the battle of Mycale and the siege of Sestos (479 BC). Other Greek sources retell scattered accounts on these wars that make it difficult to study them after the Battle of Mycale. It is told that the Achaemenids' defeat at the Battle of Mycale and Sestos terminated the Persians' naval presence in the Aegean waters, and the maritime dominance over the main Mediterranean passage to the Black Sea and the western coast of Asia Minor (Ionia) was put an end to. But this article argues that the Achaemenids still had important bases in the Mediterranean sea which enabled them to continue the conflicts up to three decades after the Battle of Mycale until the two sides agreed to a peace called Peace of Callias (449 BC).
جنگهای مادی دولت هخامنشی با یونانیان از مهمترین سرفصلهای تاریخ دورۀ باستان است. مهمترین مسئله در بررسی این جنگ کمبود و یکطرفه بودن منابع است. در حالیکه هیچ منبع ایرانی و شرقی سخنی از این جنگ نزده، منابع یونانی در رأس آنان هرودت به تفصیل جزئیات آن را شرح دادهاند. اما
هرودت به دلیلی ناروشن کتاب خود را با نبرد موکاله و محاصرۀ سِستوس 971 پ.م به پایان رسانده
است. دیگر منابع یونانی روایتهایی آشفته از این جنگها به یادگار گذاشتهاند که بررسیِ جنگها پس از نبرد موکاله را دشوار میکند. بر اساس روایت یونانی، با شکستِ هخامنشیان در نبردِ موکاله و سِستوس حضورِ دریایی پارسیان در آبهای اژه به پایان رسید و چیرگیِ دریایی بر شاهراهِ آبی مدیترانه به دریای سیاه و کرانههای غربی آسیای صغیر از دست رفت، اما بررسیهای انجام شده در این پژوهش نشان میدهد که دولت هخامنشی همچنان پایگاههای دریایی مهمی در مدیترانه داشت که به ادامه درگیریها تا سه دهه پس از نبردِ موکاله انجامید، تا اینکه سرانجام دو طرف به صلح کالیاس 991 پ.م تن دادند.
Ferdowsi’s Presentation of Zoroastrianism in an Islamic Light
Journal of persianate studies 8 (2015) 23-41, 2015
Abstract
Composed in 10th and 11th century CE, the Shāhnāmeh (The Book of the Kings) contains Ira... more Abstract
Composed in 10th and 11th century CE, the Shāhnāmeh (The Book of the Kings) contains Iranian ancient history since the first king, Gayumart/Kayumars, up to the end of Sasanian era. One reason behind its popularity is the poet’s method and art in describing and explaining ancient religious elements in such a way that it does not cause religious
bias among Zoroastrians and Muslims. This article shows that Ferdowsi has employed various methods to read religious issues of ancient Iran in the light of the social, cultural, and religious spirit of his own time. In his epic narratives, Ferdowsi paid serious attention to contemporary beliefs and social conditions, and this can account for the popularity of the Shāhnāmeh and its lasting influence.
A Quarterly Journal of the Stylistic of the Persian Poem and Prose, 2016
A Quarterly Journal of the Stylistic of Persian Poem and Prose, 2014
Hournal of Woman in Culture and Art, 2016
The formation of marriage which is the foundation of family in both Islam and Zoroastrianism depe... more The formation of marriage which is the foundation of family in both Islam and Zoroastrianism depends on certain requirements or conditions. The comparative study of these requirements or conditions shows certain similarities and differences between the two religions, and examining these issues can shed light on the common tradition and shared heritage between the two. The present essay will first study the conditions of marriage from perspective of Zoroastrianism and then compares that standpoint to the Islamic law. The study shows that there are important differences between the two religions. This research deals with one problem from the perspective of the Zoroastrianism and then examines the same problem from the Islamic point of view. Common characteristics in conditions of marriage (age, consent of the guardian, consent of the girl and boy, and their social equality) and in the marriage contact itself (offer and acceptance, representation, witnesses and bride-wealth) between the two legal systems are noteworthy.
Religious Studies, 2018
چکیده
بررسیهای موجود در بیان پیشینه و انگیزههای پایبندی و اجرای آیین ازدواج با نزدیکان یا خوید... more چکیده
بررسیهای موجود در بیان پیشینه و انگیزههای پایبندی و اجرای آیین ازدواج با نزدیکان یا خویدوده از سوی زرتشتیان، عموماً بر شواهدی از آثار تاریخنگاری¬های یونانی و نوشتههایی از قلم غیر ایرانیان و برپایه مفاهیم بهکاررفته در متون فقهی بازمانده به زبان پهلوی اتکا دارد. افزون بر منابع مزبور، سنت یاد شده در منابع اسلامی سده های نخستین هجری نیز گزارش شده، اما تاکنون بررسی دقیقی از میزان همسانی در محتوا بین آثار این اندیشمندان با موضوعیت تاریخی و دینی در مقایسه با منابع زرتشتی انجام نگرفته است. این مقاله درصدد دریافت سه موضوع اساسی در دو گروه منابع است: ۱. خاستگاه اولیه رسم دیرین ازدواج با نزدیکان در تاریخ ایران؛ ۲. میزان گستردگی و نمودار فراوانی این آیین؛ 3. اهداف و انگیزههای استمرار چنین خویشاوندیهایی درمیان زرتشتیان. یادکرد این نکته ضروری است که با توجه به پیشینه اسطوره¬ای و تاکید متون فقهی زرتشتی و نمونه¬های گزارش شده از رواج این گونه خویشاوندی در منابع مختلف اسلامی اظهار نظر قطعی درباره شیوع گسترده و همگانی بودن چنین آیینی به آسانی میسر نیست.
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Papers by Kolsoum Ghazanfari
Study on the position of women in various fields of Elam history is one of the issues that have been considered by researchers. The studies, however, mostly has focused more on the religious role of women and less on their political status. This issue draws more attention, for that despite the deficiency of remained historical documents and evidences from Elam, the political role of women can be well traced. The present article seeks to study the manner and extent of the presence and political position of women in the history of Middle Elamite from the 15th to the 11th century BC. in the context of ruling dynasties in this period. The article, in addition to the use of indigenous sources and archaeological data, is attempting to use non-native data of the same period in order to obtain a clearer picture of the subject. Our reviews show that women, in addition to being important members of the royal family, the kings also sat on the throne of power through them. During this period, the power of women has increased so much that even in inscriptions, kings have considered themselves accepted by the gods due to their presence. The women of the Middle Elamite period, using their power and influence to achieve acceptance, have taken important measures, including the construction of temples, which is unique in its kind. Napir-asu and Nahhunte-utu are women who have played an important political role in the history of the Middle Elamite period.
Myths and legends are important manifestations of the culture of ancient societies and the lived beliefs of ancient peoples. These myths, often manifested in the form of illusions, superstitions, ethnic and religious beliefs, and rituals in the social sphere. They encompassed all aspects of ancient human life. The plateau of Iran, especially its western edge is the place of tribes and peoples with many beliefs, rituals and myths, who have lived under the protection of the Zagros Mountains since ancient times. Today, this region is an important center for the study of mythology and folklore. Among these tribes are the Lors who settled in Zagros, which the present article is going to examine and analyze a number of their myths and folklore rooted in the beliefs and myths of ancient times.
جنگهای مادی دولت هخامنشی با یونانیان از مهمترین سرفصلهای تاریخ دورۀ باستان است. مهمترین مسئله در بررسی این جنگ کمبود و یکطرفه بودن منابع است. در حالیکه هیچ منبع ایرانی و شرقی سخنی از این جنگ نزده، منابع یونانی در رأس آنان هرودت به تفصیل جزئیات آن را شرح دادهاند. اما
هرودت به دلیلی ناروشن کتاب خود را با نبرد موکاله و محاصرۀ سِستوس 971 پ.م به پایان رسانده
است. دیگر منابع یونانی روایتهایی آشفته از این جنگها به یادگار گذاشتهاند که بررسیِ جنگها پس از نبرد موکاله را دشوار میکند. بر اساس روایت یونانی، با شکستِ هخامنشیان در نبردِ موکاله و سِستوس حضورِ دریایی پارسیان در آبهای اژه به پایان رسید و چیرگیِ دریایی بر شاهراهِ آبی مدیترانه به دریای سیاه و کرانههای غربی آسیای صغیر از دست رفت، اما بررسیهای انجام شده در این پژوهش نشان میدهد که دولت هخامنشی همچنان پایگاههای دریایی مهمی در مدیترانه داشت که به ادامه درگیریها تا سه دهه پس از نبردِ موکاله انجامید، تا اینکه سرانجام دو طرف به صلح کالیاس 991 پ.م تن دادند.
Composed in 10th and 11th century CE, the Shāhnāmeh (The Book of the Kings) contains Iranian ancient history since the first king, Gayumart/Kayumars, up to the end of Sasanian era. One reason behind its popularity is the poet’s method and art in describing and explaining ancient religious elements in such a way that it does not cause religious
bias among Zoroastrians and Muslims. This article shows that Ferdowsi has employed various methods to read religious issues of ancient Iran in the light of the social, cultural, and religious spirit of his own time. In his epic narratives, Ferdowsi paid serious attention to contemporary beliefs and social conditions, and this can account for the popularity of the Shāhnāmeh and its lasting influence.
بررسیهای موجود در بیان پیشینه و انگیزههای پایبندی و اجرای آیین ازدواج با نزدیکان یا خویدوده از سوی زرتشتیان، عموماً بر شواهدی از آثار تاریخنگاری¬های یونانی و نوشتههایی از قلم غیر ایرانیان و برپایه مفاهیم بهکاررفته در متون فقهی بازمانده به زبان پهلوی اتکا دارد. افزون بر منابع مزبور، سنت یاد شده در منابع اسلامی سده های نخستین هجری نیز گزارش شده، اما تاکنون بررسی دقیقی از میزان همسانی در محتوا بین آثار این اندیشمندان با موضوعیت تاریخی و دینی در مقایسه با منابع زرتشتی انجام نگرفته است. این مقاله درصدد دریافت سه موضوع اساسی در دو گروه منابع است: ۱. خاستگاه اولیه رسم دیرین ازدواج با نزدیکان در تاریخ ایران؛ ۲. میزان گستردگی و نمودار فراوانی این آیین؛ 3. اهداف و انگیزههای استمرار چنین خویشاوندیهایی درمیان زرتشتیان. یادکرد این نکته ضروری است که با توجه به پیشینه اسطوره¬ای و تاکید متون فقهی زرتشتی و نمونه¬های گزارش شده از رواج این گونه خویشاوندی در منابع مختلف اسلامی اظهار نظر قطعی درباره شیوع گسترده و همگانی بودن چنین آیینی به آسانی میسر نیست.