Accounts and narratives of the ancient Iranian texts and sources of the Islamic period concerning Fereydun indicate that this Iranian dragon-slayer hero has been known for his three powers, that is “fighting powers,” “medical skills,” and “sorcery arts”. On the other hand, his name, Fereydun (Middle Persian “Frēdōn”, Avestan “θraētaona-“), seems to mean “the owner of three powers” or “the one who has three powers.” Accordingly, there could be a probable relationship between the meaning of Fereydun’s name and his abovementioned three powers. The review of reports on Fereydun in various Iranian and Indian sources proves such a relationship, shows that probably the word “θraētaona-“ was an adjective originally in remote past and it had being used by Iranians for describing their mythical hero; then, in later times, in consequence of gradual development of the myth, this adjective, as a proper name, has been used instead of the original name of the hero, namely *θrīta Āθwya.
Key words: Fereydun, Θraētaona, having three powers, fighting power, medical skill, sorcery art.
Mowlāi, C. (2009). Meaning of the Name “Fereydun” and Its Relationship With His Three Powers in The IranianMythical and Epical Traditions. New Literary Studies, 42(4), 151-175. doi: 10.22067/jls.v42i4.4228
MLA
Changiz Mowlāi. "Meaning of the Name “Fereydun” and Its Relationship With His Three Powers in The IranianMythical and Epical Traditions". New Literary Studies, 42, 4, 2009, 151-175. doi: 10.22067/jls.v42i4.4228
HARVARD
Mowlāi, C. (2009). 'Meaning of the Name “Fereydun” and Its Relationship With His Three Powers in The IranianMythical and Epical Traditions', New Literary Studies, 42(4), pp. 151-175. doi: 10.22067/jls.v42i4.4228
VANCOUVER
Mowlāi, C. Meaning of the Name “Fereydun” and Its Relationship With His Three Powers in The IranianMythical and Epical Traditions. New Literary Studies, 2009; 42(4): 151-175. doi: 10.22067/jls.v42i4.4228
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