Genealogy of Defect in Maternal Lineage: A Re-reading of the Identity of Fereydun’s Sons in Epic and Folk Literature

In the epic and mythological worldview of ancient Iran, the "Father" serves as the locus of legitimacy, stability, and the transmission of Farrah (Divine Glory). Based on this ontology, the son is considered the intrinsic heir of the father's essence, inheriting both his good and bad traits. The story of Fereydun and his three sons (Salm, Tur, and Iraj) in the Shahnameh faces a profound challenge within this paradigm. Fereydun is a charismatic king who has liberated the world from the evil of Zahhak; yet, his two eldest sons (Salm and Tur) not only deviate from the path of justice but also commit the sin of "fratricide." The fundamental question of this research is: How can sons with a demonic nature be born from a father who is the manifestation of absolute good and divinely confirmed? This genealogical-ethical paradox remains silent in the official text of the Shahnameh. However, an investigation into the underlying layers of folk literature, Naqqali scrolls, and histories influenced by Semitic narratives reveals a different answer: "Attribution of defect to the maternal lineage." This study attempts to analyze the identity of the mothers of Salm and Tur (Shahrnaz and Arnavaz) to discover the reasons for the transformation of Salm and Tur's identity in other narratives, including non-official ones, and to explain the function of this change in justifying the sons' wickedness.