Document Type : Review Article

Author

• Najmedin Gilani

َAssistant Professor of History, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Much research has been done on motherhood, patriarchy, feminism, and filial piety, but so far no in-depth and serious research has been done on the position of the brother in ancient Iran and its remnants in the culture of the Kurdish and Lor people. The purpose of this study is to bring examples of the position of the brother in ancient Iran and his preference for children and husband (example of the story of the woman of Intafern and Hanboui), The reflection of this story in the popular culture and literature of the Kurdish people and Lor; Also, the study of the remnants of ancient brotherhood in the culture of the Kurdish and Lor people. There are many proverbs, poems, songs and beliefs about the place of the brother in the culture of the Kurdish and Lor people, all of which express the remnants of the brotherhood of the ancient world in the culture of these people. This research seeks to find answers to the following questions: This research seeks to find answers to the following questions: Why is a brother still preferable to a husband and wife in popular culture and literature? Why is the niece considered to be of uncle descent? And why in the epic literature are the people of Lor avenging the murder of their nieces and nephews? In this research, an attempt has been made to address this issue in a descriptive-analytical manner, citing library sources and oral interviews.

Keywords

• Fraternity
• Uncle
• Culture
• Kurdish
• Lor

Extended Abstract

Remnants of ancient brotherhood in the culture of Kurdish and Lor people.

Many studies have been conducted on matriarchy, patriarchy, gynarchy, filiarchy, but not any systematic and serious study has been done on the status of “brother” in ancient Iran and its remains in the culture of Lurs and Kurds. The study aimed to provide readers with some examples of the status of “brother” in ancient Iran and its superiority to the child and husband and its manifestation in the culture and folklore of Lurs and Kurds. There are many proverbs, poems, songs, and beliefs on the status of brother in the culture of Lur and Kurd peoples that show filiarchy in their long history.

Moreover, uncle or “brother of mother” has still a high status in the culture of Kurds and Lurs, so that nephews/nieces are linked with their uncle (brother of mother) when introducing their lineal kinship or addressing them. The study sought to answer the question: Why is brother yet superior to sons and husbands in folk literature and culture of Lurs and Kurds? Why are uncles (brothers of mother) avengers of nephews/nieces?

Introduction

Research on the folks’ culture and beliefs from social history and cultural anthropology perspectives is valuable and can shed light on many unknown issues. Though several researches have been conducted on the thought and beliefs of Zagros peoples, many things are unknown that need to be investigated, especially the cultural heritage of ancient people among contemporary Iran that have survived through the history. In spite of all cultural changes among peoples of Zagros, there are traditions and beliefs that, from cultural anthropology perspective, one can find their roots in the myth world of very old times. One of the cultural survivals among Lurs and Kurds is filiarchy.

Method

The study used library resources and interviews and applied a descriptive-analytical method. It tried to provide a well-documented answer for the research question using history of mentalities and Jung’s archetypes theory.

Conclusion

The results show that filiarchy has survived from ancient times to the current generation through oral tradition and is alive among Lur and Kurd peoples. The story dates all back to Achaemenid era. Darius gave Intaphrens’ wife the chance of saving one of relatives, that is, her husband, child, or brother. She saved her brother. The same story, though with different wordings and forms and changing the protagonists, has survived all over history and is alive in the culture and folklore of Lurs and Kurds; The story that lives today in the form of poetic folktales; A repetitive story that by changing characters, continues sometime in Achaemenid era and in Zahhak story in Iran after Islam, in Afsharid period and in contemporary era. The reason of this continuation is the content of the story which is the high value and status of brother in Iranian culture, as if it was not acceptable to Iranians it would have been impossible to survive through history. Moreover, part of our history is in the collective unconscious of people; so it transfers unintentionally.

Also, in Lurs’ and Kurds’ culture, like ancient peoples, child is known and introduced with uncles. Proverbs as well as epic songs and poems show the high status of brother and uncle (brother of mother).