The Persian poem "Sām-nāme" (The Book of Sām), traditionally attributed to Khwāju Kermāni (14th century) but probably the result of a collage of poems from the Safavid period, is presented here in a broad summary interspersed with the most important verses (about 600 couplets). The work recounts the exploits of the valiant Iranian Sām and his endless battles against demons, sorcerers and monsters who prevent his union with his beloved Paridokht, daughter of the Emperor of China. Although the poem is set in a romance framework, it has a predominantly heroic and folkloric-fantastic character and, above all, a religious vision of an ancient Iranian type. Many resonances with Zoroastrian ethics and theology can be discerned in the work, which provides study material for specialists in religious studies as well as philologists and anthropologists. The Book of Sām is also teeming with themes and motifs that can be traced back to an ancient mythical-legendary heritage, such as the bird Simurgh, the sacred hero and the City of Women.
Il poema persiano "Sām-nāme" (Il Libro di Sām) tradizionalmente attribuito a Khwāju Kermāni (XIV sec.), ma probabilmente risultato di un collage di poemi di epoca safavide, è qui presentato in un’ampia sintesi inframezzata dai versi più significativi (ca. 600 distici). L’opera narra le gesta del prode iranico Sām e le sue interminabili lotte contro demoni, maghi e mostri che ostacolano la sua unione con l’amata Paridokht, figlia dell’imperatore di Cina. Il poema, benché inserito in una cornice romanzesca, è tuttavia di prevalente carattere eroico e folklorico-fantastico, e soprattutto s’innesta in una visione religiosa di tipo antico-iranico. Vi si percepiscono numerose risonanze dell’etica e della teologia zoroastriane, per cui l’opera offre materia di studio per gli specialisti di scienze religiose oltre che per filologi e antropologi. Il Libro di Sām pullula, inoltre, di temi e motivi riconducibili a un patrimonio mitico-leggendario antichissimo, come ad esempio l’uccello Simurgh, l’eroe sacro, la Città delle Donne.
Nahid Norozi (2024). Amori e demoni nel "Libro di Sām". Storia di plagi riscritture e collages in un epos persiano cripto-mazdeo, dal XI al XVII sec.,. Milano-Udine : Mimesis.
Amori e demoni nel "Libro di Sām". Storia di plagi riscritture e collages in un epos persiano cripto-mazdeo, dal XI al XVII sec.,
Nahid Norozi
2024
Abstract
The Persian poem "Sām-nāme" (The Book of Sām), traditionally attributed to Khwāju Kermāni (14th century) but probably the result of a collage of poems from the Safavid period, is presented here in a broad summary interspersed with the most important verses (about 600 couplets). The work recounts the exploits of the valiant Iranian Sām and his endless battles against demons, sorcerers and monsters who prevent his union with his beloved Paridokht, daughter of the Emperor of China. Although the poem is set in a romance framework, it has a predominantly heroic and folkloric-fantastic character and, above all, a religious vision of an ancient Iranian type. Many resonances with Zoroastrian ethics and theology can be discerned in the work, which provides study material for specialists in religious studies as well as philologists and anthropologists. The Book of Sām is also teeming with themes and motifs that can be traced back to an ancient mythical-legendary heritage, such as the bird Simurgh, the sacred hero and the City of Women.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.