Selection, Acceptance and Features of Ambassador (Safir) in Shahnameh of Firdausi
Subject Areas : Research in Iranian classical literature
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Keywords: Shahnameh Firdausi Ambassador Ambassadorship Safir,
Abstract :
“Ambassador” has a special status in the absolute concept of intermediacy in the Great Book of Hakim-e Tous, Shahnameh of Firdausi. The article reviewed the matter of ambassadorship in allover Shahname and attempted to determine ambiguous and clear viewpoints using a descriptive-analytic method. It explored ambiguous stands i.e. hidden angles and neglected aspects of serious issue of ambassadorship and found new findings about the triple pillars (Sender, Ambassador, Receiver). The article highlighted less studied points regarding clear viewpoints of ambassadorship and showed that the ambassador is not always just a messenger; and since the great part of sender success depends on the selection of a competent ambassador, there were great emphasis on the moralities, and the sympathy of ambassador with the message itself and even his seeming beauty and organs’ symmetry. The findings showed that the status, position and authority limitations of ambassadors were not the same. In addition to routine duties, expert ambassadors had been delegated to make non-determined decision upon their own discretion and condition appropriateness. Ambassadors also applied punctilios based on common customs and personal skills to satisfy the needs of sender which are worth exploring. Reviewing all instances of ambassadors’ acceptance in Shahnameh of Firdausi showed that though there were some special habitudes for accepting the ambassador, the receiver were not forced to follow all habitudes and acceptance orders in all situations, but following orders and habitudes depended on variables like their friendship or hostility relations, the status of sender, the status of ambassador, the message content and so on, and regarding abovementioned issues, the receiver would select some method to encounter with ambassadors, which we will deal with in detail.
