Riddle in Ancient Iran: Riddle Debate in the Matikan-e Yusht Faryan

Yaşar Yeşim Amaç

Article Details

Riddle in Ancient Iran: Riddle Debate in the Matikan-e Yusht Faryan

Authors:

Yaşar Yeşim Amaç

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Dilbilim (Diğer)

Journal:

Şarkiyat Mecmuası Issue 44, pp.283-296

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001318869

pISSN:

1307-5020

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The riddle, a literary genre with ancient roots, persists in both oral and written tradition to this day. Its presence in Iranian literature can also be traced to ancient times. Matikan-e Yusht Faryan, among the earliest surviving examples of the riddle genre from ancient Iran, is believed to have been written in Middle Persian during the Sassanid period. This text narrates the intellectual clash between Yusht Faryan, a devout follower of the Zoroastrian faith, and Aht, a sorcerer, as they engage in a battle of wits through a series of riddles to test their knowledge. According to the narrative, Yusht Faryan resides in a city named Frasn Wizaran The Riddle Solvers, safeguarded by Urmuzd, the Zoroastrian god, and aided by the Amesha Spentas. Aht, aspiring to take control of the city, declares his intent to pose 33 questions to the citys young people aged under 15 years, threatening death to those unable to answer. He executes 900 mubeds religious men and 9 girls from the Espitman clan when they fail to answer his first question. However, a 15-year-old boy named Yusht Faryan successfully answers all his questions, receiving assistance from Urmuzd and the Amesha Spentas when needed. Subsequently, Yusht Faryan poses three questions to Aht, who is unable to answer them and receives no help from Ahriman and the giants. Thus, Yusht Faryan emerges victorious in the riddle debate and kills Aht. This study examines the riddles in Matikan-e Yusht Faryan through Persian translation, categorizing them based on their thematic subjects.

 The riddle, a literary genre with ancient roots, persists in both oral and written tradition to this day. Its presence in Iranian literature can also be traced to ancient times. Matikan-e Yusht Faryan, among the earliest surviving examples of the riddle genre from ancient Iran, is believed to have been written in Middle Persian during the Sassanid period. This text narrates the intellectual clash between Yusht Faryan, a devout follower of the Zoroastrian faith, and Aht, a sorcerer, as they engage in a battle of wits through a series of riddles to test their knowledge. According to the narrative, Yusht Faryan resides in a city named Frasn Wizaran The Riddle Solvers, safeguarded by Urmuzd, the Zoroastrian god, and aided by the Amesha Spentas. Aht, aspiring to take control of the city, declares his intent to pose 33 questions to the citys young people aged under 15 years, threatening death to those unable to answer. He executes 900 mubeds religious men and 9 girls from the Espitman clan when they fail to answer his first question. However, a 15-year-old boy named Yusht Faryan successfully answers all his questions, receiving assistance from Urmuzd and the Amesha Spentas when needed. Subsequently, Yusht Faryan poses three questions to Aht, who is unable to answer them and receives no help from Ahriman and the giants. Thus, Yusht Faryan emerges victorious in the riddle debate and kills Aht. This study examines the riddles in Matikan-e Yusht Faryan through Persian translation, categorizing them based on their thematic subjects.

 The riddle, a literary genre with ancient roots, persists in both oral and written tradition to this day. Its presence in Iranian literature can also be traced to ancient times. Matikan-e Yusht Faryan, among the earliest surviving examples of the riddle genre from ancient Iran, is believed to have been written in Middle Persian during the Sassanid period. This text narrates the intellectual clash between Yusht Faryan, a devout follower of the Zoroastrian faith, and Aht, a sorcerer, as they engage in a battle of wits through a series of riddles to test their knowledge. According to the narrative, Yusht Faryan resides in a city named Frasn Wizaran The Riddle Solvers, safeguarded by Urmuzd, the Zoroastrian god, and aided by the Amesha Spentas. Aht, aspiring to take control of the city, declares his intent to pose 33 questions to the citys young people aged under 15 years, threatening death to those unable to answer. He executes 900 mubeds religious men and 9 girls from the Espitman clan when they fail to answer his first question. However, a 15-year-old boy named Yusht Faryan successfully answers all his questions, receiving assistance from Urmuzd and the Amesha Spentas when needed. Subsequently, Yusht Faryan poses three questions to Aht, who is unable to answer them and receives no help from Ahriman and the giants. Thus, Yusht Faryan emerges victorious in the riddle debate and kills Aht. This study examines the riddles in Matikan-e Yusht Faryan through Persian translation, categorizing them based on their thematic subjects.

 Bilmece, kökleri çok eski çağlara dayanan, sözlü ve yazılı edebiyat aracılığıyla günümüze kadar ulaşan bir edebiyat türüdür. İran edebiyatında da bilmece türünün kökleri çok eskiye dayanır. Eski İrandan günümüze ulaşan bilmece türünde yazılı ilk örnek metinlerden Matikan-i Yuşt Feryanın Sasanîler döneminde Orta Farsça dilinde yazıya geçirildiği düşünülür. Bu metinde Zerdüşti dininin takipçilerinden Yuşt Feryan ile ruhanilerden büyücü Ahtın bilgilerini test etmek için bilmeceler üzerinden yaptıkları zeka savaşı anlatılır. Metindeki anlatıma göre, Yuşt Feryan, Frasn Wizaran Bilmece Çözenler adlı şehirde yaşar. Bu şehir Zerdüştî dininin tanrısı Urmuzd ve onun yardımcıları Emşaspendler tarafından korunmaktadır. Bu şehri ele geçirmek isteyen büyücü Aht, şehirdeki on beş yaşını geçmeyen gençlere otuz üç soru soracağını, soruların cevabını bilemeyenleri öldüreceğini bildirir. Sorduğu ilk soruyu bilemeyen dokuz yüz mubed din adamı ile Espitman soyundan dokuz kızı öldürür. Yuşt Feryan adındaki on beş yaşındaki genç onun bütün sorularına cevap verir. Yuşt Feryan bilemediği sorular için Urmuzd ve Emşaspendlerden yardım alır. Yuşt Feryan bütün soruları cevapladıktan sonra kendisi de Ahte üç soru sorar; ancak Aht soruları bilemez. Ehrimen ve devler Ahte yardım etmez. Bunun üzerine Yuşt Feryan bilmece münazarasında galibiyet kazanır ve Ahti öldürür. Bu çalışmada Matikan-i Yuşt Feryan metninin Farsça tercümesi üzerinden bilmeceler ele alınmış ve bu bilmecelerin konularına göre türleri incelenmiştir.

Article Details

Riddle in Ancient Iran: Riddle Debate in the Matikan-e Yusht Faryan

Authors:

Yaşar Yeşim Amaç

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Dilbilim (Diğer)

Journal:

Şarkiyat Mecmuası Issue 44, pp.283-296

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001318869

pISSN:

1307-5020

Matikan-e Yusht Faryan

Aht

Ancient Iran

riddle

debateMatikan Yuşt Feryan

Aht

Eski İran

bilmece

münazara

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Yaşar Yeşim Amaç

Publisher: Istanbul University

Main Topics: Dilbilim (Diğer)

Journal: Şarkiyat Mecmuası Issue 44, pp.283-296

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 4/2024

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001318869

pISSN: 1307-5020

Issues

Authors:

Yaşar Yeşim Amaç

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Dilbilim (Diğer)

Journal:

Şarkiyat Mecmuası Issue 44, pp.283-296

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001318869

pISSN:

1307-5020