Namaeh Farhangistan

Namaeh Farhangistan

A Study of the Flower Name Hamāg Wahār in the Bundahishn and Classical Persian Texts

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Member of the faculty of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The Bundahishn is the oldest Iranian text that presents a list of various species of plants. "Given its nature as a religious and mythical text rather than a botanical or medicinal one, the Bundahishn does not easily allow for the identification of flowers and plants." In chapter 16a, flowers are given a special mythical status without botanical descriptions, and a list of 30 fragrant flowers is presented, each associated with one of the 30 Amesha Spentas.
"Understanding the nature of these flowers, and exploring their linguistic, onomastic, or botanical aspects, is only possible through their usage and continuity in classical Persian texts, particularly in pharmacognostic works such as Al-Saydana by Al-Biruni and Makhzan al-Adwiya by Aghili Khorasani, as well as in texts in other languages, such as Arabic, Hebrew, and others, where these flowers are listed."
The Hamāg Wahār, associated with the deity Ard, is one of the floral names listed in this catalog of flowers and Amesha Spentas. Thus, This research focuses on the systematic analysis and interpretation of the name "Hamāg Wahār" in texts following the Bundahishn. The study aims to identify whether textual studies, based on the use of this flower in classical texts, can determine the nature of the flower known as hamisheh-bahar and whether it is still referred to by that name today.
The findings reveal that some translations of the Bundahishn, based on limited sources, have incorrectly identified "hamisheh-bahar" with the ox-eye daisy. However, in most Persian and Arabic sources, "hamisheh-bahar" is equated with the Arabic hay al-‘alam, corresponding to houseleek Sempervivum tectorum L. in English.
Keywords
Subjects

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Volume 24, Issue 6 - Serial Number 100
Nameh Farhangestan (Literary Studies)
January and February 2026
Pages 48-72

  • Receive Date 14 October 2024
  • Revise Date 17 November 2024
  • Accept Date 01 January 2025