Analysis of the Myth of the Plant God in the Story of “Gadouli and the Cow”

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

jahrom university

10.22103/jis.2025.4882

Abstract

Purpose: Fertility rituals are one of the most frequent types of myths that encompass a wide range of world myths. This myth is the ancient man’s explanation of the rebirth of plants in spring, which has been manifested in various forms in all corners of the world. Demuzi/Temmuz, Attis, Adonis, Dionysus, Osiris, Baal, Persephone, Balder are the most famous plant gods in world myths. In Iranian mythology, Siavash is also among the plant gods whose adventures comprise a large part of the Shahnameh. In his field research, the author has recorded a legend that has remarkable similarities with other similar stories in world myths. This narrative has not been written down in any source before and, given that only a few old people remember this legend, it is on the verge of oblivion. The aim of this research is to record and analyze this narrative on the verge of oblivion.
Method and Research: This article was written using a field and library method and a descriptive-analytical approach.
Findings and Conclusions: The research findings show that the character of "Gadouli", who appears in this story as a plant god, has a special connection with nature and its greenery, like his other counterparts, from birth to death; in order to save nature and restore life and greenery to the world, the hero of the story fights with the drought demon who has bound the agent of birth - the cow - and by defeating him, the world becomes new again. In this folktale, like his other counterparts, the plant god is sent into the reed plant by a woman - who appears in this story as the lover. However, this woman/goddess, unlike similar stories, does not try to bring the plant god back. The presence of characters such as Gadouli, Mandani and Golbas, the prominent role of the Ounalaks in the story, the introduction of the cow as the agent of childbirth, and local and familiar places for the people of the region have given the story a local flavor and flavor.

Keywords

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