Abstract

Based on Iranian myths, there has always been a confrontation between two Ahurai and Ahrimeni forces in progress. This issue has caused the human nature to be inflicted with such a situation. One of the works wherein the manifestation of myth, epic and history can be seen in the form of the confrontation between the good and evil is Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh which is an identity-bestowing book that besides this characteristic, contains many ethical and instructional concepts, as well. One of these concepts is avarice that creeps into the ego of the ideal and honorable characters in Shahnameh and adversely influences them and makes them encounter many ethical challenges. In this work, avarice has been depicted in the form of an ogre that is unequaled amongst the evils and deemed to be the most harmful. The investigation of the embodiments of this immorality in Shahnameh shows that Afrasiab Turani is the greediest person whose greedy behaviors cause the people from Iran and Turan to be repeatedly afflicted with financial and life problems and the blood of many innocent persons has been shed on the ground from the two sides. The greedy presence of Afrasiab is so evident that it can be stated that he is a symbol of the ogre of avarice in Shahnameh. In addition to the king of Turan, characters like Sudabeh, Kaikavus, Esfandiyar and Sohrab are also present with all of them being converted from ideal characters to antagonists.