Editing Iran (section)

=== Mythology and folklore ===
{{Main|Persian mythology|Iranian folklore}}
[[File:Rostam and Sohrab Statue 01.jpg|thumb|Statue of [[Rostam]], with his son [[Sohrab]], in [[Mashhad]]]]
[[Persian mythology|Iranian mythology]] consists of ancient [[Iranian folklore]] and stories of extraordinary beings reflecting on [[good and evil]] ([[Ahura Mazda]] and [[Ahriman]]), actions of the gods, and the exploits of heroes and creatures. The tenth-century Persian poet, [[Ferdowsi]], is the author of the [[national epic]] known as the ''[[Shahnameh]]'' ("Book of Kings"), which is for the most part based on ''Xwadāynāmag'', a [[Middle Persian]] compilation of the history of Iranian kings and heroes,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdowsi#ref69128 |title=Ferdowsī |author=Boyle, John Andrew |encyclopedia=Encyclopوdia Britannica |access-date=18 July 2017 |archive-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010062257/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdowsi#ref69128 |url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the stories and characters of the [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] tradition, from the texts of the [[Avesta]], the [[Denkard]], the [[Vendidad]] and the [[Bundahishn]]. Modern scholars study the myths to shed light on the religious and political institutions of not only Iran but of the [[Greater Iran]], which includes regions of [[West Asia]], [[Central Asia]], [[South Asia]], and [[Transcaucasia]] where the [[culture of Iran]] has had significant influence.

[[Storytelling]] has a significant presence in Iranian folklore and culture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO – Naqqāli, Iranian dramatic story-telling |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/naqqli-iranian-dramatic-story-telling-00535 |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=ich.unesco.org |language=en |archive-date=22 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222215849/https://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/naqqli-iranian-dramatic-story-telling-00535 |url-status=live}}</ref> In classical Iran, minstrels performed for their audiences at royal courts and in public theatres.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 January 2021 |title=Persian Poetry and Its Evolution in Pre-Islamic Royal Courts |url=https://old.saednews.com/en/post/persian-poetry-and-its-evolution-in-pre-islamic-royal-courts |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=old.saednews.com |language=fa |archive-date=31 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131115021/https://old.saednews.com/en/post/persian-poetry-and-its-evolution-in-pre-islamic-royal-courts |url-status=live}}</ref> A minstrel was referred to by the [[Parthian Empire|Parthians]] as [[Gusans|gōsān]], and by the [[Sasanian Empire|Sasanians]] as huniyāgar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 February 2023 |title=MYTHOLOGIES OF PERSIA (IRAN) |url=https://indigenouspeoplenet.wordpress.com/2023/02/14/mythologies-of-persia-iran/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Indigenous Peoples Literature |language=en |archive-date=31 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131115020/https://indigenouspeoplenet.wordpress.com/2023/02/14/mythologies-of-persia-iran/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Since the [[Safavid Iran|Safavid Empire]], storytellers and poetry readers appeared at coffeehouses.<ref name="auto6">{{Cite web |last=Foundation |first=Encyclopaedia Iranica |title=Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica |url=https://iranicaonline.org/ |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=iranicaonline.org |language=en-US |archive-date=10 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410171658/https://iranicaonline.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Khandwala |first=Anoushka |date=30 March 2021 |title=From the Grounds Up: Coffeeshops and the History of Iranian Art |url=https://elephant.art/from-the-grounds-up-coffeeshops-and-the-history-of-iranian-art-30032021/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=ELEPHANT |language=en-US |archive-date=31 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131115021/https://elephant.art/from-the-grounds-up-coffeeshops-and-the-history-of-iranian-art-30032021/ |url-status=live}}</ref> After the [[Iranian Revolution]], it took until 1985 to found the [[Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts|MCHTH]] (Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iran Cultural Heritage, Handcraft and Tourism Organization |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0016051/ |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=Library of Congress |archive-date=14 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114100923/https://www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0016051/ |url-status=live}}</ref> a now heavily centralised organisation, supervising all kinds of cultural activities. It held the first scientific meeting on anthropology and folklore in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iran Cultural Heritage, Handcraft and Tourism Organization |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0016051/ |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref>