A Comparative Analysis of the Ethology of the "Jahān Pahlavān" in Naqqāli Scrolls and Ferdowsi's Shahnameh.Case Study: The Comprehensive Shahnameh Scroll, Haft Lashkar, and the Shahnameh of the Naqqāls

The institution of the pahlavān (hero/champion), as one of the pillars of the power structure in the mythological and heroic sections of the Shahnameh, is epitomized in the character of the "Jahān Pahlavān" (World Champion). While preserving the core narrative of Ferdowsi, Naqqāli scrolls often provide a broader reflection of this institution's functions by incorporating dramatic and popular details. Employing a descriptive-analytical method and drawing on library sources, this research compares the ethology (behavioral study) of the Jahān Pahlavān in three Naqqāli scrolls from the Safavid-Qajar period—The Comprehensive Naqqāli Shahnameh Scroll, Haft Lashkar, and The Shahnameh of the Naqqāls—with Ferdowsi's Shahnameh. The findings indicate that while the scrolls adhere to the foundational behavioral model of the Jahān Pahlavān found in the Shahnameh, they place greater emphasis on the protective, advisory, and particularly the protest-oriented dimensions of this institution. This emphasis reflects an endeavor to represent "new heroic functions" within the historical context of the Safavid-Qajar era. Through the exaggeration of battle scenes, symbolizing endurance, and the deepening of the hero's role as a "unifying agent" within the political and cultural boundaries of Iran, the scrolls functioned to strengthen collective identity during this historical period. This study also highlights the role of the scrolls as a connective link between official and popular literature in the transmission of epic concepts.