David Utz of University of Pennsylvania claimed in his 1991 article on Iran published by Sino-Platonic Papers that:

* When discussing the language, writing, and traditions of Iran, the geographic location includes modern Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, and most of Central Asia.

* Since antiquity Iranians have had a distinctive religious and ethical ideology…

* The early 11^th c. Iranian national epic by Ferdowsi, THE SHAHNAMEH (The Book of Kings), covered two specific Iranian views of history:

    (1) the “wheel” (charkh in Persian or chakrah) ultimately determines the course of events… there is a correlation between astronomical and human/historical events … with a related Iranian concept of “world-revealing cup” (the Holy Grail) through which what is otherwise not known by normal human capabilities may be revealed; and

    (2) “farr” or the divine glory which is an “indigenous” idea to Iranians… this is a special attribute to commoners as well as determining the legitimacy of leaders of human society… this divine glory is not inherent to a person nor can a person go out and get it… instead farr is accrued to a person… it is a quality that may be lost as well…

* Individuals who, at the right time (wheel), possess farr (divine glory) may use their esoteric knowledge and the world-revealing cup (Holy Grail) for revelations …

[pic iranpoliticsclub: for educational purposes only]