کَرماهی: بررسی اساطیری و ریشه‌شناسی

This study examines the role and position of the Kar-fish in Avestan mythology and seeks, through an analytical and interdisciplinary approach, to clarify the symbolic, mythological, and ecological dimensions of this creature. The central question of this research is whether the Kar-fish is merely a mythological entity born of imagination, or whether it can be considered a reflection of a real species in nature that has been mythologically represented in ancient Iranian traditions. To this end, in addition to analyzing Avestan descriptions—including its massive size, high reproductive rate, and habitat in the Arang River—and utilizing historical and cultural data, possible correspondences between mythological characteristics and real fish species were investigated. The findings indicate that although ancient descriptions diverge from biological realities due to the ancients’ limited understanding of zoology and a tendency toward mythological exaggeration, a certain species of catfish, by virtue of its large size, predatory power in large rivers, and instinctive behavior, bears the closest resemblance to the Kar-fish of the Avestan texts and is likely the inspiration for the formation of this belief within the ancient Iranian system of thought. By distinguishing between symbolic aspects and biological realities, the results of this study contribute to a deeper and more systematic understanding of the significance of the Kar-fish in Zoroastrian tradition.