Mazandaran is a mythical land that has more epic and romantic legends and myths than any place in Iran, which is the most important land of the cultural and identity puzzle of the Iranian people due to its location between the Alborz Mountains, Hyrcanian forests and Caspian Sea.[1] Mazanderani mythology are based on Mazanderani people's faith in mythical and semi-mythical creatures and bearers of good and evil with the development of society. These stories were transmitted orally among the local people for many centuries. A large group of these mythical creatures became a part of Mazandaran folklore as separate stories.
Bom Sari Kija (translation: "the girl on the roof") was a malign supernatural female, in function somewhat resembling a lulu khorkhore, who was used to frighten children into good behaviour: in the folklore of Mazandaran, it was said that children who behaved badly would be abducted by this being.[2]
Dawalpa was an evil being which captured people by winding its flexible, leathery, strap-like legs around their necks,shoulders or waists. Such captives would then be enslaved; forced, on pain of being clawed or half-strangled, to carry the demon around on their backs until they died of exhaustion - at which point the monster would be obliged to seek a fresh victim. This being is best-known outside Iran as the Old Man of the Sea (Šayk al-Baḥr) as a result of the popularity of translations of the tales recounting the voyages of Sinbad the Sailor. One of Sinbad’s voyages features both the noxious entity and the traditional means of defeating him - namely making him drunk/ataxic enough to be dislodged (and preferably killed) by his unfortunate victim.[3][2]
Reera was a beautiful fairy woman believed to have haunted the Hyrcanian forests.
Mazandaran is the abode of great Divs in the Shahanameh. Devils with the title: Div-e Sepid, Akvan Div, and Arzhang Div have been mentioned as Shah of Mazandaran.[4] In Mazandaran province today, there are places named Div Asiyab, Div Cheshmeh, Div Kela, and Div Hamam.[5]
The location of Mazandaran should not be confused with Mazandaran province, but it may have been a small area in this province. Some scholars believe that Mazandaran was a region in India, others believe that Mazandaran is in the LevantorEgypt.[citation needed]
