Afsaneh Derakhte Khorma va Bozi
(The Tale of the Palm Tree and the Goat)
By Mohammad Hadi Mohammadi, illus. by Ali Amehkan.
Tehran : Cheesta Publishing Co, 2005, pp. 36, ill.
ISBN : 964-7940-7-6

• The Legend of the Palm Tree and the Goat is based on a pre-Islamic tale about what might seem to be a battle of wits between a palm tree and a goat. In fact, it represents a symbolic confrontation between the era of agricultrue, as represented by the tree, and the era of herdmanship, as represented by the goat _ a struggle between two ways of life that has been central to Iran’s history. It also serves as a tribute to the country’s historic roots in children’s literature. Originally written in the Pahlvi language (spoken in what is today Iran between the third and seventh centuries A.D.) the text was later translated into persian by Dr. Mahyar Navabi. Mahammad Hadi Mahammadi retold it in rhythmic verse so it could be acted out as a play for young readers. Ali AmehKan has illustrated this legend.