Farzin Aghazadeh, researcher ad writer of "Serpentlike Zahak" said some have tried to find historical roots of Zahak and etymology of this term. In Masoudi's "Moravej Azahab" it is stated that people saw sea storms as dragons.

IBNA: During the critical session held at Jamshid Jamasian Cutrual Artistic Institute on Sunday evening (Nov. 6), Farzin Aghazadeh writer of "Serpentlike Zahak: a research on the concepts of Azhi and Azhi Dahak in Iranian myths and texts". 

Aghazadeh's "Serpentlike Zhahak" has two parts. In the first part, proofs and evidences confirming the hypothesis of the relationship between the dragons and volcanic phenomena are brought, whereas the second part attempts to elaborate on the mythological aspects of Azhidahak and its historical roots. 

Aghazadeh said: "My approach to the subject is non-demonstrative, that is, I haven't sought definite proof of hypotheses and have rather left the reader free to come to a conclusion even against my own." 

He continued: "There is a stone engraving related to the Hittites Civilization showing two human bodies. There is a snaking line drawn before them. The two men were gods of storm in Hittites belief that fought with the dragon or snake called 'Iluyenkeh'. Iluyenkeh stopped water and did not let people access it. What is interesting in the engraving is the limbered body of the snake. Even the work Iluyenkeh connotes twisting." 

He continued: "The crankled snake is also inscribed on the antique utensils discovered in Jiroft. The Elamis too worshiped a god that was attributed to water and was known as god of water and wisdom. Before him there are three men and a quadruped. One of them resembles Zahak as he has grown snakes on his shoulders." 

Aghazadeh added: "The Sumerians had a god named 'Nin Gish Zi De' that resembled two writhen snakes. Also in Tajikistan's quinque symbol a dragon fight scene is portrayed that involves twists and burns. In Mazandarani accent, the work 'Ajik' is still used for the worm and means 'curving'. We can conclude that the term was not necessarily derogatory as we also see it painted on the banners of ancient Iranian champions like Rustam." 

Then referring to the usage of the crankled snake in Old Persian poetry and Iranian myths of Garshasp and Fereydoun, he said "Fereydoun enchains Zahak (Azhidahak) and it is Garshasp that finally annihilated him. The dragon Garshasp kills is a cornuted dragon that emits a yellowish poison. The yellow poison could point to the volcanic eruptions that flow in a curved path. 

Finally he concluded that Azhi or the Serpent is nothing but lava moving on the river bed: "I suppose that the story of Fereydoun is inspired by the myth of Garshasp both of which are imagined by ancient Iranian nations. In the communal view of Iranians, Fereydoun and Azhidahak were probably ascribed to the volcano as was Garshasp for another group of Iranians. However, this is just a hypothesis." 

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