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'''Farānak''' ({{lang-fa|فَرانَک}}) is a female character in the [[Persian Language|Persian]] epic ''[[Shahnameh]]''. She is married to [[Abtin]] and the mother of [[Fereydun]]. she is from [[Silla|sila]] dynasty 

==Etymology==
Farânak is derived from the word ''Parvâneh'', which means "[[butterfly]]" in [[Persian language|Persian]]. Like many other words and names in Persian, the letter [[P]] was transformed to [[F]] in post-Arabic period, as the letter P does not exist in Arabic. Parvânak, meaning "the little butterfly", is another name for the Persian [[lynx]] or [[caracal]], also called ''siâh-goosh'' {{Interlanguage link|سیاه%E2%80%8Cگوش|fa}}, which means "black-eared" in Persian. Both the name ''siâh-goosh'' ("black-eared") and ''parvânak'' ("little butterfly") refer to the pointy long black ears of the [[Persian lynx]] that look like butterflies. The Persian lynx or caracal accompanies the [[lion]] as the lion is a strong hunter and often leaves some food for the lynx which is a much smaller cat. In return, the lynx has a much stronger sense of smell and can lead the lion to the prey.

==Attestation==
Farânak as a female name was first documented in [[Shahnameh|Shâhnameh]], for the character who was married to the good man [[Abtin]], and the mother of the character [[Fereydun]], a great hero who later became a king. The name for the character Farânak, who stood by these strong men, may have created and inspired by the story of the relationship between the Persian lynx and the lion; she who walks in front of the lions.

==References==
* Warner, Arthur and Edmond Warner, (translators) The Shahnama of Firdausi, 9 vols. (London: Keegan Paul, 1905-1925) (complete English verse translation)

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[[Category:Women in Shahnameh]]


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