Lions' representation in Bakhtiari oral tradition and funerary material culture

Death and funerary rituals have a special significance in Bakhtiari culture. The death of a tribe or family member is not merely a biological event mourned by the bereaved relatives; rather, that death evokes moral and social obligations that are expressed through culturally-determined funeral practices. In Bakhtiari society, the number as well as the scale of the funerary ceremonies and material culture varies according to the sex, age and sociopolitical status of the deceased. How deep the shock, and how dramatic the subsequent events, depend on the age and identity of the departed and the circumstances of the death. In this regard, the chapter illustrates the religious significance and social functions of the lion as a symbol amongst the Bakhtiari nomads.