Abstract

Before the advent of the translation movement of rendering works from European languages into Persian during the Qajar Iran, very little knowledge of the Achaemenids could be found in Persian historical and/or literary works. On the other hands, in Western historical and religious sources, the Achaemenid kings were quite familiar characters, along with ample information about them and Iranian ancient history and culture. This study intends to offer relevant evidence as to the medieval literary masterpiece "The Canterbury Tales" by the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, to illustrate how in the Western world, unlike Iran, ancient Iranian monarchs as well as scholars from the Islamic period of Iran, were known to "The Father of the English Poetry". Two research questions are formulated on the ways and the reasons why Chaucer had gained relevant knowledge to elaborate on in his masterpiece. Then, relevant data gleaned from "The Canterbury Tales" are provided to highlight the poet's command of the topics and themes. The results and findings suggest that Chaucer made use of his deep and comprehensive knowledge to employ parables and allegories within the framework of didactic literature to address human virtues vs. vices for the improvement of ethical norms in society

Keywords: The Canterbury Tales ; Chaucer; Ancient Iran; The Achaemenid Dynasty; The Western World; Translation; Cultural History.