Page:Next-of-kin Marriages in Old Iran.djvu/91

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NEXT-OF-KIN MARRIAGES.

adherents or co-religionists, between those who are nearly or closely connected." What follows describes the application of the term to the three kinds of supernatural unions which were necessary for the procreation of a kindred human pair in this world. The passage says: "There were three kinds of hampatvandih: "co-relation," for example, between the father (the Deity) and the daughter (Spendârmat); between the son (Gayômard) and the mother (Spendârmat); between the brother (Mashih) and the sister (Mashyânih). These I regard as the most primitive on the basis of an obscure exposition by a highpriest of the good religion." What follows is again a clear explanation regarding the propriety of such unions in the creation of mankind.

The thirteenth passage of the same Chapter says:—

"If a son be born of a son and a mother, he (the begetter) would be reckoned the brother as well as the father; that would be illegal and incestuous ((Symbol missingAvestan characters) jêh). If so, such a person has no

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