So after reading there were once beavers in Iran I couldn’t wait to go look up some info about them. I found this stunning but incomplete page. Obviously there history is a lot more complicated than this because the wealthy wore furs but Wow what an intro!
Beavers in Iran
Beavers were one of the most sacred animals of ancient Iran. According to the Avesta, beavers are formed from the ghosts of dogs. So beavers were known as “water-dogs.” A single beaver was thought to have as much holiness as thousand dogs. Ancient Iranians believed that killing a beaver would produce drought. Corn and grass would cease to grow until the killer received punishment.
In ancient Iran those who harmed beavers had to pay a heavy fine of 60,000 dirhems and kill ten-thousand snakes and tortoises to compensate for their sin.
Water dogs! That makes so much sense because of the way you just see the head when an adult is swimming! And sacred! Well obviously!
Of course the Fertile Crescent was fertile once with beavers!
