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Zoroastrianism / Mazdaism Ahura Mazda Zarathustra (Zoroaster) aša (asha) / arta

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Overview of the Angels Amesha Spentas · Yazatas Ahuras · Daevas Angra Mainyu

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Avesta · Gathas Vendidad The Ahuna Vairya Invocation Fire Temples

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Dēnkard · Bundahišn Book of Arda Viraf Book of Jamasp Story of Sanjan

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Zurvanism Calendar · Festivals Marriage Eschatology

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Zoroastrians in Iran Parsis · Iranis • • • Persecution of Zoroastrians

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Zarathustra (Greek Ζωροάστρης, Zōroastrēs) (Avestan: Zaraθuštra), also referred to as Zartosht (Persian: زرتشت Zartošt; Pashto: غرغښت; Zazaki: Zerdoşdi Kurdish: Zerduşt), was an ancient Iranian prophet and religious poet. Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings Ahura Mazda ( ae Ahura Mazdā) is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator Asha ( aša) or arta is the Avestan language term for a concept of cardinal importance to Zoroastrian theology and doctrine Yazata is the Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept ae Amesha Spenta ( ae Aməša Spənta) is an Avestan language term for a class of divinity/divine concepts in Zoroastrianism, and literally means "Bounteous Yazata is the Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept For the fictional character in the Marvel Universe series see Ahura (comics; for the river see Akhurian River. Daeva ( daēuua, daāua, daēva) is the Avestan language term for a particular sort of supernatural entity with disagreeable characteristics "Ahriman" redirects here For other uses see Ahriman (disambiguation. The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language. The word "Gātha" means a "hymn of praise" in the earliest Indo-Iranian poetry The Vendidad or Videvdat is a collection of texts within the greater compendium of the Avesta. Ahuna Vairya is the Avestan language name of the most sacred of the Gathic hymns of the Avesta, the revered texts of Zoroastrianism. A Zoroastrian Fire Temple is a place of worship for Zoroastrians. The Dēnkard or Dēnkart ( Middle Persian: "Acts of Religion" is a 10th century compendium of the Mazdaen Zoroastrian beliefs and customs The Bundahishn, meaning "Primal Creation" is an account of Zoroastrian cosmogony and cosmology and reflects ancient Zoroastrian and even pre-Zoroastrian beliefs The Book of Arda Viraf is a Zoroastrian religious text that describes the dream-journey of a devout Zoroastrian (the 'Viraf' of the story through the next world The Jamasp Nameh (var Jāmāsp Nāmag, Jāmāsp Nāmeh, "Story of Jamasp" is a Middle Persian book of revelations The Story of Sanjan (also Qissa-i Sanjan or Kisse-i Sanjan) is an account of the early years of Zoroastrian settlers on the Indian subcontinent Zurvanism is a now-extinct branch of Zoroastrianism that had the divinity Zurvan as its First The Zoroastrian calendar is a religious Calendar used by members of the Zoroastrian faith and it is an approximation of the (tropical Solar calendar. Zoroastrianism has numerous festivals and holy days all of which are bound to the Zoroastrian calendar. In the Zoroastrian faith marriage is encouraged an institution greatly favoured by the religious texts. Zoroastrianism eschatology is the oldest Eschatology in recorded history Zoroastrians in Iran have had a long history being the oldest religious community of that nation to survive to the present-day The Iranis are an ethno-religious community of the Indian subcontinent; descendants of Zoroastrians who emigrated from Greater Iran (in the main from Zoroastrians have faced much religious discrimination including forced conversions harassments as well as being identified as Najis "ritually impure" Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Avestan is an Eastern Old Iranian language that was used to compose the sacred hymns and canon of the Zoroastrian Avesta. Pashto ( Naskh: پښتو‎ pəʂ'to also rendered as Pakhto, Pushto, Pukhto, Pashtu, Pushtu, also known as The Kurdish language (Kurdish Kurdî or کوردی is a term used for the language spoken by Kurds. Ancient Iranian peoples who settled Greater Iran in the 2nd millennium BC first appear in Assyrian records in the 9th century BC. The hymns attributed to him, the Gathas, are at the liturgical core of Zoroastrianism. The word "Gātha" means a "hymn of praise" in the earliest Indo-Iranian poetry Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings

The person

Name

Avestan Zarathustra

Avestan Zaraθuštra is generally accepted to derive from an Old Iranian *zarat-uštra-, which is in turn “perhaps”^[1] a zero-grade form of *zarant-uštra-. Avestan is an Eastern Old Iranian language that was used to compose the sacred hymns and canon of the Zoroastrian Avesta. In Linguistics, the term ablaut designates a system of Vowel gradation (i This is supported by reconstructions from later Iranian languages – in particular from Middle Persian Zartosht, which is the form the name has in the ninth to twelfth century Zoroastrian texts. Middle Persian is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times (224-654 CE became a Prestige dialect

The interpretation of the -θ- in Avestan zaraθuštra was for a time itself subject to heated debate because the -θ- is an irregular development: As a rule, *zarat- (a first element that ends in a dental consonant) should have Avestan zarat- or zaraϑ- as a development from it. In Linguistics, a dental consonant or dental is a Consonant that is articulated with the tongue against the upper teeth such as /t/ /d/ /n/ and Why this is not so for zaraθuštra has not yet been determined. Notwithstanding the phonetic irregularity, that Avestan zaraθuštra “with its -θ- was linguistically an actual form, [is] shown by later attestations reflecting the same basis. ”^[1] All present-day Iranian language variants of his name derive from the Middle Iranian variants of Zarθošt, which in turn all reflect Avestan’s fricative -θ-.

The second half of the name – i. e. -uštra- is universally accepted to mean ‘camel’. ^[1][a] The first half of the name does not otherwise appear in Avestan, which makes it necessary to seek a meaning in the etymology of the name. Subject then to whether Zaraθuštra derives from *zarat-uštra- or from *zarant-uštra-, several interpretations have been proposed:^[b]

Following *zarat-uštra- are

• “moving camels” or “driving camels,” and related to Avestan zarš- “to drag. ”^[2]
• “desiring camels” or “longing for camels” and related to Vedic har- “to like” and perhaps (though ambiguous) also to Avestan zara-. Vedic Sanskrit is an ancient Indian language, the language of the Vedas, the oldest Shruti texts of Hinduism. ^[3]

Following *zarant-uštra- are

• “with old/aging camels,” related to Vedic járant- and similar to Ossetic zœrond. Ossetic or Ossetian (Ирон ӕвзаг Iron ævzag or Иронау Ironau) also sometimes called Ossete, is an Iranian ^[4]
• “with yellow camels” with a parallel to Younger Avestan zairi-. ^[5]
• “with angry camels,” from Avestan *zarant- “angry, furious. ”^[3]

“Several more etymologies have been proposed, some quite fanciful, but none is scientifically based. ”^[1]

Greek Zoroaster

Greek Zōroástrēs appears^[4] to have arisen from an association of ástra “stars” with the leading zōrós meaning “undiluted. ” This is the oldest attested Greek form of the name, attested in the mid-fifth century BCE Lydiaka of Xanthus (frag. Xanthus of Lydia (also spelled Xanthos) was a native Lydian Historian and logographer who during the mid-fifth century BC wrote works on the 32) and in (Pseudo-)Plato’s Alcibiades Maior (122a1). This old form appears subsequently as Latin Zoroastres and - as a secondary development - Greek Zōroástris.

Greek Zōroástrēs has motivated attempts to reconstruct an intermediate Old Western Iranian variant of Avestan Zaraθuštra from which the European forms could then derive. The proposals include *zara-uštra- or *zarah-uštra-, which – or so it is theorized – first produced Greek *zara-óstr(ēs), then – by metathesis – *zaro-ástr(ēs) and finally – provoked by the association with “stars” – the attested Zōroástrēs. Neither *zara-uštra- or *zarah-uštra- have a great following among the linguistic community since neither adequately explain the Old Iranian forms. Besides, *zarah-uštra- is a “phonologically improbable form in any Old Iranian language. ”^[6]

Date

Until the late 1800s, Zoroaster was generally dated to about the sixth century BCE, which coincided with both the “Traditional date” (see details below) and historiographic accounts (Ammianus Marcellinus xxiii. Amiricanus Gambilinus (325/330-after 391 was a fourth-century Roman historian. 6. 32, fourth c. CE). However, already at the time (late nineteenth century), the issue was far from settled, with James Darmesteter pleading for a later date (c. James Darmesteter ( March 28, 1849 &ndash October 10, 1894) French Author and Antiquarian, was born of 100 BCE) and others pleading for dates as early as 6000 BCE. ^[e]

The “Traditional date” originates in the period immediately following Alexander’s conquest of the Achaemenid Empire in 330 BCE. Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of The Seleucid kings who gained power following Alexander’s death instituted an “Age of Alexander” as the new calendrical epoch. This did not appeal to the Zoroastrian priesthood who then attempted to establish an “Age of Zoroaster. ” To do so, they needed to establish when Zoroaster had lived, which they accomplished by counting back the length of successive generations^[7] until they concluded that Zoroaster must have lived “258 years before Alexander. ” This estimate then re-appeared in the ninth to twelfth century texts of Zoroastrian tradition,^[c] which in turn gave the date doctrinal legitimacy.

In the twentieth century, this date (which may be any number of different years subject to when “Alexander” happened^[d]) remained acceptable to a number of reputable scholars, among them Hasan Taqizadeh, a recognized authority on the various Iranian calendars and hence became the date cited by Henning and others. Sayyed Hasan Taqizādeh (سيدحسن تقي زاده (September 1878 Tabriz, Iran &mdash January 1970 Tehran, Iran) was an influential

However, already in the late nineteenth century scholars such as Bartholomea and Christensen noted problems with the “Traditional date,” namely in the linguistic difficulties that it presented. Since the Old Avestan language of Gathas (that are attributed to the prophet himself) is still very close to the Sanskrit of the Rigveda, it seemed plausible that the Gathas and Rigveda could not be more than a few centuries apart. Avestan is an Eastern Old Iranian language that was used to compose the sacred hymns and canon of the Zoroastrian Avesta. The word "Gātha" means a "hymn of praise" in the earliest Indo-Iranian poetry Vedic Sanskrit is an ancient Indian language, the language of the Vedas, the oldest Shruti texts of Hinduism. The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" Since the Rigvedic compositions could be fairly accurately dated to about the thirteenth/14th century BCE, and because the Old Avestan was less (but only slightly less) archaic than that of the Rigveda, it followed that the oldest surviving portions of the Avesta date to around 1000 BCE (+/- one century).

This tenth/11th century BCE date is now almost universally accepted among Iranists, who in recent decades have also found that the social customs described in the Gāthās roughly coincides with what is known of other pre-historical peoples of that period. Supported by this historical evidence, the “Traditional date” can be conclusively ruled out, and the discreditation can to some extent be supported by the texts themselves: The Gathas describe a society of bipartite (priests and herdsmen/farmers) nomadic pastoralists with tribal structures organized at most as small kingdoms. Pastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of Agriculture concerned with the raising of Livestock. This contrasts sharply with the view of Zoroaster having lived in an empire, at which time society is attested to have had a tripartite structure (nobility/soldiers, priests, and farmers).

Although a slightly earlier date (a century or two) has been proposed on the grounds that the texts do not reflect the migration onto the Iranian Plateau, it is also possible that Zoroaster lived in one of the rural societies that remained where they were. The Iranian Plateau, also known as the Persian plateau is a Geological formation in Southwest Asia, Southern

Place

Zoroaster; portrayed here in a popular Parsi Zoroastrian depiction. This image emerged in the eighteenth century, the result of an Indian Parsi Zoroastrian artist’s imagination under European influence. It quickly became a popular icon, and is now regarded by many Indian Zoroastrians as being historically based.

Yasna 9 & 17 cite the Ditya River in Airyanem Vaējah (Middle Persian Ērān Wēj) as Zoroaster’s home and the scene of his first appearance. Airyanəm Vaējah, which approximately means "expanse of the Aryans," is a reference in the Zoroastrian Avesta ( Vendidad, Farg Middle Persian is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times (224-654 CE became a Prestige dialect Nowhere in the Avesta (both Old and Younger portions) is there a mention of the Achaemenids or of any West Iranian tribes such as the Medes, Persians, or even Parthians. The Medes were an ancient Iranian people who lived in the northwestern portions of present-day Iran. layout and formatting it should ensure no clashes with the top of the infobox Parthia ( Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was an Iranian civilization situated in the northeastern part of modern Iran

However, in Yasna 59. 18, the zaraθuštrotema, or supreme head of the Zoroastrian priesthood, is said to reside in ‘Ragha’. In the ninth to twelfth century Middle Persian texts of Zoroastrian tradition, this ‘Ragha’ - along with a slew of other places - appear as locations in Western Iran. While Medea does not figure at all in the Avesta (the westernmost location noted in scripture is Arachosia), the Būndahišn, or “Primordial Creation,” (20. Arachosia (ˌærəˈkoʊʒə, Arakhōsia) or Arachotae (əˈrækəˌtiː, Arakhōtai) is the latinized form of Greek name of an Achaemenid The Bundahishn, meaning "Primal Creation" is an account of Zoroastrian cosmogony and cosmology and reflects ancient Zoroastrian and even pre-Zoroastrian beliefs 32 and 24. 15) puts Ragha in Medea (medieval Rai). The Medes were an ancient Iranian people who lived in the northwestern portions of present-day Iran. See Rayshahr for the Sassanid center of learning in Fars province However, in Avestan, Ragha is simply a toponym meaning “plain, hillside. ”^[8] The same text identifies Ērān Wēj with medieval Aran (in historical Caucasian Albania, present-day Azerbaijan). Arran ( also known as Aran, Ardhan (in Parthian) Al-Ran (in Arabic) including the highland and lowland Karabakh) This region should not be confused with modern-day Albania in south-eastern Europe. Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South

In the tenth century, the Iranian writer al-Shahrastani (who originated from Shahristān, present-day Turkmenistan) proposed (again) that Zoroaster’s father was from Atropatene (also in Medea) and his mother was from Rai. Tāj al-Dīn Abū al-Fath Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Karīm ash-Shahrastānī (1086–1153 CE) was an influential historian of religions and a Heresiographer. Turkmenistan ( Türkmenistan; also known as Turkmenia) is a Turkic country in Central Asia. Atropatene was the Seleucid -era Koine Greek name given to a kingdom established in the 4th century BCE and the nominal ancestor of the name ' Azerbaijan Coming from a reputed scholar of religions, this was a serious blow for the various regions who all claimed that Zoroaster originated from their homelands, some of which then decided that Zoroaster must then have then been buried in their regions or composed his Gathas there or preached there. ^[9][10]

By the late twentieth century the consensus had settled on an origin in Eastern Iran and/or Central Asia (to include present-day Afghanistan): Gnoli proposed Sistan (though in a much wider scope than the present-day province) as the homeland of Zoroastrianism; Frye voted for Bactria and Chorasmia;^[11] Khlopin suggests the Tedzen Delta in present-day Turkmenistan. Modern Sistan ( is a border region in southeastern Iran (see Sistan and Baluchestan Province) and southwestern Afghanistan (see Nimruz Province "Bactrian" redirects here For the camel see Bactrian camel. Khwarezm were a series of States centered on the Amu Darya River delta of the ^[12] Sarianidi considered the BMAC region as “the native land of the Zoroastrians and, probably, of Zoroaster himself. The Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (or BMAC, also known as the Oxus civilization) is the modern archaeological designation for a Bronze Age ”^[13] Boyce includes the steppes of the former Soviet republics. ^[14] The medieval “from Media” hypothesis is no longer taken seriously, and Zaehner has even suggested that this was a Magi-mediated issue to garner legitimacy, but this has been likewise rejected by Gershevitch and others.

The 2005 Encyclopedia Iranica article on the history of Zoroastrianism summarizes the issue with “while there is general agreement that he did not live in western Iran, attempts to locate him in specific regions of eastern Iran, including Central Asia, remain tentative. ”^[15]

Life

Information about the life of Zoroaster derives primarily from the Avesta, that is, from Zoroastrian scripture of which the Gathas - the texts attributed to Zoroaster himself - are a part. The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language. These are complemented by legends from the traditional Zoroastrian texts of the ninth to twelfth century.

The Gathas contain allusions to personal events, such as Zoroaster’s triumph over obstacles imposed by competing priests and the ruling class. They also indicate he had difficulty spreading his teachings, and was even treated with ill-will in his mother’s hometown. They also describe familial events such as the marriage of his daughter, at which Zoroaster presided.

In the texts of the Younger Avesta (composed many centuries after the Gathas), Zoroaster is depicted wrestling with the daevas and is tempted by Angra Mainyu to renounce his faith (Yasht 17. The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language. Daeva ( daēuua, daāua, daēva) is the Avestan language term for a particular sort of supernatural entity with disagreeable characteristics "Ahriman" redirects here For other uses see Ahriman (disambiguation. 19; Vendidad 19).

The Spenta Nask, the thirteenth section of the Avesta, is said to have a description of the prophet’s life. The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language. However, this text has been lost over the centuries, and it survives only as a summary in the seventh book of the ninth century Dēnkard. The Dēnkard or Dēnkart ( Middle Persian: "Acts of Religion" is a 10th century compendium of the Mazdaen Zoroastrian beliefs and customs Other ninth to twelfth century stories of Zoroaster, as in the Shāhnāma, are also assumed to be based on earlier texts, but must be considered to be primarily a collection of legends. Shāhnāmé, or Shāhnāma ((alternative spellings are Shahnama Shahnameh Shahname Shah-Nama, etc The historical Zoroaster, however, eludes categorization as a legendary character.

Collectively, scripture and tradition provide many rote details of his life, such as a record of his family members: His father was Pourushaspa Spitāma, son of Haechadaspa Spitāma, and his mother was Dughdova. He and his wife Hvōvi had three daughters, Freni, Pourucista, and Triti; and three sons, Isat Vastar, Uruvat-Nara, and Hvare Ciθra. Zoroaster’s great-grandfather Haēchataspa was the ancestor of the whole family Spitāma, for which reason Zoroaster usually bears the surname Spitāma. His wife and children, and a cousin named Maidhyoimangha, were his first converts after his illumination from Ahura Mazda at age 30. Ahura Mazda ( ae Ahura Mazdā) is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator

According to Yasnas 5 & 105, Zoroaster prayed for the conversion of King Vištaspa, who appears in the Gathas as a historical personage. Hystaspes may refer to Vishtaspa, the Avestan language name of Zoroaster's first patron Hystaspes father of King Darius I of Persia In legends, Vištaspa is said to have had two brothers as courtiers, Frašaōštra and Jamaspa, and to whom Zoroaster was closely related: his wife, Hvōvi, was the daughter of Frashaōštra, while Jamaspa was the husband of his daughter Pourucista. The actual role of intermediary was played by the pious queen Hutaōsa. Apart from this connection, the new prophet relied especially upon his own kindred (hvaētuš).

Zoroaster’s death is not mentioned in the Avesta. In Shahnama 5. Shāhnāmé, or Shāhnāma ((alternative spellings are Shahnama Shahnameh Shahname Shah-Nama, etc 92,^[16] he is said to have been murdered at the altar by the Turanians in the storming of Balkh. Tūrān ( is the ancient Iranian name for Central Asia, literally meaning "the land of the Tur" Balkh ( - Balḫ) also known as Bactra, was once a major world city but was destroyed entirely by the Mongols.

Philosophy

In his revelation, the poet sees the universe as the cosmic struggle between aša “truth” and druj “lie. Asha ( aša) or arta is the Avestan language term for a concept of cardinal importance to Zoroastrian theology and doctrine ” The cardinal concept of aša - which is highly nuanced and only vaguely translatable - is at the foundation of all other Zoroastrian doctrine, including that of Ahura Mazda (who is aša), creation (that is aša), existence (that is aša) and Free Will, which is arguably Zoroaster’s greatest contribution to religious philosophy. Ahura Mazda ( ae Ahura Mazdā) is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator

The purpose of humankind, like that of all other creation, is to sustain aša. For humankind, this occurs through active participation in life and the exercise of good thoughts, words and deeds.

Iconography

Detail of The School of Athens by Raphael, 1509, showing Zoroaster (left, with star-studded globe). The School of Athens, or it Scuola di Atene in Italian, is one of the most famous Paintings by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael Sanzio, usually known by his first name alone (in Italian Raffaello) (April 6 or March 28 1483 – April 6 1520 was an Italian painter and

Although a few recent depictions of Zoroaster show the prophet performing some deed of legend, in general the portrayals merely present him in white vestments (which are also worn by present-day Zoroastrian priests).

He often is seen holding a baresman (Avestan, MP barsom), which is generally considered to be another symbol of priesthood, or with a book in hand, which may be interpreted to be the Avesta. A barsom is a ritual implement used by Zoroastrian priests to solemnize certain sacred ceremonies Middle Persian is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times (224-654 CE became a Prestige dialect The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language. Alternatively, he appears with a mace, the varza - usually stylized as a steel rod crowned by a bull’s head - that priests carry in their installation ceremony. In other depictions he appears with a raised hand and reproachfully lifted finger, as if to make a point.

Zoroaster is rarely depicted as looking directly at the viewer, instead he appears to be looking slightly upwards as if beseeching God. Zoroaster is almost always depicted with a beard, usually brown. His complexion is pale, and this and other factors recall nineteenth century Jesus portraits. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) ^[17]

A common variant of the Zoroaster images derives from a Sassanid-era rock-face carving. In this depiction at Taq-e Bostan, a figure is seen to preside over the coronation of Ardashir I or II. Taqwasân or Taq-e Bostan or Taq-i-Bustan ( Persian: طاق بستان, Kurdish: Taqwesan is a series of large rock relief from the era of Ardashir I, founder of the Sassanid dynasty, was ruler of Istakhr (206-241 subsequently Persia Ardashir II was the tenth Sassanid King of Persia from 379 to 383 The figure is standing on a lotus, with a baresman in hand and with a gloriole around his head. A halo (ἅλως also known as a nimbus, icebow or Gloriole) is an Optical phenomenon that appears near or around the Sun or Until the 1920s, this figure was commonly supposed to be a depiction of Zoroaster, but in recent years is more commonly interpreted to be a depiction of Mithra. This article is about the Zoroastrian Yazata Mithra (Miθra For other divinities with related names see the general article Mitra.

Among the most famous of the European depictions of Zoroaster is that of the figure in Raphael’s 1509 The School of Athens. Raphael Sanzio, usually known by his first name alone (in Italian Raffaello) (April 6 or March 28 1483 – April 6 1520 was an Italian painter and The School of Athens, or it Scuola di Atene in Italian, is one of the most famous Paintings by the Italian Renaissance artist In it, Zoroaster and Ptolemy are having a discussion in the lower right corner. Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca The prophet is holding a star-studded globe.

Western perceptions

In classical antiquity

The name Zoroaster was famous in classical antiquity, and a number of different Zoroasters - all described as having occult powers - appear in historiographic accounts. Classical antiquity (also the classical era or classical period) is a broad term for a long period of cultural History centered on the Mediterranean

In Pliny’s Natural History, Zoroaster is said to have laughed on the day of his birth. Naturalis Historia ( Latin for "Natural History" is an Encyclopedia written Circa AD 77 by Pliny the Elder. He lived in the wilderness and enjoyed exploring it from a young age. Plutarch compares him with Lycurgus and Numa Pompilius (Numa, 4). Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus ( Greek: Μέστριος Πλούταρχος c Numa Pompilius, according to Legend, was the second King of Rome, succeeding Romulus. Plutarch, drawing partly on Theopompus, speaks of Zoroaster in Isis and Osiris: In this work, the prophet is empowered by trust in his God and the protection of his allies. Theopompus, a Greek Historian and Rhetorician was born on Chios about 380 BC. He faces outward opposition and unbelief, and inward doubt.

The works of Zoroaster had a significant influence on Greek philosophy and Roman philosophy. Ancient Greek philosophy focused on the role of Reason and Inquiry. The ancient Greek writer Eudoxus of Cnidus and the Latin writer Pliny the Elder praised Zoroaster’s philosophy as “the most famous and most useful. The Ancient Greek language is the historical stage in the development of the Hellenic language family spanning the Archaic (c Eudoxus of Cnidus ( Greek Εὔδοξος ὁ Κνίδιος (410 or 408 BC &ndash 355 or 347 BC was a Greek Astronomer, Mathematician Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author ” Plato learnt of Zoroaster’s philosophy through Eudoxus and incorporated some of it into his own Platonic realism. Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece Platonic realism is a philosophical term usually used to refer to the idea of realism regarding the existence of universals after the Greek ^[18] In the third century BC, however, Colotes accused Plato’s The Republic of plagiarizing parts of (what is attributed to) Zoroaster’s On Nature, such as the Myth of Er. Colotes (Κολώτης of Lampsacus, lived 3rd century BC, was a hearer of Epicurus, and one of the most famous of his disciples The Republic ( Greek: / Politeía, meaning "political system" Latin: Res Publica, meaning "public business" or The Myth of Er is an eschatological legend that concludes Plato 's dialogue known as "The Republic" (10 ^[18][19] Plato’s contemporary, Heraclides Ponticus, wrote a text called Zoroaster based on Zoroaster’s philosophy in order to express his disagreement with Plato on natural philosophy. "Heraclides" redirects here The former Butterfly Genus of the same name is now included in Papilio. For the current in the 19th century German idealism see Naturphilosophie Natural philosophy or the philosophy of nature (from ^[20]

In the post-classical era

Zoroaster was known as a sage, magician, and miracle-worker in post-Classical Western culture. Though almost nothing was known of his ideas until the late 18th century, by that time his name was already associated with lost ancient wisdom. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system Zoroaster appears as “Sarastro” in Mozart’s opera Die Zauberflöte, which has been noted for its Masonic elements, where he represents moral order (cf. The Magic Flute (German Die Zauberflöte, K 620 is an Opera in two acts composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Asha) in opposition to the “Queen of the Night. Asha ( aša) or arta is the Avestan language term for a concept of cardinal importance to Zoroastrian theology and doctrine ”

He is also the subject of the 1749 opera Zoroastre, by Jean-Philippe Rameau. Year 1749 ( MDCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Zoroastre ( Zoroaster) is an Opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau, first performed on 5 December, 1749 at the Opéra Jean-Philippe Rameau (ʒɑ̃filip ʀaˈmo in French (September 25 1683 – September 12 1764 was one of the most important French Composers and music theorists

Enlightenment writers such as Voltaire promoted research into Zoroastrianism in the belief that it was a form of rational Deism, preferable to Christianity. The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century François-Marie Arouet ( 21 November 1694 30 May 1778) better known by the Pen name Voltaire, was a French Deism is the belief that a supreme God exists and created the physical universe and that religious truths can be arrived at by the application of reason alone without dependence on revelation Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings With the translation of the Avesta by Abraham Anquetil-Duperron, Western scholarship of Zoroastrianism began. The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language. Abraham-Hyacinthe Anquetil Du Perron ( 7 December 1731 &ndash 17 January 1805) French Orientalist, brother of

In the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's seminal work Also sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spoke Zarathustra) (1885), Nietzsche creates a characterization of Zarathustra as the mouthpiece for Nietzsche's own ideas against morality. Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (October 15 1844 August 25 1900 ( was a nineteenth-century German philosopher and classical philologist Thus Spoke Zarathustra (German Also sprach Zarathustra, sometimes translated Thus Spake Zarathustra) subtitled A Book for All and None Year 1885 ( MDCCCLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Nietzsche did so because—so says Nietzsche in his autobiographical Ecce Homo (IV/Schicksal. For other uses of Ecce Homo see Ecce Homo (disambiguation Ecce Homo How One Becomes What One Is ( Ecce homo 3)—Zarathustra was a moralist ("was the exact reverse of an immoralist" like Nietzsche) and because "in his teachings alone is truthfulness upheld as the highest virtue. Asha ( aša) or arta is the Avestan language term for a concept of cardinal importance to Zoroastrian theology and doctrine " Zarathustra "created" morality in being the first to reveal it, "first to see in the struggle between good and evil the essential wheel in the working of things. " Nietzsche sought to overcome the morality of Zarathustra by using the Zarathustrian virtue of truthfulness; thus Nietzsche found it piquant to have his Zarathustra character voice the arguments against morality. ^[f]

Richard Strauss’s Opus 30, inspired by Nietzsche’s book, is also called Also sprach Zarathustra. Richard Georg Strauss (11 June 1864 &ndash 8 September 1949 was a German Composer of the late Romantic era and early modern era particularly noted Also sprach Zarathustra op 30 is a Tone poem by Richard Strauss, composed in 1896 and inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche 's book Its opening theme, which corresponds to the book’s prologue, was used to score the opening sequence of Stanley Kubrick’s movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. 2001 A Space Odyssey is a 1968 Science fiction film directed by Stanley Kubrick, written by Kubrick and Arthur C

Zoroaster was mentioned by the nineteenth-century poet William Butler Yeats. His wife and he were said to have claimed to have contacted Zoroaster through “automatic writing. Automatic writing is the process or product of writing material that does not come from the conscious thoughts of the writer ”^[21]

The 2005 edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy places Zoroaster first in a chronology of philosophers. ^[22]

Zoroaster is ranked #93 on Michael H. Hart’s list of the most influential figures in history. Michael H Hart (born April 28, 1932 in New York City) is an Astrophysicist who has also written three books on History and controversial The 100 A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History is a 1978 book by Michael H ^[23]

In 1997, the British gothic rock band Tammuz released a song named ‘Zarathustra’ on their album Yezidi. This article is about the musical style of gothic rock For the goth scene in general see Goth subculture. The track features an Avestan language verse from the Gathas. The name ‘Zarathustra’ appears in passing in Bryan Ferry’s ‘Mother of Pearl’, a Roxy Music song from the band’s 1973 Stranded album. Bryan Ferry (born 26 September 1945 in Washington, Sunderland) is an English Singer, Musician, Songwriter and occasional Roxy Music is an English Art rock group founded in the early 1970s by art school graduate Bryan Ferry ( vocals and keyboards)

The protagonist and narrator of Gore Vidal’s 1981 novel Creation is described to be the grandson of Zoroaster, with whom the narrator has several philosophical discussions and whose death he is a witness of. Gore Vidal (born October 3 1925 ˌgɔər vɪˈdɑːl or /vɪˈdæl/ is an American Novelist, Screenwriter, Playwright, Creation is an epic Historical fiction Novel by Gore Vidal which was published in 1981.

In other religious systems

In Manichaeism

Manichaeism considered Zoroaster to be a figure (along with Jesus and the Buddha) in a line of prophets of which Mani (210–277) was the culmination. Manichaeism (in Modern Persian fa-Arab آیین مانی Āyin e Māni; Chinese zh 摩尼教 was one of the major Gnostic Religions originating Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder Mani (in Persian: مانی Syriac: syr-Syrc ܡܐܢܝ (c 210–276 AD was the founder of Manichaeism, an ancient Gnostic Religion ^[24] Zoroaster’s ethical dualism is - to an extent - incorporated in Mani’s doctrine, which viewed the world as being locked in an epic battle between opposing forces of good and evil. ^[25] Manicheanism also incorporated other elements of Zoroastrian tradition, particularly the names of supernatural beings; however, many of these other Zoroastrian elements are either not part of Zoroaster's own teachings or are used quite differently from how they are used in Zoroastrianism. ^[25][26]

In the Bahá'í Faith

Zoroaster appears in the Bahá'í Faith as a “Manifestation of God,” one of a line of prophets who have progressively revealed the Word of God to a gradually maturing humanity. The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind The Manifestation of God is a concept in the Bahá'í Faith that refers to what are commonly called Prophets The Manifestations of God are a series of personages Zoroaster thus shares an exalted station with Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, and the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh. Abraham ( Ashkenazi   Avrohom or Avruhom; ابراهيم, {{Unicode|Ibrāhīm}}; Ge'ez: Moses ( Latin: Moyses,; Greek: grc Mωυσής in both the Septuagint and the New Testament; Arabic: ar موسىٰ Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad ( ( October 20, 1819 – July 9, 1850) was the founder of Bábism, and one of three central figures of the Bahá'u'lláh ( ba-haa-ol-laa "Glory of God" ( November 12, 1817 – May 29, 1892) born Mírzá Ḥusayn-`Alí Nuri ^[27] Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, saw Bahá'u'lláh as the fulfillment of a post-Sassanid Zoroastrian prophecy that saw a return of Sassanid emperor Bahram:^[28] Shoghi Effendi also stated that Zoroaster lived roughly 1,000 years before Jesus. Shoghí Effendí Rabbání ( March 1, 1897 - November 4, 1957) better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the appointed head of the ^[z]

See also

• List of founders of major religions

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links

• William W. Malandra, Zoroastrianism. I. Historical Review, Encyclopaedia Iranica, [1]. Encyclopædia Iranica is a project whose goal is to create a comprehensive and authoritative English language Encyclopedia about the history culture and
• Rüdiger Schmitt, Zoroaster, the name, Encyclopaedia Iranica, [2].
• Roger Beck, Zoroaster, as perceived by the Greeks, Encyclopaedia Iranica, [3].
• Michael Stausberg, Zoroaster, as perceived in Western Europe after antiquity, Encyclopaedia Iranica, [4].