Ancient Zoroastrianism
Ancient Zoroastrianism is a monotheistic religion founded by the prophet Zoroaster, also known as Zarathustra, likely born around 628 BCE. This religious tradition gained prominence during the reign of the Persian emperor Darius the Great, who actively supported its teachings. Central to Zoroastrianism is the belief in one god, Ahura Mazda, and the emphasis on ethical living and moral dualism, which portrays an ongoing struggle between good and evil forces. The religion's sacred texts, the Avesta, include the Gathas, believed to be composed by Zoroaster himself, which outline these principles.
Zoroaster's teachings encouraged a departure from polytheism, and his influence extended throughout the early Persian Empire. However, following the Muslim conquest of Persia in 651 CE, Zoroastrianism faced a significant decline. Despite this, a community of practitioners known as the Parsees, who fled to India, continue to uphold Zoroastrian beliefs today. Key tenets of Zoroastrianism include the notion of a final judgment day, where individuals are judged based on their moral lives, and the existence of spiritual evil, represented by Angra Mainyu. These concepts have also impacted other religious traditions, including Judaism and Christianity.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Ancient Zoroastrianism
Related civilization: Persia.
Date: c. 700 b.c.e.-700 c.e.
Locale: Persia (modern Iran)
Zoroastrianism
The beginnings of Zoroastrianism (zohr-uh-AS-tree-uh-nih-zm) are obscure but linked to a historical figure, Zoroaster (also known as Zarathustra). There is scholarly debate as to when he lived, but his birth and death dates are generally given as circa 628 to circa 551 b.c.e. The religious tradition was firmly established by the reign of Persian emperor Darius the Great (r. 522-486 b.c.e.), who was a strong proponent of Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism has a body of scriptures, the Avesta, which includes a collection of poems, the Gathas, written in an old style and believed to have been composed by Zoroaster.
Zoroaster was the son of a priest of a pastoral group in what became northern Iran. Early in life, he exhibited an interest in religion. At age thirty, he had a religious experience in which he claimed to be transported by an angel to Ahura Mazda (the wise lord), who provided the first of a series of religious revelations. The most significant aspect of the revelation was that there was a single god, so Zoroaster began preaching against polytheism. He also emphasized the importance of ethical living. He met early opposition but eventually converted the Persian king, Hystaspes (Vishtaspa).
After Zoroaster’s death, the religion continued to be influential in what was becoming the Persian Empire. With the Muslim conquest of the Persian Empire in 651 c.e., Zoroastrianism largely disappeared. A group known as the Parsees, who fled the Muslim invasion and settled in western India, still practice Zoroastrianism today.
Important beliefs of Zoroastrianism include the belief in monotheism and the expectation of a final judgment day. People will go to either heaven or hell depending on the moral quality of their lives. Also significant was the notion of a spiritual and moral dualism that exhibited itself in an ongoing battle of good against evil. According to Zoroaster, although there is only one god, there exists an evil force, Angra Mainyu (Ahriman), who is engaged in the struggle to capture human souls. The gods and spirits of polytheism were viewed as agents of evil. These beliefs—of a spiritual evil force at work in the world, of a final judgment day, and of the assignment to heaven or hell based on moral criteria—influenced Judaism and were eventually incorporated into Christianity.
Bibliography
Clark, Peter. Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to an Ancient Faith. Sussex, England: Sussex Academic Press, 1999.
Hartz, Paula R. Zoroastrianism. New York: Facts on File, 1999.
Neusner, Jacob. Judaism and Zoroastrianism at the Dusk of Late Antiquity: How Two Ancient Faiths Wrote Down Their Great Traditions. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1993.
Nigosian, Solomon A. The Zoroastrian Faith: Tradition and Modern Research. Toronto: McGill-Queens University Press, 1993.
Zaehner, R. C. The Dawn and Twilight of Zoroastrianism. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1961.