Zoroaster Mythology

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The mythology Zoroaster Where Zoroastrianism is a religion which takes its name from its prophet and founder named Zoroaster or Zarathustra born in the northeast of Iran during the II^e millennium av. J.-C. or the first half of the I^er millennium av. J.-C.. The Persian name of Zarathustra was transcribed in Zoroaster by the Greeks (Ζωροάστρης, Zôroástrês). His followers are called Zoroastrians or, in French du XVIII^e century of gèbrees. Zoroastrianism is also commonly referred to as Mazdaism, named after its main deity, Ahura Mazda.

The main effect of the religious reform is to center the Mazdean religion on the god Ahura Mazdâ (pehlevi: Ohrmazd), surrounded by a number of entities. Ahura Mazda is solely responsible for the ordering of the initial chaos, the creator of Heaven and Earth. Every human being is endowed with an eternal soul and free will. After death, souls incur judgment and go to heaven or purgatory.

The religious texts of Zoroastrianism are contained in theAvesta, which has two parts: the Gathas, poems attributed to Zoroaster, and the Yasna which constitute the liturgical texts as such.

Zoroastrianism was the official religion of the Persian Empire three times: under King Hystaspes, under the Achaemenids, and under the Sassanids until 651, when the last Zoroastrian king was assassinated. With the arrival of Islam and the persecutions that followed, those who refused to convert took refuge in Gujarat, India, where they formed the Parsi community and erected temples, while pledging not to do of proselytism.

Les zoroastriens honorent le feu comme un symbole du divin et l’entretiennent dans des temples du feu. Les fidèles devraient avoir « de bonnes pensées, de bonnes paroles et faire de bonnes actions ». Zoroastre prêchait une religion dualiste, qui repose sur le combat entre le Bien et le Mal, la Lumière et les Ténèbres. Le principe de Zoroastre est qu’il existe un esprit saint (Spenta Mainyu), son of Ahura Mazda, and an evil spirit (Angra Mainyu) (pehlevi Ahriman), his twin, both opposite because they represent day and night, life and death. These two spirits coexist in each of the living beings. However, only Ahura Mazda retains the celestial preeminence and will triumph over evil at the end of time..

At first, the doctrine of Zoroaster was transmitted orally. The set of sacred texts that constitute theAvesta was written down after the adoption of writing in Persia. But, of the initial text, only a quarter has come down to us: the manuscripts were lost or destroyed once during the invasion of Alexander the Great and a second time during the Arab invasion in VII^e century. Despite everything, the equivalent of a thousand pages have come down to our time. Of these, seventeen Gathas or "sacred hymns" are attributed to Zoroaster himself, and testify to his personality. They are written in the oldest language and the most difficult to interpret.

Zoroaster mythology (texts)

Zoroaster Cosmology

The Denkards

(Books 1 and 2, and the beginning of Book 3 are lost.)
Book 3: Doctrines and beliefs, conduct and instructions…
Book 4: The writings of the Dasturs of the Arsacid and Sasanian periods
Book 5: The writings of Adarfarnbag, son of Farroxdad — The life of Zarathushtra, and writing about the Selamis
- SBE translation
Book 6: Wisdom of the Sages
Book 7: Marvels of Zoroastrianism…
Book 8: Contents of the Nasks (Old Canon)…
Book 9: Details of the Original Gathic Texts (Ancient Canon