See E. Herzfeld, Zoroaster and His World (1947); R. C. Zaehner, The Dawn and Twilight of Zoroastrianism (1961).
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zarat-uštra-, which might in turn be a zero-grade form of
zarant-uštra-. 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. The interpretation of the -θ- in Avestan...more »
- Sahand
Sahand, peak, 12,140 ft (3,700 m) high, NW Iran, S of Tabriz. It is snow-covered most of the year and is traditionally associated with the prophet Zoroaster.
- Sabalan
Sabalan or Savalan, volcanic cone, 15,592 ft (4,752 m) high, NW Iran, near Ardebil. The prophet Zoroaster reputedly wrote the Avesta there.
- Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism, religion founded by Zoroaster, but with many later accretions. Zoroastrianism's scriptures are the Avesta or the Zend Avesta [Pahlavi avesta=law, zend=commentary]. The Avesta c...
- Balkh
Balkh, town, N Afghanistan, on a dried-up tributary of the Amu Darya River. One of the world's oldest cities, it is the legendary birthplace of the prophet Zoroaster. Because it was located on...
- Hystaspes
Hystaspes or Hystaspis, Old Persian Vishtaspa, fl. 6th cent. B.C., ruler of ancient Persia, father of Darius I. Under him Darius was governor of Parthia. The legendary patron of Zoroaster is a...
- Magi
Magi, priestly caste of ancient Persia. Probably Median in origin, they were, according to Herodotus, a tribe rather than a priestly family. Zoroaster is thought to have been a Magus. Study of...
- Azerbaijan, region, Iran
Azerbaijan, Iran. Azarbayejan, region, c.34,280 sq mi (88,785 sq km), NW Iran, divided into the provinces of East Azerbaijan (1996 pop. 3,325,540), West Azerbaijan (1996 pop. 2,496,320), and A...
- Manichaeism
Manichaeism or Manichaeanism, religion founded by Mani (c.216–c.276). Mani (called Manes by the Greeks and Romans) was born near Baghdad, probably of Persian parents; his father may have been ...
