|
The Persians, like other Indo-European groups such as the Medes and Scythians
were originally polytheists. They worshipped numerous gods associated
with natural phenomena such as the moon and the sun, fire, wind and water.
Their religious practices included, animal sacrifice, a reverence for
fire and the drinking of a natural intoxicant made from the juice of the
haoma plant.
Around 600 B.C. the prophet and teacher Zoroaster, founded a new religion,
Zoroastrianism. Zoroaster, also known
by the Greek name Zarathrustra, wrote down his beliefs in a sacred book
known as the "Zend Avesta".
The central theme of the religion is a belief in a struggle between good
and evil. Persians had a dual god system with "Ahura Mazda"
(light) representing goodness and "Ahriman" (Darkness) representing
evil. The concept of heaven and hell also was important to the Persians.
- Early
religions of Persia
- Gods
and Goddesses of the Persians
- About
Zarathustra
- Zoroastrianism
- About Faravahar - The
Faravahar, or Fravashi, was the symbol of the holy light
of Glory (khvarenah) surrounding ancient Persian kings, heroes,
and saints. It is found on ancient Persian monuments. Some Zoroastrians
also think it signifies the glorified human soul. The faravahar
is now used as the symbol of the Zoroastrian faith. Click on the
symbol to see an informative article about its origins.
- Holy Fire
- Ahura Mazda
- Magi
- A word for priestly caste of ancient Persia. Probably Median in
origin, they were, according to Herodotus, a tribe rather than a
priestly family. When the Zoroastrian priesthood became very popular,
the word became assocated with that religion.
- Zoroastrian
Sacred Sites
- Zend
Avesta - The sacred writings
of Zarathustra that formed the basis of the religion that prevailed
in Persia from the 6th century BC to the 7th century AD. Avesta
means the lore, or sacred writings, and Zend, the commentary. Hence
the application of Zend to the ancient Iranian language in which
the Zend-Avesta is written.The parts of Avesta which still exists
are organized as 5 groups of texts:
- Yasna
- Khorda Avesta - Part
1
-
Part
2
- Visperad
- Vendidad
- Fragments
- Persian Festivals
|
