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Indo-European migration, c. 1500 B.C.E.

THE PERSIAN EMPIRE AND ZOROASTRIANISM Indo-European migrations, ca. 2000 B.C.E. A. Aryans: 1 branch to India, 1 branch to IRAN B. “Aryan”→”Iran” C. PERSIANS = one of several Iranic peoples confronted SEMITIC peoples in Iraq/Syria. SEMITIC PEOPLES.

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Indo-European migration, c. 1500 B.C.E.

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  1. THE PERSIAN EMPIRE AND ZOROASTRIANISM • Indo-European migrations, ca. 2000 B.C.E. • A. Aryans: 1 branch to India, 1 branch to IRAN • B. “Aryan”→”Iran” • C. PERSIANS = one of several Iranic peoples • confronted SEMITIC peoples in Iraq/Syria SEMITIC PEOPLES ARYANS Indo-European migration, c. 1500 B.C.E.

  2. II. Achaemenid Empire (583-331 B.C.E.) A. Founded by Cyrus the Great, who defeated Babylonians PERSEPOLIS

  3. Staircase of Achaemenid palace at Persepolis, with frieze

  4. B. Alexander the Great defeats Darius, bringing Achaemenid empire to an end (331 B.C.E.). C. Hellenism takes root in Iran. Alexander Darius

  5. Parthian Empire, ca. 240 B.C.E. – 220 C.E. • decentralized rule Persepolis

  6. Parthian silver coins

  7. IV. Sasanian Empire, 220-634 C.E. A. Highly centralized state B. Shahanshah = “King of Kings” Ctesiphon Persepolis

  8. ruins of Sasanian palace, Ctesiphon, Iraq

  9. Sasanian silver coins

  10. ZOROASTRIANISM • Indo-European religion stressing ritual purity • Zarathustra / Zoroaster = priest of this religion ca. 1500 B.C.E. modern image of Zoroaster

  11. II. Zoroastrian dualism Ahura Mazda = force of good, governs sky, “good earth,” water, fire vs. Angra Mainyu / Ahriman = force of evil and darkness image of Ahura Mazda at Persepolis

  12. Sasanian cliff carving of Ahura Mazda (right), giving crown to emperor Ardashir II (r. 379-83 C.E.)

  13. A. Fire as symbol of Ahura Mazda – sacred fires, fire temples Sasanian fire altars

  14. Zoroastrian temple in modern-day Iran

  15. B. Funerary practices: ossuaries, “towers of silence” tomb of Cyrus the Great tower of silence, Yazd, Iran

  16. C. Ritual purity D. Human being contributes to realm of good (Ahura Mazda) through good deeds, or to realm of evil (Angra Mainyu / Ahriman) through bad deeds. E. Paradise (Firdus) and hell III. Scriptures A. Avesta = Ahura Mazda’s revelation to Zoroaster B. Gathas = hymns composed by Zoroaster C. The problem of writing D. Achaemenids adopted Aramaic as bureaucratic language (later displaced by local Iranian languages).

  17. IV. Priests (magi) A. Preside over five daily prayers B. Tend sacred fires Then… …and now

  18. V. An Iranian state religion Freddie Mercury

  19. VI. Manichean heresy, 3rd century C.E. > Mani A. Adopts Zoroastrian struggle between good and evil, but asserts that all of creation belongs to realm of evil / darkness B. Stresses asceticism and egalitarianism C. In response, Sasanians adopt highly monotheistic brand of Zoroastrianism (“Mazdaism”).

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