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# Zoroastrianism

## Overview
Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions, founded by the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra) in ancient Iran. It was the state religion of the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian empires, and the dominant religion of the Iranian world for over a millennium.

## Key Facts
- Founded by: Zoroaster (Zarathustra), date debated; majority of scholars favor ~1000 BCE, with plausible range from ~1200 BCE to mid-6th century BCE @t[~1000 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Region of origin: Eastern Iran or Central Asia <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Sacred text: *Avesta*, including the *Gathas* (hymns attributed to Zoroaster; oldest layer, composed by Zoroaster himself) <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Supreme deity: Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord") <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Priestly caste: Magi (originally a Median tribe; assumed Zoroastrian priestly functions under the Achaemenids) [^3]

## Core Beliefs
- Cosmic dualism: Ahura Mazda (good) vs. Angra Mainyu (evil) <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Ethical triad: Good thoughts, good words, good deeds <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Aməša Spəntas: Six abstract divine entities surrounding Ahura Mazda, representing hypostases of his attributes (e.g., Good Mind, Truth, Devotion) [^3]
- Eschatology: Final judgment, resurrection, and triumph of good over evil; culminating in the *Frašō-kərəti* (final Renovation of the Cosmos) <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Sacred fire as symbol of truth and righteousness [^1] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Saošyant: A future savior figure who will redeem the world at the end of time [^3]

## Historical Influence
- State religion of the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BCE) @t[550 BCE..330 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Arsacid (Parthian) period (247 BCE–224 CE) @t[247 BCE..224]: Zoroastrianism maintained but with religious tolerance; Avestan texts partially dispersed after Alexander's conquest [^3]
- Sasanian Empire (ca. 224–651 CE) @t[224..651]: Last Zoroastrian state; Sasanians established unity of church and state, greatly expanded sacred fire temples, and canonized the Avesta under Khosrow I (531–579 CE) [^3]
- Influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (concepts of heaven/hell, angels, final judgment, savior figure); influence traceable from the 5th century BCE through the Parthian period [^2] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Declined after the Arab conquest of Iran (651 CE) @t[..=651] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
- Parsi migration: Zoroastrian refugees fled to India likely in the 8th–9th century CE, founding the Parsi community [^3]
- Surviving communities: Parsis in India (~50,000 per 2011 census), Zoroastrians in Iran, and diaspora communities (~100,000–120,000 worldwide) [^4] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->

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[^1]: Boyce, M. *Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices* (Routledge, 2001)
[^2]: Clark, P. *Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to an Ancient Faith* (1998)
[^3]: Malandra, W.W. "Zoroastrianism i. Historical Review up to the Arab Conquest." *Encyclopaedia Iranica* (2005, updated 2015). https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/zoroastrianism-i-historical-review/
[^4]: Wikipedia, "List of countries by Zoroastrian population." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Zoroastrian_population