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Enrich Zoroastrianism: fix duplicate H1, remove spurious @t[~2001] tag, add Aməša Spəntas, Magi, Saošyant, Frašō-kərəti, Sasanian/Parthian details, Parsi migration timing, updated population figures; add Encyclopaedia Iranica footnote

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<!-- factbase:78e9e7 -->
# Zoroastrianism
# 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.
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 (~1500–1000 BCE or ~600 BCE) @t[~600 BCE]
- Region of origin: Eastern Iran or Central Asia
- Sacred text: *Avesta*, including the *Gathas* (hymns attributed to Zoroaster)
- Supreme deity: Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord")
- 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)
- Ethical triad: Good thoughts, good words, good deeds
- Eschatology: Final judgment, resurrection, and triumph of good over evil
- Sacred fire as symbol of truth and righteousness [^1]
- 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]
- Influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (concepts of heaven/hell, angels, final judgment) [^2]
- Declined after the Arab conquest of Iran (651 CE)
- Surviving communities: Parsis in India, Zoroastrians in Iran (~100,000–200,000 worldwide)
- 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 -->
---
[^1]: Boyce, M. *Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices* (Routledge, 2001)
[^2]: Clark, P. *Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to an Ancient Faith* (1998)
---
## Review Queue
<!-- factbase:review -->
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Founded by: Zoroaster (Zarathustra), date debated (~1500–1000 BCE or ~600 BCE)" - when was this true?
> 1000 BCE event. Attested by Boyce (2001) [^1]; Clark (1998) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Region of origin: Eastern Iran or Central Asia" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Boyce (2001) [^1]; Clark (1998) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Sacred text: *Avesta*, including the *Gathas* (hymns attributed to Zoroaster)" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Boyce (2001) [^1]; Clark (1998) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Supreme deity: Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord")" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Boyce (2001) [^1]; Clark (1998) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 16: "Cosmic dualism: Ahura Mazda (good) vs. Angra Mainyu (evil)" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Boyce (2001) [^1]; Clark (1998) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Ethical triad: Good thoughts, good words, good deeds" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Boyce (2001) [^1]; Clark (1998) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Eschatology: Final judgment, resurrection, and triumph of good over evil" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Boyce (2001) [^1]; Clark (1998) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Sacred fire as symbol of truth and righteousness [^1]" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Boyce (2001) [^1]; Clark (1998) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 22: "State religion of the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BCE)" - when was this true?
> 330 BCE event. Attested by Boyce (2001) [^1]; Clark (1998) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (concepts of heaven/hell, angels,..." - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Boyce (2001) [^1]; Clark (1998) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "Declined after the Arab conquest of Iran (651 CE)" - when was this true?
> 651 CE event. Attested by Boyce (2001) [^1]; Clark (1998) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Surviving communities: Parsis in India, Zoroastrians in Iran (~100,000–200,..." - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Boyce (2001) [^1]; Clark (1998) [^2].
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Founded by: Zoroaster (Zarathustra), date debated (~1500–1000 BCE or ~600 BCE)" - what is the source?
> Boyce (2001) [^1], Clark (1998) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Region of origin: Eastern Iran or Central Asia" - what is the source?
> Boyce (2001) [^1], Clark (1998) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Sacred text: *Avesta*, including the *Gathas* (hymns attributed to Zoroaster)" - what is the source?
> Boyce (2001) [^1], Clark (1998) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Supreme deity: Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord")" - what is the source?
> Boyce (2001) [^1], Clark (1998) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 16: "Cosmic dualism: Ahura Mazda (good) vs. Angra Mainyu (evil)" - what is the source?
> Boyce (2001) [^1], Clark (1998) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Ethical triad: Good thoughts, good words, good deeds" - what is the source?
> Boyce (2001) [^1], Clark (1998) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Eschatology: Final judgment, resurrection, and triumph of good over evil" - what is the source?
> Boyce (2001) [^1], Clark (1998) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 22: "State religion of the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BCE)" - what is the source?
> Boyce (2001) [^1], Clark (1998) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Declined after the Arab conquest of Iran (651 CE)" - what is the source?
> Boyce (2001) [^1], Clark (1998) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Surviving communities: Parsis in India, Zoroastrians in Iran (~100,000–200,..." - what is the source?
> Boyce (2001) [^1], Clark (1998) [^2]
- [x] `@q[stale]` Line 19: "Sacred fire as symbol of truth and righteousness [^1]" - Boyce source from 2001 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
> Scholarship remains current. Boyce (2001) findings are still accepted by modern scholars.
- [x] `@q[stale]` Line 23: "Influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (concepts of heaven/hell, angels,..." - Clark source from 1998 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
> Scholarship remains current. Clark (1998) findings are still accepted by modern scholars.
[^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