A Brief Guide to Zoroaster, Zoroastrianism, and the Avesta

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About A Brief Guide To Zoroaster, Zoroastrianism, And The

Originally published in “Encyclopedia Americana” in 1920, this Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 16 pages, looks at the life of Persian prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra); explains the tenets of the religion he founded, Zoroastrianism; and describes the Avesta, the sacred writings of Zoroastrianism. Sample passage:The first characteristic element of Zoroastrianism is its doctrine of dualism, which personifies the opposing principles of good and evil, and recognizes the universal sway of these hostile forces. Briefly to describe this vital feature, the powers of good are led by Sharamazda or Ormuzd (“the Wise Lord”); those of evil by Ahriman (“the Spiritual Foe”). These opposing hosts, as if trained to combat and command by Oriental despots, have in their return an array of warriors, with the skill and persistency of actual armies. On one side are bands of angels and archangels; on the other companies of demons and archfiends.About the author:A. V. Williams Jackson (1862–1937) was Professor of Indo-Iranian Languages at Columbia University. Other works include “An Avesta Reader,” “Zoroaster, the Prophet of Ancient Iran,” and “Persia, Past and Present.”