Introduction to Zoroastrianism by Prods Oktor Skjærvø For use in Early Iranian Civilizations 102 (Divinity School no. 3663a). Old Iranian Religion, Zoroastrianism Please do not cite without permission © Prods Oktor Skjærvø 2005P. O. Skjærvø: EIrCiv 102a, Spring 2006 iii February 7, 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS Basic bibliography .......................................................................................................................................................vi Some useful literature..........................................................................................................................................vi Basic works of reference .....................................................................................................................................vi History of the Iranians .........................................................................................................................................vi History of Zoroastrian studies.............................................................................................................................vi Comprehensive/general surveys .........................................................................................................................vii Zarathustra............................................................................................................................................................vii Achaemenid religion ...........................................................................................................................................viii Special topics .......................................................................................................................................................viii Practices................................................................................................................................................................viii Modern Zoroastrians ...........................................................................................................................................ix Comparative religion/mythology........................................................................................................................ix Old Indic texts......................................................................................................................................................ix Old Iranian texts...................................................................................................................................................ix Avestan texts ........................................................................................................................................................ix Old Persian inscriptions.......................................................................................................................................ix Classical texts.......................................................................................................................................................x Middle Persian literature .....................................................................................................................................x Sasanian inscriptions ...........................................................................................................................................x Pahlavi texts ........................................................................................................................................................x Persian and other late texts.................................................................................................................................x On line translations..............................................................................................................................................x Note on pronunciation .............................................................................................................................................xi Zoroastrianism. A brief oveview.................................................................................................................................1 1. The Indo- Iranians....................................................................................................................................................3 1.2. The Indo-Aryans...............................................................................................................................................3 1.3. The Iranians ......................................................................................................................................................3 1.3.1. Geographical names in the Avesta...........................................................................................................4 1.3.2. The evidence of the Achaemenid inscriptions.........................................................................................4 1.3.3. Persians and Medes...................................................................................................................................5 2. Iranian languages and peoples ................................................................................................................................5 2.1. Avestan..............................................................................................................................................................5 2.2. Median and Scythian ........................................................................................................................................6 2.3. Old Persian........................................................................................................................................................6 2.4. Middle Iranian Languages ...............................................................................................................................6 2.5. Middle Persian, Pahlavi ...................................................................................................................................7 3. Source texts ..............................................................................................................................................................7 3.1. The Avesta