magus

From Latin magus, from Ancient Greek μάγος (mágos, “magician”), from Μάγος (Mágos, “Magian”), of an indeterminate Old Iranian origin (see Μάγος for details). Doublet of mage.

Court astrologers, who were drawn from the race of the Magi, were among those that formed the royal court [...]

1922, Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla, Zoroastrian Civilization, page 230:

Mocenigo / [satisfied at last] / Good! Now, tell me, Prior, / What is Rome’s greatest fear? What gives the Pope / More night-mares than bad sausage? / Prior Gabrielli / Heresy! / The rendering of the seamless robe of truth. / This rabble of mountebanks and maguses / Who shout reform, defile the Eucharist, / Flout all authority, elect false bishops, / Deny the Trinity and saving grace, / Abolish marriage, set their private minds / Against the long tradition of the Faith / And Peter’s dictates and the Holy Writ . . .

1969, Morris L[anglo] West, The Heretic: A Play in Three Acts […], New York, N.Y.: William Morrow and Company, Inc., →LCCN, pages 11–12:


Avesta

From Persian اوستا (avestâ), from Middle Persian [script needed] (abestāg /ʾp(y)stʾk'/), of uncertain meaning.

der

(Zoroastrianism) The primary collection of religious texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language.

الأَبِسْتَاق

the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language.


yazata

Transliteration from Avestan substantivized adjective 𐬫𐬀𐬰𐬀𐬙𐬀 (yazata, “(an entity that is) worthy of worship”). Doublet of Yazd.


haoma

Transliteration of Avestan 𐬵𐬀𐬊𐬨𐬀 (haoma). Doublet of soma.

translit

The offering of haoma was a common practice among Achaemenids; the Haumavarga Scythians probably owe their name to the fact that they did not press the plant but strewed it ritually (HOFFMANN 1975).

1999, Karel van der Toorn, Bob Becking, Pieter Willem van der Horst, Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible: DDD, page 384:

(Zoroastrianism) A plant associated with the divinity Haoma.


Mazda

Transliteration of Avestan 𐬨𐬀𐬰𐬛𐬁 (mazdā, “wisdom”).

(Zoroastrianism) Ahura Mazda, the supreme and transcendental god of Zoroastrianism.


Asman

From Avestan 𐬀𐬯𐬨𐬀𐬥 (asman, “sky”). Cognate of Old Persian 𐎠𐎿𐎶𐎴 (a-s-m-n /asman-/, “sky”).

cog

𐬚𐬡𐬁𐬴𐬀 𐬚𐬡𐬁𐬴𐬀#Avestan

(Zoroastrianism) Avestan and Middle Persian name of the Zoroastrian divinity that is the hypostasis of the sky. Asman is the "highest heaven," and is distinguished from the firmament, 𐬚𐬡𐬁𐬴𐬀 (θβāṣ̌a), which lies nearer the earth.


Yasna

From Avestan 𐬫𐬀𐬯𐬥𐬀 (yasna, “oblation; worship”).

uder

(Zoroastrianism) The primary liturgical collection of texts of the Avesta.

(Zoroastrianism) The principal Zoroastrian act of worship at which those verses are recited.


Vendidad

From Avestan 𐬬𐬍𐬛𐬀𐬉𐬬𐬋𐬛𐬁𐬙𐬀 (vīdaēvōdāta, literally “given against the demons”).

(Zoroastrianism) A collection of texts within the greater compendium of the Avesta. By content, an enumeration of various manifestations of evil spirits, and ways to confound them.


Ahuna Vairya

Transliteration of Avestan 𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬥𐬀 𐬬𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀 (ahuna vaⁱriia).

translit

𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬥𐬀 𐬬𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀

(Zoroastrianism) Avestan language name of the most sacred of the Gathic hymns of the Avesta, the revered texts of Zoroastrianism.


Haurvatat

Transliteration of Avestan 𐬵𐬀𐬎𐬭𐬬𐬀𐬙𐬁𐬙 (haurvatāt, “wholeness”). Doublet of Khordad.

(Zoroastrianism) The Zoroastrian concept of “wholeness” or “perfection”. As a divinity, Haᵘrvatat is the Amesha Spenta of water, prosperity, and health.


Ameretat

From Avestan 𐬀𐬨𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬙𐬁𐬙 (amər^ətāt, “not dying”).

der

(Zoroastrianism) The Zoroastrian divinity/divine concept of "not dying". As the hypostasis of immortality, Ameretat is the Amesha Spenta of long life on earth and eternal life in the hereafter.


Angra Mainyu

From Avestan 𐬀𐬢𐬭𐬀⸱𐬨𐬀𐬌𐬥𐬌𐬌𐬎 (aŋra.maⁱniiu), from 𐬀𐬢𐬭𐬀 (aŋra, “evil”) + 𐬨𐬀𐬌𐬥𐬌𐬌𐬎 (maⁱniiu, “spirit”). Doublet of Ahriman.

𐬀𐬢𐬭𐬀⸱𐬨𐬀𐬌𐬥𐬌𐬌𐬎

(Zoroastrianism) Avestan language name of Zoroastrianism's hypostasis of the "destructive spirit". The Middle Persian equivalent is Ahriman.


Amesha Spenta

en-noun

Amesha Spenta (plural Amesha Spenta or Amesha Spentas)

Amesha Spenta (plural)
Amesha Spentas (plural)

t

𐬀𐬨𐬆𐬱𐬀 𐬯𐬞𐬆𐬧𐬙𐬀

𐬀𐬨𐬆𐬱𐬀 𐬯𐬞𐬆𐬧𐬙𐬀 (aməša spəṇta)

Avestan: 𐬀𐬨𐬆𐬱𐬀 𐬯𐬞𐬆𐬧𐬙𐬀 (aməša spəṇta)

ამეშა სპენტა

ამეშა სპენტა (ameša sṗenṭa)

Georgian: ამეშა სპენტა (ameša sṗenṭa)

Middle Persian: 𐭠𐭬𐭧𐭥𐭮𐭯𐭭𐭣 (ʾmḥʿspnd /amahraspand/)

Persian: امشاسپند (fa) (amešâspand), امهرسپند (amahraspand)

From Avestan 𐬀𐬨𐬆𐬱𐬀 𐬯𐬞𐬆𐬧𐬙𐬀 (aməša spəṇta, “Bounteous Immortal”).

der

𐬀𐬨𐬆𐬱𐬀 𐬯𐬞𐬆𐬧𐬙𐬀

Thus whereas Bousset, for instance, regarded the Amesha Spentas of the Zoroastrian religion as a textbook example of the process by which concrete divine beings could be evaporated into abstract figures,² it is now recognized that the development ran, in fact, in the opposite direction, that is, from the personification of abstract concepts to concrete protecting spirits, while the ancient Persian gods were the object of Zoroaster′s fierce attack.³

1967, Walter Eichrodt, Theology of the Old Testament, page 195:

Each Amesha Spenta retains his or her⁵ individual nature and life which was given at their creation.[…]and it is an act he also accomplishes through the guardianship and identification that the Amesha Spentas have for and with the world.

1998, Peter Clark, Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to Ancient Faith, page 30:

Having created Asha,^([divine order]) Ahura Mazda was its first follower. He rules through His Divine Powers, the Amesha Spenta, the immortal Shining Ones, collectively known as the Haft Amshahspands, the Seven Amesha Spenta.

2003, Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi, “8: The Notions of Divine Being in various Religions”, in Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi, editor, World Religions and Islam: A Critical Study, Part 1, page 125:

(Zoroastrianism) Any of the six immortal beings created by Ahura Mazda plus Ahura Mazda himself, often equated to archangels, virtues, and elements of nature.


daeva

Transliteration of Avestan 𐬛𐬀𐬉𐬎𐬎𐬀 (daēuua). Doublet of deva.

translit

(Zoroastrianism) A supernatural entity of disagreeable nature.


Ahura Mazda

Transliteration of Avestan 𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬭𐬀 𐬨𐬀𐬰𐬛𐬁 (ahura mazdā). Doublet of Aramazd.

A relief sculpture of Ahura Mazda stands among the ruins of Persepolis in Iran.

2003, Jeffrey Brodd, World Religions 2003: A Voyage of Discovery, page 181:

What is important is that Darius and his successors were fervent Mazdeans, that is, worshipers of Ahura Mazda.

2004, Sarah Iles Johnston, Religions of the Ancient World: A Guide, page 555:

Thus Ahura Mazda may be analogous to the Christian Trinity (one God in three persons), except consisting of one God in seven Amesha Spentas. In any event, the doctrine of the Amesha Spentas should not be interpreted in any way that compromises Zoroaster′s monotheism, although it would eventually change in exactly that way after the passing of Zoroaster himself.

2012, Winfried Corduan, Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions, page 190:

(Zoroastrianism) The divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator, or God.

阿胡拉·马兹达

Āhúlā Mǎzīdá


Bahrām

Ultimately from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Wr̥tragʰnás. Doublet of Vahagn.

(Zoroastrianism) Verethragna; The Zoroastrian concept of “victory over resistance” and, as the hypostasis of victory, one of the principal figures in the Zoroastrian pantheon of yazatas.


Haoma

Transliteration of Avestan 𐬵𐬀𐬊𐬨𐬀 (haoma).

Quickly spake Zarathustra: praise to the Haoma, the created by Mazda! Good is Haoma, the created by Mazda! Praise to the Haoma!

1864, Arthur Henry Bleeck, Friedrich Spiegel, Avesta: The Religious Books of the Parsees, Yasna 9.23, page 61

Even today Zoroastrian women who are with child pray to Hoama and constantly recite the Hōm Yasht in order to have distinguished sons.

1993, W.B. Fischer, Ilya Gershevitch, Ehsan Yarshster, The Cambridge History of Iran, page 653:

(Zoroastrianism) Hypostatic divinity of the haoma plant.


tower of silence

en-noun

tower of silence (plural towers of silence)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-tower of silence.wav

Calque of French tour du silence, from the fact that human voices are generally not heard at such places.

(Zoroastrianism) A low, cylindrical, open-topped tower where Zoroastrians place the bodies of deceased people to disintegrate from exposure and consumption by carrion birds such as vultures, the remaining bones being kept in an ossuary.

بُرْج الصَّمْت

low, cylindrical open-topped tower where Zoroastrians place the bodies of deceased people to disintegrate


Verethragna

Transliteration of Avestan 𐬬𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬚𐬭𐬀𐬖𐬥𐬀 (vər^əθraγna), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Wr̥tragʰnás. Doublet of Vahagn and Bahrām.

translit

(Zoroastrianism) The hypostasis of “victory”; a highly complex figure in Zoroastrianism.


Gatha

Transliteration of Avestan 𐬔𐬁𐬚𐬁 (gāθā). Doublet of gatha.

(Zoroastrianism) Any of the 17 hymns included in the Avesta believed to have been composed by Zoroaster himself.

Գաթա

any of the 17 hymns included in the Avesta believed to have been composed


Zurvanism

Of Persian origin, Zurvan + -ism, from Middle Persian [script needed] (Zurvān), from Avestan 𐬰𐬭𐬎𐬎𐬁𐬥 (zruuān, “time”).

(Zoroastrianism, historical) A now-extinct branch of Zoroastrianism that had the divinity Zurvan as its primordial creator deity.


asha

Transliteration of Avestan 𐬀𐬴𐬀 (aṣ̌a). Doublet of rta.

(Zoroastrianism) The concept of truth and existence in Zoroastrianism, usually associated with the Amesha Spentas.


Ahura

Transliteration of Avestan 𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬭𐬀 (ahura, “lord”). Doublet of Asura.

Ahura Berezant Apam Napat
Apam Napat#English

(Zoroastrianism) Title of the three members of the ahuric triad – Ahura Mazda, Ahura Mithra, and Ahura Berezant Apam Napat – that regulate (or, in the case of Mazda, create) the physical and moral order (asha).


ahura

Transliteration of Avestan 𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬭𐬀 (ahura, “lord”).

(Zoroastrianism) A member of the ahuric triad.


dastur

(Zoroastrianism) A Zoroastrian high priest ranking above a mobad or herbad.


yasht

From Middle Persian yšt' (yašt, “prayer, worship”), probably from Avestan 𐬫𐬀𐬱𐬙𐬀 (yašta, “honored”), from 𐬫𐬀𐬰 (yaz, “to worship, honor”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁yaǵ-.

bor

(Zoroastrianism) Any of a collection of hymns and prayers.


herbad

From Classical Persian هیرْبَد (hērbad), from Middle Persian [Book Pahlavi needed] (hylpt' /hērbed/, “teacher-priest”).

der

(Zoroastrianism) A Zoroastrian priest of a minor order.


dakhma

tower of silence
tower of silence#English

(Zoroastrianism) Synonym of tower of silence (“a low, cylindrical, open-topped tower where Zoroastrians place the bodies of deceased people to disintegrate from exposure and consumption by carrion birds such as vultures, the remaining bones being kept in an ossuary”)


Auramazda

Though the king was thus above all human law, he felt himself bound to recognize the higher or divine law of Auramazda.

1922, Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla, Zoroastrian Civilization, page 228:


Apam Napat

(Zoroastrianism) One of the Ahura triad of the Avestan tradition.


druj

(Zoroastrianism) Deceit, falsehood, lie.


Bundahishn

Borrowed from Avestan 𐬠𐬎𐬥𐬛𐬀𐬵𐬌𐬱𐬥𐬍𐬵 (bundahišnīh, literally “primal creation”), being a word from the first sentence of the younger (and longer) of the two recensions of the work.

bor

The Bundahishn chapter is here given in outline, renderings from West's translation being sometimes adopted verbatim.

1896, A. V. Williams Jackson, “The Ancient Persian Doctrine of A Future Life”, in William Rainey Harper, Ernest DeWitt Burton, Shailer Mathews, editors, The Biblical World, New Series: Volume 8, University of Chicago Press, page 162:

1997 [Routledge], Alan Williams, 2: Later Zoroastrianism, Brian Carr, Indira Mahalingam (editors), Companion Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy, 2005, Taylor & Francis e-Library, page 23,
The Bundahishn is concerned with, among other things, the themes of the creation of the world, the order of things, and the eschatological destiny of both the individual soul and the world at large.

According to Bundahishn, the prophet had exclaimed that with the disintegration of the body and the destruction of matter, the reconstruction of the body would not be possible.

2003, Farhang Mehr, The Zoroastrian Tradition, Mazda Publishers, page 143:

(religion, Zoroastrianism, mythology) An encyclopaedic collection of Zoroastrian cosmogony and cosmology; especially, the longer of the two recessions of the work.


doongerwadi

(Zoroastrianism) Synonym of tower of silence


parahaoma

(Zoroastrianism) The juice of the haoma plant.


Horomazes

/hɒ.ɹəʊˈmɑːzɪs/

From Ancient Greek Ὡρομάζης (Hōromázēs), though Latin Hōromazēs, ultimately from Avestan 𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬭𐬀 𐬨𐬀𐬰𐬛𐬁 (ahura mazdā).

(Zoroastrianism) Ahura Mazda, the divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the highest God.


xrafstar

There are three kinds of xrafstars corresponding to three categories of animals: those that live in water, those that live on earth, and those that live in the air.

GBd 22 gives details of certain xrafstars, such as the silkworm and the honeybee, which 'Ohrmazd through omniscience diverts to the benefit of creatures' (my translation), just as he also makes the noxious creatures attack and kill their own species (GBd 22.29).

2015, Michael Stausberg, Yuhan Sohrab-Dinshaw Vevaina, The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Zoroastrianism (page 352)

(Zoroastrianism) Any animal considered harmful or repulsive, and not to be sacrificed or eaten.


Xwedodah

consanguine marriage
consanguine marriage

(Zoroastrianism, historical) A type of consanguine marriage practiced before the Muslim conquest of Persia.