CultureTeachings of Zoroaster: They believed the earth is a battleground where a great struggle is fought between the spirit of good and the spirit of evil. They believed in one god, Ahura Mazda. Ahura Mazda would judge everyone to how well he or she fought the battle for goods. Concept of Satan and a belief in angels, similar to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Ahriman, the evil spirit, opposed Ahura Mazda. Zoroaster’s belief that people had the free will and could act as they chose. They followed the good force, and they fought the evil by telling the truth and avoiding bad deeds. The teachings compiled and recorded in the Avesta, the sacred text of Zoroastrianism.
Zoroastrianism: Zoroastrianism declined after the Muslim conquest of Persia in A.D. 600s. It was an important influence in the development of Manichaeism, a religious system that competed with early Christianity. Zoroastrians continue to observe the traditions in countries including Iran and India, where they are called Parsis. Zoroastrianism was the first religion to teach dualism. Dualism: the belief that the world is controlled by two opposing forces, good and evil. Zoroastrianism almost disappeared after the Persian Empire fell to the Greeks.
Avesta: Whoever lives by the service of Ahura Mazda would be rewarded after death.They’d enter heaven with pleasure. Those wicked would be punished for their sins. Ahura Mazda would defeat Ahriman and drive all evil forces out, purifying the wicked, and restoring all souls to live happily together.
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Persians were widely admired for their art, and their artists creations were used in the royal court. They had crafted delicate drinking vessels out of gold with precious gems. Animals were common to be the subject of their art and common decorations in Persian architecture.
Persepolis, the greatest example of Persian architecture, was a monument to Persia’s glory. Center of the city was a high-ceilinged audience hall, largest structure in the city. Darius I surrounded kingship with ceremony and ritual. Cyrus the Great respected other’s culture. The different twenty provinces spoke their own language, and followed many of their own laws and nationalities. |