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Zoroastrianism
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Zoroastrian fire temple in Yazd, Iran, with a symmetrical facade, columns supporting a portico, wooden doors, and the Faravahar symbol above the entrance. A Zoroastrian priest in white robes and a mouth cover adds wood to a large burning fire in a metal vessel at the Fire Temple of Yazd in Iran. dakhma Zoroastrianism: Gahānbār festival Thematic map of ancient Iran and surrounding regions, shaded in light green to indicate the extent of ancient Iran. The map marks significant religious and archaeological sites of ancient Indo-Iranian peoples, other ancient sites, and modern pockets of Zoroastrianism, with symbols distinguishing each type of site across areas that now include Iran, Afghanistan, and neighboring territories.
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Zoroastrian fire temple in Yazd, Iran, with a symmetrical facade, columns supporting a portico, wooden doors, and the Faravahar symbol above the entrance.
Zoroastrian Fire Temple of Yazd, Iran Zoroastrian Fire Temple of Yazd, Iran.

Zoroastrianism

religion
Written by
Jacques Duchesne-Guillemin
Emeritus Professor of Indo-Iranian Studies, University of Liège, Belgium. Author of The Religion of Ancient Iran and others.
Jacques Duchesne-Guillemin
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

Zoroastrianism, ancient pre-Islamic religion of Iran that survives there in isolated areas and, more prosperously, in India, where the descendants of Zoroastrian Iranian (Persian) immigrants are known as Parsis, or Parsees. The Iranian prophet and religious reformer Zarathushtra (flourished before the 6th century bce)—more widely known outside Iran as Zoroaster (the Greek form of his name)—is traditionally regarded as the founder of the religion. Zoroastrianism contains both monotheistic and dualistic features. It likely influenced the...

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