The Ancients Zoroastrianism
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Nov 20, 2025 
Professor Almut Hintze, a leading expert on Zoroastrianism from SOAS, dives into the profound legacy of this ancient faith. She discusses the foundational teachings of the prophet Zarathustra and the concept of Ahura Mazda as the benevolent creator. The conversation explores the dualism of good and evil through Spenta Mainyu and Angra Mainyu. Hintze highlights the significance of fire in rituals and ethics, as well as Zoroastrianism's impact on Persian identity and its historical interactions with other religions.
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Living Millennia-Old Ritual Language
- Zoroastrian worship preserves extremely archaic language and ritual that date back millennia.
- Professor Almut Hintze explains the Gathas and Avesta use Avestan, the oldest attested Iranian language still recited today.
Indo-Iranian Roots Link Vedas And Avesta
- Iranian and Indo-Aryan languages share a direct common ancestor and cultural features.
- Comparing the Avesta and the Rig Veda reveals shared grammar, vocabulary, and religious concepts from Indo-Iranian times.
Daiva Demonization Marks Religious Break
- A key early innovation in Iranian religion is demonizing the old Indo-European gods (daivas).
- This rejection marks a distinct religious shift after the Indo-Iranian split, central to Zoroastrian origins.
