Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP) Touraj Daryaee on Zoroastrianism in the Seventh Century and Beyond
Sep 13, 2025
Touraj Daryaee, a Chair in Persian Studies at UC Irvine and an expert on Zoroastrianism, delves into the fascinating world of this ancient religion during the Sasanian Empire. He discusses the political dynamics that established Zoroastrianism as a state religion and its interactions with Christianity and Judaism. Daryaee also highlights the challenges of sourcing Persian historical evidence, the evolution of Zoroastrianism post-Arab conquest, and the intriguing relationship between Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism, revealing its lasting influence on later religious thought.
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State Promotion Of Zoroastrianism
- The Sasanian state actively promoted Zoroastrianism, putting Ahura Mazda on coinage and inscriptions to signal religious authority.
- Other deities like Anahita remained important as patron figures within a developing state religious system.
Bilingual Christianity In Persia
- Christian communities in the Sasanian realm used Syriac liturgy and developed bilingual Persian translations to thrive.
- This bilingualism produced early Middle Persian Christian texts translated by Syriac-speaking clergy.
Jewish-Zoroastrian Courtly Interaction
- Jews in Sasanian Babylonia integrated closely with court and legal structures, sharing dress and practices with Zoroastrian elites.
- Rabbinic and Zoroastrian interactions influenced social and legal behaviors in late antiquity.
