Zoroaster
Ancient Iranian sage
Zoroaster is the ancient Persian prophet who founded Zoroastrianism, one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions.
He taught that life is a cosmic struggle between good and evil, with humans choosing sides through their thoughts, words, and deeds.
His dates are disputed—estimates range from 1500 to 500 BCE.
Also called Zarathustra, particularly in philosophical contexts after Nietzsche's *Thus Spoke Zarathustra*.
Philosophy of opposed pairs
- goodSatisfactory in quality
- evilProfound moral wickedness
- free willAutonomous choice capacity
- cosmic struggleConflict on universal scale
moral choice · truth · righteousness · eschatology · judgment · afterlife · heaven · hell
Eastern priests, biblical visitors
Perpetual religious fire
- eternal flameContinuously burning memorial light
- fire worshipDevotion to sacred flames
- ritual fireFlames used in ceremonies
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
Iran's former name
- Bronze AgeEarly metalworking civilization period
- Indo-IranianLanguage family spanning Iran eastward
- CyrusPersian royal name
- DariusPersian royal name
Persepolis · antiquity · oral tradition · historical · legendary · Hellenistic · Plutarch · Pliny
Surprising disclosed truth
- founderOne who begins something
- reformerAgent of institutional improvement
- teacherOne who instructs others
- sageWisdom keeper or seasoning
visionary · divine mission · messenger · spiritual leader · hymns · monotheism · conversion · preaching
dualism
Philosophy of opposed pairs
cosmic struggle · moral choice · truth · righteousness · eschatology · judgment · afterlife · heaven · hell · ethics
Magi
Eastern priests, biblical visitors
sacred flame
Perpetual religious fire
- eternal flameContinuously burning memorial light
- fire worshipDevotion to sacred flames
- ritual fireFlames used in ceremonies
Persia
Iran's former name
- Bronze AgeEarly metalworking civilization period
- Indo-IranianLanguage family spanning Iran eastward
- CyrusPersian royal name
Darius · Persepolis · antiquity · oral tradition · historical · legendary · Hellenistic · Plutarch · Pliny
revelation
Surprising disclosed truth
- founderOne who begins something
- reformerAgent of institutional improvement
- teacherOne who instructs others
sage · visionary · divine mission · messenger · spiritual leader · hymns · monotheism · conversion · preaching
- religious figuresJesus, Buddha, Muhammad, Moses, Abraham
- Ancient PersiaPersepolis, Cyrus the Great, Xerxes, Behistun inscription, satrap
- Ancient ThinkersAristotle, Plato, Socrates, Confucius, Thales
- Holy Figuressaint, prophet, messiah, savior, apostle
- philosophersAristotle, Plato, Socrates, Kant, Descartes
- Religious FoundersBuddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Siddhartha Gautama
ZoroasterSiddhartha Gautama
Founder of Buddhism
Laozi · Epicurus · Lucretius · Democritus · Lao Tzu