The Book of Arda Viraf is a Zoroastrian religious text which describes the dream-journey of a devout Zoroastrian through the next world. It has been compared to Dante's Divine Comedy. Zoroastrianism was adapted from an earlier, polytheistic faith by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) in Persia very roughly around 1000 BC (although, in the absence of written records, some scholars estimates are as late as 600 BC). ... Dante redirects here. ... Dante shown holding a copy of The Divine Comedy, next to the entrance to Hell, the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory and the city of Florence, in Michelinos fresco. ...

The date of the book is not known, but is generally assumed to be fairly late in the ancient history of the religion, probably from the period of the Sassanian empire, when Zoroastrianism experienced a state-sponsored revival. The fact that the "evil" Alexander the Great is referred to as a Roman, suggests this period, in which the rivalry between the two empires was intense. Head of king Shapur II (Sasanian dynasty A.D. 4th century). ... Alexander the Great fighting the Persian king Darius (Pompeii mosaic, from a 3rd century BC original Greek painting, now lost). ...

In the narrative Arda Viraf is chosen for his piety to undertake a journey to the next world in order to prove the truth of Zoroastrian beliefs, after a period when the land of Iran had been troubled by the presence of confused and alien religions (probably a reference to Hellenising policies of the Seleucid dynasty). He drinks wine and a hallucinogen, after which his soul travels to the next world where it is greeted by a beautiful woman who represents his faith and virtue. Crossing the Chinvat bridge, he is then conducted by "Srosh the pious and Adar the angel" through the "star track", "moon track" and "sun track", places outside of heaven reserved for the virtuous who have nevertheless failed to conform to Zoroastrian rules. In heaven itself he meets Ahura Mazda who shows him the souls of the blessed. Each person is described living an idealised version of the life he or she lived on earth, as a warrior, agriculturalist, shepherd or other profession. The Seleucid Empire was one of several political states founded after the death of Alexander the Great, whose generals squabbled over the division of Alexanders empire. ... Hallucinogenic drug - drugs that can alter sensory perceptions. ... The heavens are the sky, the celestial sphere, or outer space. ... Ahura Mazda is the abstract and transcendant god of Zoroastrianism. ...

With his guides he then descends into hell to be shown the sufferings of the wicked, which are described in graphic detail. As in Dante, each wicked person is alloted a form of suffering appropriate to their transgressions. For example, a woman who failed to feed her own children properly is forced to devour her own flesh. Stress is placed on obedience social authority and order. Medieval illustration of the Mouth of Hell Hell is, according to many religious beliefs, a place or a state of painful suffering. ...

Having completed his visionary journey Viraf is told by Ahura Mazda that the Zoroastrian faith is the only proper and true way of life and that it should be preserved in both prosperity and adversity.

External links

Translation of the Book of Arda Viraf