Zoroastrian angelology is branch of Zoroastrian doctrine that deals with the hierarchical system of divinities introduced by the reforms of Zarathustra (Zoroaster). Those reforms reorganized the multitude of divinities (and divine concepts) of proto-Indo-Iranian religions in a complex order under the supremecy of Ahura Mazda, the Creator of everything. Avestan is an Eastern Old Iranian language that was used to compose the hymns of the Zoroastrian holy book, the Avesta. ... See Aryan Language or Old Persian For more information visit: *[Ancient Iranian Languages & Literature The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies (CAIS) ... Pahlavi is a term that refers: (1) to a script used in Iran derived from the Aramaic script, and (2) more broadly, to Middle Persian, the Middle Iranian language written in this script. ... The main Zoroastrian fire temple in Yazd, Iran. ... {{Infobox Language |name=Gujarati |nativename=ગુજરાતી Gujarātī |region[[Pakistan|speakers=1 million |rank=122 |familycolor=Indo-European |fam2=Indo-Iranian |fam3=Indo-Aryan |fam4=Western Indo-Aryan |script=Gujarati script |nation=Gujarat |agency=Language Academy |iso1=gu|iso2=guj|iso3=guj |notice=Indic}} Gujarati (ગુજરાતી Gujarātī) is an Indo-European... Zoroastrianism (Persian: آيين زرتشتی) also known as Mazdaism by some followers and Zarathustrianism by others, is a monotheistic religion. ... Zoroaster, in a popular Parsi Zoroastrian depiction. ... Faravahar (or Ferohar), the depiction of the human soul before birth and after death. ...

The Amesha Spenta

Main article: Amesha Spenta

According to Zoroaster, the first of Ahura Mazda's creative acts was to emanate six "divine sparks", called the Amesha Spenta in Zoroastrian tradition, which are principal aspects of the Creator and the foundation upon which Geti (the universe) is governed. In later Zoroastrianism, the six Amesha Spenta (lit: 'Bountiful Immortal') came to be personified as archangels - each responsible for a special domain that they helped create: In Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas are the Holy Immortals, the equivalent of Archangels in Christian theology. ... In Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas are the Holy Immortals, the equivalent of Archangels in Christian theology. ... Zoroastrianism (Persian: آيين زرتشتی) also known as Mazdaism by some followers and Zarathustrianism by others, is a monotheistic religion. ...

In addition, Ahura Mazda is often seen to be represented among the Amesha Spenta as well, as Spenta Mainyu, the 'Creative Emanation' or 'Holy Spirit'. As a member of the Amesha Spenta, Spenta Mainyu helped create humankind, and presides of Ašavan (lit: good man), upholders of Aša (Truth). This fundamental doctrine is only alluded to in the Gathas, but is systematically explained in Bundahishn 3.12. Although the Bundahishn, an 11th or 12th century text, is not considered to be scripture, the principle is generally accepted as doctrine. Avestan is an Eastern Old Iranian language that was used to compose the hymns of the Zoroastrian holy book, the Avesta. ... Persian is a language spoken in Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... In Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas are the Holy Immortals, the equivalent of Archangels in Christian theology. ... The Gathas form the oldest part of Avesta, the holy scripture of the Zoroastrian religion, possibly composed by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) himself. ...

The relationship between Ahura Mazda and Spenta Mainyu is a subtle one, and may be compared to the relationship between Yahweh and the Ruah haqodesh in Judaism, or God the Father and the Holy Spirit in Trinitarian Christianity. Faravahar (or Ferohar), the depiction of the human soul before birth and after death. ... The Tetragrammaton in Phoenician (1100 BC to 300 CE), Aramaic (10th Century BC to 0) and modern Hebrew scripts. ... In many religions, the supreme God is given the title and attributions of Father. ... In various religions, most notably Trinitarian Christianity, the Holy Spirit (also called the Holy Ghost; in Hebrew רוח הקודש Ruah haqodesh) is the third Person of the Holy Trinity. ... For other uses, see Trinity (disambiguation). ...

In the Zoroastrian calendarial tradition of naming the days and months after divinities, each of the Amesha Spenta has a month and day-of-the-month dedicated to them. This practice, instituted during the Achaemenid era (648–330 BCE), continues to this day. The Zoroastrian calendar is a religious calendar used by members of the Zoroastrian faith, and it is an approximation of the (tropical) solar calendar. ... Achaemenid Empire The Achaemenid Dynasty was a dynasty in the ancient Persian Empire, including Cyrus II the Great, Darius I and Xerxes I. At the height of their power, the Achaemenid rulers of Persia ruled over territories roughly emcompassing some parts of todays Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon... ... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 380s BC 370s BC 360s BC 350s BC 340s BC - 330s BC - 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 335 BC 334 BC 333 BC 332 BC 331 BC - 330 BC - 329 BC 328 BC 327...

In the Hormazd Yasht of the Baghan nask, which is believed to have been composed during the reign of the Ardashir I (226–241), the first Sassanid emperor, the Amesha Spenta undergo a transformation from abstract constructs to personified archangels. In sections 7,8,12-15 of that Yasht, they are described as being "names" of Ahura Mazda, that may be seen as images through meditation upon those "names". Silver coin of Ardashir I with a fire altar on its verso (British Museum London). ... The Sassanid Empire in the time of Shapur I; the conquest of Cappadocia was temporary Official language Pahlavi (Middle Persian) Dominant Religion Zoroastrianism Capital Ctesiphon Sovereigns Shahanshah of the Iran (Eranshahr) First Ruler Ardashir I Last Ruler Yazdegerd III Establishment 224 AD Dissolution 651 AD Part of the History of... Faravahar (or Ferohar), the depiction of the human soul before birth and after death. ...

The Yazata

Main article: Yazata

Subordinate to the Amesha Spenta archangels are the Yazata or Yazads (lit: 'Worthy of Worship' or 'Divine'), none of whom are explicitely mentioned in the Gathas of Zoroaster, but all of whom had existed as divine entities or concepts in pre-Zoroastrian religions and mythologies and were re-incorporated as angels in the younger texts of the Avesta. The collective term Yazata itself predates Zoroaster, where it was an all-encompassing term applied to the inexplicable (and thus divine). In Zoroastrianism, the yazatas are supernatural beings created by Ahura Mazda to help him fight the evil forces of Ahriman and keep the world in order. ... In Zoroastrianism, the yazatas are supernatural beings created by Ahura Mazda to help him fight the evil forces of Ahriman and keep the world in order. ... The Gathas form the oldest part of Avesta, the holy scripture of the Zoroastrian religion, possibly composed by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) himself. ... See Avesta Municipality for the Swedish town Yasna 28. ...

Many of the individual Yazata are clearly associated with pre-Zoroastrian figures and concepts, some of them easily identifyable as being of proto-Indo-Iranian origin, others are believed to have been concepts or icons of the mythologies of the Persian Heroic Age. Although the term Yazata itself predates Zoroastrianism, what was new was the heirarchy within which the figures were reintroduced.

A few Yazads, such as Farvadin, play a significant role in Zoroastrian philosophies, but most do not. The reintroduction of the Yazata was perhaps a reponse to the need to make Zoroastrianism acceptable to devotees of the old figures.

The Hamkars

Twenty-three of the Yazata are assigned to assist the Amesha Spenta, and in this role are called the Hamkar (lit: Collaborator[s]). In the Zoroastrian calendar, all the Hamkars have months and/or days of the month dedicated to them. The Dae-pa (lit: 'Creater of ...') Hamkars may be considered to be manifestations of Ahura Mazda, the Creator of everything. The Zoroastrian calendar is a religious calendar used by members of the Zoroastrian faith, and it is an approximation of the (tropical) solar calendar. ... Faravahar (or Ferohar), the depiction of the human soul before birth and after death. ...

See also Atar, Mauritania. ... Temple of Anahita: Goddess of ancient Persia, Iran. ... Relief from Taq-i Bostan in Kermanshah, Iran, showing Ardashir II of Sassanid empire at the center receiving his crown from Ahura Mazda. ... Mehr , Mitra or Mithra is the Iranian scholar, symbol of Light, and a School of thought(the literal meaning of the name is kindness). ... Sarosh Yazata is a holy being in Zoroastrian lore, in the service of the Zoroastrian supreme being, Ahura Mazda. ...

Other Yazad

Several Yazads were not assigned to assist the Amesha Spenta. The most important of these are:

Erman should not be confused with Ahriman (Angra Mainyu in Avestan), the deceiver. See Soma (disambiguation) for other uses. ... For the Final Fantasy monsters of Ahriman, go to Ahriman (Final Fantasy) Angra Mainyu (Avestan) or Ahriman (Middle Persian اهريمن) is the Evil Spirit of the god Ahura Mazda in Zoroastrianism. ...

See also

• Amesha Spenta
• Yazata
• Zoroastrian calendar

In Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas are the Holy Immortals, the equivalent of Archangels in Christian theology. ... In Zoroastrianism, the yazatas are supernatural beings created by Ahura Mazda to help him fight the evil forces of Ahriman and keep the world in order. ... The Zoroastrian calendar is a religious calendar used by members of the Zoroastrian faith, and it is an approximation of the (tropical) solar calendar. ...

Further reading

• CAIS: Angels in Zoroastrianism