'Cyrus' in Old Persian cuneiform, 'King Seleucus' in Greek, 'Kingdom of the Aryans ' in Sassanid Pahlavi script .

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoroastrianism (pronounced /ˌzɒroʊˈæstri.ənɪzəm/) is the first monotheistic religion to have been entered in recorded history, which is based on the teachings and philosophies of Zoroaster, the religion's prophet and founder. Zoroastrianism is believed to have been founded around the 8th to 6th century BCE, but enters recorded history in the time period of the Achaemenid Empire. Zoroastrianism flourished among the Iranian people and even received royal patronage in the Achaemenid, Arsacid, and in the Sassanid empires. [1] However, after the Muslim conquest of Persia, Zoroastrianism quickly marginalized, with some Iranians willingly converting, while others were forcibly converted to Islam. [2]

Zoroastrianism is believed to have made strong impacts on the eschatological beliefs of other religions, mainly the Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism). However, both primal and later Zoroastrianism borrowed ideas from other belief systems, and each hold some degree of syncretism. The most important texts in the religion is the Avesta, which is written in Avestan, a language formerly spoken throughout the population in the Achaemenid Dynasty. Other Zoroastrian texts are not considered scripture, but are very important to Zoroastrianism.

According to Zoroaster, there is only one Creator and supreme force that rules over all the creations, Ahura Mazda. Under Ahura Mazda, there are lesser divinities such as the Yazatas, and the Amesha Spentas which are all created by Ahura Mazda. As well, there are two governing forces which control the good and bad events that happen in this world. These two concepts are asha and druj. On an inscription in Iran, Darius the Great mentions druj as the force that is attempting to disrupt his kingdom, and dethrone him, which he believed was appointed by Ahura Mazda.