[info from various Wikpedia, unless otherwise marked]
Mithra
Zoroastrian angelic divinity ('yazata') of:
- covenant & oath
- divinity of contracts
Mithra also judicial figure, protector of truth
& guardian of cattle, harvest & the waters
Roman
Mithraic Mysteries
Mystery Religion known as: Mithraism
attributed to Persia or Zoroastrian sources related to Mithra
but - modern scholars note dissimilarities b/w
1. Persian Mithra worship
2. Roman Mithraic mysteries
Mithra
from proto-Indo-Iranian: 'mitra' (root: 'mi' - 'to bind')
meaning:
THAT WHICH CAUSES BINDING
ie Avestan word for:
COVENANT, CONTRACT, OATH
became: mihr
Mithra - no mention in Gathas (oldest Zoroastrian texts)
or in the Yasna ('worship') scriptures
but Mithra is member of
IRANIAN AHURIC TRIAD:
1. Ahura Mazda
2. Ahura Berezaiti (Apam Napat)
3. Mithra
Ahura Mazda (Avstan): God, lit. 'Wise Lord', the Supreme Being of the Zoroastrians. (Var: (Pahlavi) 'Ohrmazd') here
'Ahura' = 'Lord' (in Avestan language, Iranic)
sacred language closely related to Vedic Sanskrit
Vedic Sanskrit, oldest preserved Indo-Aryan language (Iranic lang.)
Vedic Sanskrit orally-preserved as part of Srauta Vedic chanting
pre-dates alphabetic writing in India by several centuries
Śrauta = belonging to śruti (Hinduism)
Śruti = that which is heard / ancient religious texts, central cannon of Hinduism
Avestan (Zend), East Iranian, Zoroastrian
Ahu (Avestan): ("lord") spiritual lord or master, often found in conjunction with 'ratu' (judge) - here
Avestan, aka Zend
/ Eastern Iranian language of Zoroastrian scripture
area: ancient
- Arachosia
- Aria
- Bactria
- Margiana
Yaz culture of Bactria & Margiana (1500 BC - 1100 BC)
reflects early East Iranian culture of Avesta
likely Zoroastrian practice of sky burial (corpse exposure)
therefore no burials found
corresponds to (now):
Afghanistan, entirety
Pakistan, part
Tajikistan, part
Turkmenistan, part
Uzbekistan, part
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Aruti
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arauta
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_Sanskrit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avestan
Artaxerxes II
(r. to 358 B.C.) trilingual inscription at Susa
Old Persian, Elamite (Elam, now Southern Iran) + Babylonian
'Ahuramazda, Anahita, & Mithra
protect me against all evil'
Zoroastrian calendar, the 11th day of month & 7th month: dedicated to Mithra
1925 Iranian civil calendar adopted Zoroastrian month names
/ seventh month is: Mihr
Mithra distinct from Sun divinity (Hvare.khshaeta 'Radiant Sun')
but evolved into being co-identified with Sun, taking over the Radiant Sun role
---------------------
Zend Avesta
sacred book of the Parsis
few remaining followers of religion of Persia
(after overthrow of Sassanian dynasty (A.D. 642) (Islamic invasion))
aka Dualism, Mazdeism, Magism, Zorastrianism, Fire Worship
Avesta = x5 centuries preceding 'Christ' & x7 centuries after 'Christ', = the prevailing ideas Iran in that time
Iran / Parsis, Avesta / Zorastrianism influence on:
- heresiarchs - heretical movement(s) (from Gk. 'sect')
- Judaism
- Islam
In terms of religious thought,
blending of Aryan mind with Demitic, opening second stage of Aryan thought
"Zoroaster and Plato were treated as if they had been philosophers of the same school" [here]
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12894/pg12894.txt
---------------------
Hvare-Khshaeta
Avestan language name of Zorastrian divinity, 'Radiant Sun'
hvar = 'sun' / khshaeta = 'radiant' (also 'glory', 'splendour')
from Indo-Iranian root: svar 'to shine'
from which 'Surya' (Vedic Sanskrit) - 'sun' - also derived
(Middle Persian lang.) contracted to: 'Khwarshed
(new Persian lang.) continued as: Khurshed / Khorshid
6th Yasht
dedicated to Hvare-Khshaeta
ie. Avesta's chant/prayer to the Sun
11th Day of Zoroastrian calendar dedicated to: Hvare-Khshaeta
tradition eclipsed by Mithra as sun divinity
due to late syncretic influence
& possible conflation with Akkadian 'Shamash' deity
Sun is domain of Hvare-Khshaeta / distinct from 'Covenant'
source
The Esoteric Codex: Zoroastrianism
By Gerardo Eastburn
---------------------
11. Khwarshed (Av. Hvar Khshaeta) The Shining Sun
http://www.avesta.org/zcal.html
*NOTE: looks like Wikipedia entry is wrong (says 16th day, rather than 11th). Therefore amended this info to correspond with Eastburn info.
EDIT: it was my mistake ... not Wikipedia. Should have checked there first. Wasted time confirming & then checking Wikipedia. Would have saved me time, going back straight away. LOL
According to Wikipedia entry, conflation with:
1. Babylonian Shamash
2. Greek Apollo
with whom Mithra shares other characteristics (eg. judicial)
see: angelic messenger saviour figures of Manichaeans
Sasanian / Sasanid
Zorastrian dynasty - ruled Iran: 226 AD - 2 651 AD
Capitals
1. Istakhr (224–226 AD), southern Iran, Pars Province
2. Ctesiphon (226–637 AD) - in (now) Iraq, 35 km south of Baghdad
Ctesiphon
was largest city in world 570 AD to fall 637 AD (Muslim conquest)
Ctesiphon = Hellenised 'Ṭūsfūn' / 'Tisbōn' (Armenian 'Tizbon')
Old Testament: Kasfia/Casphia (wonder if this has anythng to do with Caspian Sea name?)
Caspian from (Gk.) Kaspioi
pre-Indo-European
identified with Kassites (assimilated / disappeared)
ruled Babylonia almost 400 years, after fall of Babylon to Hittites c. 1595 BC
their deity: Shuqamuna
rule ended 12th C. BC, coquered by Elam (part (now) Iran)
Elam known as Susiana, capital Susa
Ctesiphon
founded in the late 120s BC. on site of military camp by Iranians (Parthian)
merged with old Hellenistic capital: Seleucia (& other nearby settlements)
reason for Parthian relocation westward of capital: Scythian incursions
Seleucia became the metropolis,
like the Babylon metropolis of ancient times
Ctesiphon = major military objective of Roman empire (eastern wars)
Ctesiphon captured by Romans x5 times
Septimus Severus Emperor - sacked Ctesiphon
& sold thousands into slavery
Ctesiphon
western side of city = Veh-Ardashir ('the good city of Ardashir')
Veh-ardashir was originally Seleucia
was populated by wealthy Jews & known by them as 'Mahoza'
Veh-Ardashir, seat of Nestorian patriarch
Nestorianism - emphasizes the disunion between the human and divine natures of Yeshua / 'Christ'
advanced by Nestorius (386–450), Patriarch of Constantinople
leading to conflicts, incl. with Cyril of Alexandria
Nestorius condemned as heretical at councils
supporters relocated to Sasanian Empire, affiliated with local Christians
became: Church of the East (aka Nestorian Church)
ie. Syriac tradition of Eastern Christianity
(Syriac - Syrian blend of Greek & Syrian / Aramaic - Edessa origin)
later, mid 1500s schisms re Nestorian Church
*lots of battles over Ctesiphon / various Romans
Emperor Julian killed after battle outside of the Ctesiphon walls, in 363 AD
Syrian Language
origin of Syrian language = city of Edessa, Urha = Aramaic
Şanlıurfa - ie. Edessa (Uṙha)
Seleucus I Nicator
Seleukos Nikator ('Conqueror')
b. Europus, Macedonia c. 358 BC
d. 281 Thrace, Macedonia
on death of Alexander the Great & succession struggles
rose from governor of Babylon to king of empire
centring on Syria & Iran
founder of Seleucid kingdom
Edessa (Uṙha)
ancient upper Mesopotamia city
(now in Turkey & known as: Şanlıurfa)
founded by: Seleucus I Necator
(General under Alex. the Great)
2nd Century BC
Seleucid (ancient Macedonian)
rule disintegrated
result of wars with Parthia (Iranians/Persians)
Edessa (Uṙha) kingdom
established by Nabataean / Arab tribes (4 centuries)
(what were the Arabs doing here? must be due to disintegration of Seleucid Empire (ancient Macedonian) ... Arab squatters ... LOL )
under protectorate of Parthians (Iranians/Persians)
under protectorate of Armenia
was Armenian Mesopotamia capital city
then under Romans, after sack & capture by Trajan
a frontier city, border of Sassanid Persia (Zoroastrian Persia)
260 AD - Shahanshah Shapur I vs. Roman Empire
Roman army defeated and captured by Persians, including Emperor Valerian
Emperor capture was a first-time occurrence
literary language of tribes kingdom in Edessa (Uṙha) = Aramaic
Syriac developed from Aramaic
Hellenistic culture were eclipsed in Edessa (Uṙha)
Edessa (Uṙha) was rebuilt as Justinopolis, by Emperor Justin
Edessa (Uṙha) changed hands a couple of times
(Persian & Roman under Armenian Byzantine Emperor of Rome)
Muslim invaders, Islamic conquest of Levant 638 AD
1031 AD - Edessa (Uṙha) returned to Byzantines by Arab governor
then retaken by Arabs
then held by Greeks
then by Armenians
then by Seljuk Turks (1087)
then by Crusaders (1099)
Turk Zengi capture & slaughter of most inhabitants + Latin archbishop (Siege of Edessa)
sizeable Armenian population in Edessa (Uṙha)
/ birthplace of Matthew of Edessa, Armenian historian
12th Century - ruled by the Sultans of Aleppo (Ayyubids, centred Egypt, Kurdish origin)
then Sultanate of Rum (Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate, Turko-Persian Sunni Muslim state of Seljuk Emp.)
then Mongol ruled
(Mongol sacking of Baghdad, if account is correct, was brutal)
then Mameluks ('owned slave') military caste Egypt, slave soldiers, many Balkan origins
Arabic 'faris' / knights
weapons - saif (sword), spear, lance, javelin, arrows, clubs
then Akkoyunlu,the White Sheep Turkomans (Koyunlu) - Sunni Turkic
then Safavids (significant dynasty of Persia, after Muslim conquest - Shia, Kurdish & Azerbaijani mix w/ other)
1890 - Muslim pop. of Edessa less than 50%
then 1517 to 1918 by Ottoman Empire
[a little off track, but very interesting & change of hands probably accompanied like changes of hand in adjoining regions]
Prophet Mani (aka Manichaeus, Manes)
philosophy of moral dualism: good / evil
Mani, b. 216 AD, Mesopotamia (Iran) - ruled by Persia (Sassanid Empire)
origins: Jewish-Christian
raised in Jewish-Christian baptism Gnostic sect: Elcesaites
Mani writings in Syraic Aramaic
primary language of Babylon, administrative & cultural (Sassanid Empire)
= Eastern Middle Aramaic in three dialects:
1. Judeo-Aramaic (language of Talmud)
2. Mandean Aramaic (Southern Levant)
3. Syriac Aramaic
at time Manichaeism was spreading:
- Zoroastrianism was well established and popular
- & Christianity was growing in social & political influence
although Manichaeism had fewer adherents, many were HIGH RANKING POLITICAL FIGURES
Mani was backed by Persian Empire but fell out of favour with subsequent generation of Persian royalty
Mani saw himself as providing an alternative to the incomplete teachings of:
- Buddha
- Zoroaster
- Yeshua
Manichaeism may have influenced the Bogomils, Paulicians, and Cathars (dualism) / but few records left by these groups
COMMENT: must have also influenced Christianity, as there is a concept of moral good/evil & a concept of heaven/hell, unless that comes from Judaism ... although the Jews aren't into the hellish afterlife concept, I think ... too lazy to go checking the ins and outs of that.
But Judaism appears very big on the moral preaching and promotion of 'do-gooding', so they must also see the world in terms of dualism?
Can you have two views? One close up and the other distant? From a distant point of view: I don't think I believe in any ultimate good/bad, just as there is no universal anything. As in, there is no universal principle that is applicable or legitimate & there is no universal 'good'.
Everything must be neutral and indifferent, and our surroundings are just assigned a meaning by individuals who wish to make sense of their surroundings, and meanings are assigned, depending on what individuals/groups desire or value.
I'm not 100% on that, but I'm leaning strongly that way.
'Bad' is anything I don't want ... LOL
EDIT
*Might have to revise that a little. Seeing Iraq being robbed of national treasures by US-Anglo capitalists is sickening. I don't know what that is, but that's just not right.
Manichaeism
sporadic and intermittent existence in west
incl. Spain France, northern Italy, Balkans, for 1,000 years
(plus other regions)
Manichaeans tried to assimilate their religion with Islam in Arab Islamic empires
early period of the Arab Islamic empire, Manichaeism gained many followers
significant appeal among Muslim elites / some became dualists
Abbasids (early period) = Manichaean persecution
Third Abbasid caliph al-Mahdi persecuted the Manichaeans
established inquisition against Manichaeans
persecution ended: 780s
296 AD - Diocletian, Roman emperor
ordered all Manichaean leaders to be burnt alive along with the Manichaean scriptures
Roman successors = policy of persecution
382 AD - Theodosius I
= issued decree of death for all Manichaean monks
religion attacked & persecuted by:
1. Christian Church
2. Roman state
- almost disappearing in Western Europe in 5th Century AD
- & from eastern Roman Empire in 6th Century AD
Persecuted by the Chinese, as well
Middle Ages - Neo-Manichaeism
emerging movements described as 'Manichaean' by Catholic Church
1184 Inquisition: persecuted as Christian heresies
persecuted included:
- Cathar Churches of Western Europe
- Paulican movement (from Armenia)
- Bogomils, Bulgaria
Mani seemed to be obsessed with 'evil'
denied omnipotence of 'god'
contended two opposite powers
taught dualistic view of good & evil
'god' vs. 'satan' notions
human / soul is battleground
soul defines person - influence both light & dark
very involved explanation re good, evil, World of Light, Shekhinas, fallen angel etc.
Sounds like Kabbalah influence (I think) ... yep, I'd say so:
Manichaeism evolved in proximity to 2 other new Aramaic religious phenomena
1. Talmudic Judaism
2. Babylonian Mandaeism (manda / knowledge) - Gnosticism, Southern Levant to Meso.
Zbigniew Brzezinski used the phrase "Manichaean paranoia" (2007)
re US President George W. Bush's world view
re Bush notion that he "is leading forces of good against the empire of evil"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manichaeism
[info from various other Wikpedia, unless otherwise marked]
Iranian-Indian Link
Early migrations would perhaps explain the Aryan and Indian connection.
Early Aryan migration
There was a split in the Aryans of what became the Iran variety, occurring in what is currently Uzbekistan.
One branch of Aryans of the Iranian kind occupied the Iranian region and the other invaded the Indian region (the Punjab):
source: www.slideserve.com
Vedic
1. of or relating to Veda or Vedas, variety of Sankstrit
(or the Hindu culture that produced same)
2. ancient Aryan / European settlers in India
originators of many of the traditions preserved in the Vedas
*so far, the term 'Indo-European' makes no sense, when European/Aryan moves into Indian, rather than vice versa
- oldest body of sacred Hindu texts composed in Sanskrit
- dating from c. 1000 BC
Veda = 'knowledge' (Sanskrit)
Hinduism
- caste system
- belief in reincarnation
- belief in supreme being
- opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth
Sanskrit: now used in India only for religious purposes
|
No comments:
Post a Comment