Includes bibliographical references (pages 161-165) and index.

Zoroastrianism was first preached as the Stone Age yielded to the Bronze, among Iranian tribes on the Inner Asian steppes. Later it became the faith of three great Iranian empires and exerted a strong influence on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. After the Arab conquest it was replaced as the State religion of Iran by Islam but survives there as a minority faith, and is adhered to also by the Parsis of India. This anthology contains selections which offer a complete picture of belief, worship and practice. There are historical texts from the sixth century B.C. onward and extracts from modern Zoroastrian writings representing traditionalism, occultism and reformist opinion. -- From publisher's description.

Includes translations from the Avesta and the Pahlavi.

SACFinal081324