Definition: Ahura Mazda, the Iranian sky god, the Wise Lord or Lord Wisdom, and god of order, was the principal god of the ancient Zoroastrians. Followers are reminded of their purpose to unite with Ahura Mazda in the Faravahar where Ahura Mazda is depicted as a bearded man on a winged disk.
Ahura Mazda is the creator of heaven and earth and upholder of asa (rightness, truth) and opposer of Ahriman (the principle of evil). Persian Kings believed Ahura Mazda to be their special protector and equated him with Zeus. (Hdt. 1. 189).
Resources
Cotterell, Arthur and Rachel Storm. The Encyclopedia of World Mythology. Lorenz Books, London, 2004
Hornblower, Simon and Antony Spawforth. The Oxford Classical Dictionary, Third Edition Revised. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2003
Ahura Mazda is the creator of heaven and earth and upholder of asa (rightness, truth) and opposer of Ahriman (the principle of evil). Persian Kings believed Ahura Mazda to be their special protector and equated him with Zeus. (Hdt. 1. 189).
Resources
Cotterell, Arthur and Rachel Storm. The Encyclopedia of World Mythology. Lorenz Books, London, 2004
Hornblower, Simon and Antony Spawforth. The Oxford Classical Dictionary, Third Edition Revised. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2003
Examples:
According to Zoroastrianism, Zoroaster, the Greek form of Zarathustra, received fire and laws from Ahura Mazda. It is not clear whether Zoroaster was a prophet or simply a leader of devoted followers. In the Avesta, Zoroaster is a manthran, a possessor of sacred formulas based upon asa (or asha, arta), which is opposed to druj (lie, deceit). It is occasionally doubted whether Zoroaster was a historical figure.
