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Lecture 23: Persian Culture and Religion

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Lecture 23: Persian Culture and Religion 4/12/2012 Lecture 23: Persian Culture and Religion HIST 213 Spring 2012 Persian Empire at its height Persian Empire • Persia ruled by coalition of 7 Royal Families – Cyrus (Achaemenid family) strongest (but not only) • Vast Empire: – from Aegean to Indus River (2500 mi.) – Aral Sea to Ethiopia • Benevolent (compared to Assyrians and Chaldeans) – allowed locals to retain their governmental systems – enforced a new currency system – Darius builds FABULOUS capital at Persepolis 1 4/12/2012 The Royal Road * Pasargadae The bridge at Diyarbakir The Royal Road 1,677 miles (2,699 km) long • Susa to Sardis • mounted couriers could travel distance in 7 days – outposts were built – in relay like Pony Express • James Farley Post Office in New York City inscribed with Herodotus’ creed Pol-e Dokhtar bridge on the Persian Royal Road History of Herodotus [8.98] There is nothing mortal which accomplishes a journey with more speed than these messengers, so skillfully has this been invented by the Persians. For they say that according to the number of days of which the entire journey consists, so many horses and men are set at intervals, each man and horse appointed for a day's journey. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness of night prevents them from accomplishing the task proposed to them with the very utmost speed. 2 4/12/2012 The first one rides and delivers the message with which he is charged to the second, and the second to the third; and after that it goes through them handed from one to the other, as in the torch race among the Greeks, which they perform for Hephaestus. This kind of running of their horses the Persians call angareion. Persian Engineering Several Capitals built by various Persian rulers 546 Cyrus II – Pasargade • remained unfinished until his death in 530 530 Cambyses – Susa • Neolithic origins • 2240 BCE Elamite capital – Code of Hammurabi • 540 BCE 1 of 4 Persian capitals under Cyrus – by 530 became central capital under Cambyses 518 Darius - Persepolis Cyrus’ capital at Parsagade • 5:40-end http://www. youtube.co m/watch?v= 8aukC8GBEs U&feature=r elated 3 4/12/2012 Palace at Persepolis • Darius moved capital 40 kms to the south • building started in 518 BCE • enormous platform 450 x 300 meters • Apanda (reception Hall) – 20 meters high • http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=nSm68TxRBRo&fe ature=related • 4:18- 9:26 Title: Plan of Apadana Palace of Darius and Xerxes, Persepolis. Solid triangles show the processional route taken by Persian and Mede notables; open triangles indicate the way taken by heads of delegations and their suites. Date: 518-460 BCE. Title: Audience Hall of Darius and Xerxes. Persepolis, Iran Date: ca. 500 BCE. 4 4/12/2012 Title: Bull capital, from Persepolis. Louvre, Paris Date: ca. 500 BCE. Title: Darius and Xerxes Giving Audience. Source/ Museum: Archaeological Museum, Tehran, Iran Artist: n/a Medium: limestone Date: ca. 490 BCE. Size: height 8' 4" (2.5 m) 5 4/12/2012 Persian Art Culturally sophisticated • Did not choose to use art to impose fear in subjects • used art to convey homogeneity – Bas relief to entrance of Persepolis Idealized Kingship focused on the bow • Royal archer – Behistun Inscription of Darius How Art Made the World (BBC 2006) Presented by Dr. Nigel Spivey • Chair of Classical Art and Archaeology at Cambridge University Title: Rhyton. Achaemenid. Source/ Museum: Archaeological Museum, Tehran, Iran Date: 5th - 3rd centuries BCE. Medium: gold 6 4/12/2012 Persian Religion Zoroastrianism • Prophet Zarathustra • worshipped god Ahura-Mazda – “Lord of Wisdom” – earliest form of monotheism • Official religion of – Achaemenid – Parthians – Sassanians Persians Core Beliefs • Understands the world as a battleground against unseen forces: – goodness (light) – evil (darkness) • Humans must choose between good and evil • Worship at Fire Temples • Elaborate marriage and Funeral rituals 1. Vohu Manah - Good Thought 2. Asha Vahishta - Justice and Truth – represented by Fire and Energy 3. Kshathra – Authority and moral conviction – assisting both poor and rich 4. Spenta Armaiti - Devotion and Serenity 5. Haurvatat - Wholeness of Heart 6. Ameretat – Immortality – “Heaven” or afterlife 7. Spenta Mainyu - Creative Energy – only possessed by Human beings 7 4/12/2012 Key Texts: Avesta Holy Book called Avesta • collection of scriptures • 5 hymns spoken by Zarathustra – Gathas • language resembles Rigveda of India From the Avesta May the desired Fellowship come for the support of the men and women of Zarathushtra, for the support of good mind, so that the conscience of every person earns the choice reward, the reward of righteousness, a wish regarded by the Wise God. Worship in Fire Temples • Worship is the Temple of Fire – fire burns as a symbol of the holiness of Ahura Mazda. • Purpose of worship: – celebrate life – praise for the wondrous creations of the world – contemplate good to deprecate evil – meditate on God’s creations • Worship five times a day – follows arc of the sun • Communal celebrations • religious calendar – worship followed by eating together – thanksgiving feasts 8 4/12/2012 Influences on other religions Zoroastrian ideas: – moral dualism – heaven and hell – “Ages” of sacred time – an “End of Time” (eschatological world view) – angelic beings – numerous prayers throughout the day • influenced Judaism, Christianity and Islam Zoroastrian Attitudes towards women • Woman have position of equality in Zoroastrian society – head of the household in the absence of her husband or widowhood • Can make decisions affecting land sales, inheritances, harvesting times, educational choices, marriage partners for off-spring etc. • A woman can speak her views in the presence of her partner – her viewpoint accepted as valid • Must marry a Zoroastrian man to maintain those rights 9 .
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