Single Idea 7471

[catalogued under 29. Religion / B. Monotheistic Religion / 3. Zoroastrianism]

Full Idea

The Gathas, the liturgical hymns that make up the 'Avesta', the Zoroastrian canon, are very similar in language to the oldest Sanskrit of Hinduism, so they are not much younger than 1200 BCE.

Gist of Idea

The Gathas (hymns) of Zoroastrianism date from about 1000 BCE

Source

Peter Watson (Ideas [2005], Ch.05)

Book Reference

Watson,Peter: 'Ideas: from fire to Freud' [Phoenix 2006], p.152


A Reaction

This implies a big expansion of religion before the well-known expansion of the sixth century BCE.