The Concept of “Ascension” in the Zoroastrian Apocalyptic Literature

Subject Areas : Christianity

ابوالقاسم پیاده کوهسار ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2009-05-11 Accepted : 2009-07-05 Published : 2009-03-21

Keywords: Zoroastrianism, ascension, apocalyptic literature,

Abstract :

Apocalyptic Literature is the most important and the most widespreadgenre of religious literature. In these texts, mysterious revelations arerevealed through visions or intuition to a chosen person. In manyreligious traditions the sky is abode of gods, and the earth is the homeof creatures. As a result of this idea, it is believed that there is a gapbetween the “world of gods” and “world of creatures”. By separatingthese two worlds, man tries to find a way into the world of gods tobecome familiar with it before his death. This aspiration, in everytradition led to a series of beliefs and rituals, by which man seeks toshare the realm of gods.In Zoroastrianism, like other ancient traditions, there are variousexamples of the ascension to the upper worlds; such as, the sevenascensions of Zoroaster and his meetings with Ahura-Mazda andAməshaspəntas, the ascension of Goshtasp, the ascension of Kertir, thefamous vizier of Sassanid dynasty, and the ascension of ArdaViraf.This article surveys these ascensions as well as the apocalyptic themesof Zoroastrianism.