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    Contents:
  • Introduction to the Historical Overview in Perseus
  • Geographical and Historical Introduction
  • The Early Greek Dark Age and Revival in the Near East
  • Remaking Greek Civilization
  • The Archaic Age
  • The Late Archaic City-State
  • Introduction to the Fifth Century
  • Clash Between Greeks and Persians
  • Athenian Empire in the Golden Age
  • Athenian Religious and Cultural Life in the Golden Age
  • Continuity and Change in Athenian Social and Intellectual History
  • The Peloponnesian War and Athenian Life
  • Introduction to the Fourth Century
  • The Aftermath of the Peloponnesian War
  • New Directions in Philosophy and Education
  • The Creation of Macedonian Power
    		•

    Thomas R. Martin, An Overview of Classical Greek History from Mycenae to Alexander

    Clash Between Greeks and Persians: The Kingdom of Persia

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    8.2.2. VIII.[2] Persian Religion

    As absolute autocrats, the Persian kings believed they were superior to all human beings. Neither they nor their subjects, however, considered the king to be a god but, rather, the agent of the supreme god of Persian religion, Ahura Mazda. Persian religion, based on the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster, was dualistic, conceptualizing the world as the arena for a constant battle between good and evil. Unlike the Greeks, the Persians avoided animal sacrifice. Fire, kindled on special altars, formed an important part of their religious rituals. Although the language of ancient Persia has survived in its homeland in the form of modern Iranian, the religion of ancient Persia has been replaced in today's Iran by Islam. The religion called Zoroastrianism, a descendant of the dualistic religion of ancient Persia, survives to this day in the modern world. Contemporary Zoroastrianism has preserved the central role of fire in its practice, and its sanctuaries are called fire temples. The largest surviving population of Zoroastrians today resides in Bombay, India, descended from Persians, who had emigrated from their homeland over a thousand years ago.



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