Poetry Codex

Arabic & Persian

The Avesta

the Gathas c. 1500–1000 BC (ascribed to Zarathustra); the Yashts later; dates uncertain

The Avesta is the scripture of Zoroastrianism, the collected sacred texts of the ancient Iranian religion, composed in the Avestan language.

The Gathas are its oldest part and are traditionally ascribed to Zarathustra himself; the Yashts are hymns to the yazatas, composed later.

Major Works (2)

  1. The Gathas of Zarathustra — translated by Lawrence Heyworth Mills (1887)
  2. The Yashts — translated by James Darmesteter (1883)

See The Avesta in the full archive →