Welcome to the InterFaith Calendar: Zoroastrianism
This excerpted content is from previous Connections InterFaith calendars
© 2005-2008 Chicago Center for Cultural Connections
Prophet Zarathushtra preached the religion on the steppes of Asia, around 1800 B.C. During the Achaemenian period, Zoroastrianism became the state religion of the Great Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great in 558 B.C. It suffered a setback during the reign of Darius III when Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great in 331 B.C. Persepolis, the seat of Zoroastrianism, along with all the Zoroastrian scriptures written on cow hides was destroyed during Alexander's conquest of Persia.
Many centuries later, devout followers left Persia and landed on the western shores of India where they were given refuge by the native Hindu ruler. Their descendants the Parsees, concentrated in and around Bombay, have kept the faith alive in India.
