k . JjCKt>J<5*-\
The Aryans in iran and the Zcroastrian Religion.
(1) The two branches 01 the Eastern Aryan stocK, the Aryans of
India and the Aryans of Persia are very closely connected in
origin, but their subsequent divergence is all the more strongly
marked: each people follows a totally dinerent path in cultural
development and most or all in the development of their respective
religion.
i. Their original connection is shown most clearly in their
language. The earliest of the Persian sacred writings - the
Gath-a-s of the Avesta. - resemble the hymns of tne aig Veda so
closely as to appear dialects oi the same language rather than
difterent tongues. There are certain changes of sound such as
the Vedie S for Iranian h. but the syntax, the process of word
formation and even the vocabulary are extraordinarily aliKe.
2. Even more remarkable, perhaps, are the signs oi resemblance
between the religions of the two peoples, wnieh are so numerous as
to show that the two peoples must have formerly shared the same
religious oeiieis and practises. The names and iunctions of the
different gods are similar and in many cases almost identical.
Both peoples reckon the number of the gods as 55.
Thus we h8ve Persian Mithra - Indian Mitra.
Pers. Airyaraan - Ind.Aryaman " Apam Napat " Aparrt Map's, t
" Thrita & Athwiya " Trita Aptya
H Gandfcrewa " G/iandsflMfr.
" Vayu " Vayu air
" Bagh$e_ (god) " Bhaga The god
Bsfhis of gifts.
The same words for evil spirits
*atu & Druj (Druh)
Original format : Manuscript (17 leaves) ; 8 x 10 in.
Parent Collection
Christopher Dawson Papers
Rights
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k . JjCKt>J<5*-\
The Aryans in iran and the Zcroastrian Religion.
(1) The two branches 01 the Eastern Aryan stocK, the Aryans of
India and the Aryans of Persia are very closely connected in
origin, but their subsequent divergence is all the more strongly
marked: each people follows a totally dinerent path in cultural
development and most or all in the development of their respective
religion.
i. Their original connection is shown most clearly in their
language. The earliest of the Persian sacred writings - the
Gath-a-s of the Avesta. - resemble the hymns of tne aig Veda so
closely as to appear dialects oi the same language rather than
difterent tongues. There are certain changes of sound such as
the Vedie S for Iranian h. but the syntax, the process of word
formation and even the vocabulary are extraordinarily aliKe.
2. Even more remarkable, perhaps, are the signs oi resemblance
between the religions of the two peoples, wnieh are so numerous as
to show that the two peoples must have formerly shared the same
religious oeiieis and practises. The names and iunctions of the
different gods are similar and in many cases almost identical.
Both peoples reckon the number of the gods as 55.
Thus we h8ve Persian Mithra - Indian Mitra.
Pers. Airyaraan - Ind.Aryaman " Apam Napat " Aparrt Map's, t
" Thrita & Athwiya " Trita Aptya
H Gandfcrewa " G/iandsflMfr.
" Vayu " Vayu air
" Bagh$e_ (god) " Bhaga The god
Bsfhis of gifts.
The same words for evil spirits
*atu & Druj (Druh)
