Asha (zoroastrisme)Asha (ˈʌʃə) or arta (ˈɑrtə; 𐬀𐬴𐬀 Aṣ̌aArta) is a Zoroastrian concept with a complex and highly nuanced range of meaning. It is commonly summarized in accord with its contextual implications of 'truth' and 'right' (or 'righteousness'), 'order' and 'right working'. For other connotations, see Meaning below. It is of cardinal importance to Zoroastrian theology and doctrine. In the moral sphere, aṣ̌a/arta represents what has been called "the decisive confessional concept of Zoroastrianism".
Iran (word)The modern Persian name of Iran (ایران) derives immediately from the 3rd-century Sasanian Middle Persian (Pahlavi spelling: 𐭠𐭩𐭫𐭠𐭭, ʼyrʼn), where it initially meant "of the Iranians", but soon also acquired a geographical connotation in the sense of "(lands inhabited by) Iranians". In both geographic and demonymic senses, ērān is distinguished from its antonymic anērān, meaning "non-Iran(ian)". In the geographic sense, ērān was also distinguished from ērānšahr, the Sasanians' own name for their empire, and which also included territories that were not primarily inhabited by ethnic Iranians.
VendidadLe Vendidad ou Videvdat est un recueil de textes ( s. av. J.-C. ? s. ?) faisant partie de l’Avesta. Son nom vient de la contraction de Vî-Daêvô-Dāta, signifiant en avestique « donné contre les démons ». Ainsi que le suggère ce nom, le Vendidad est une énumération des différentes manifestations des esprits démoniaques, et des manières de les écarter. Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil du Perron, Vedidad-Sadé dans Zend-Avesta, ouvrage de Zoroastre, t. I, §2, 1771. Charles de Harlez, Avesta. Livre sacré du zoroastrisme.
YashtThe Yashts are a collection of twenty-one hymns in the Younger Avestan language. Each of these hymns invokes a specific Zoroastrian divinity or concept. Yasht chapter and verse pointers are traditionally abbreviated as Yt. The word yasht derives from Middle Persian 𐭩𐭱𐭲 yašt (“prayer, worship”) probably from Avestan 𐬫𐬀𐬱𐬙𐬀 (yašta, “honored”), from 𐬫𐬀𐬰 (yaz, “to worship, honor”), from Proto-Indo-European *yeh2ǵ- or *Hyaǵ-, and several hymns of the Yasna liturgy that "venerate by praise" are—in tradition—also nominally called yashts.
Dive (mythologie)Un dive (en دیو) ou daeva (daēuua, daāua, daēva) en avestique est un esprit maléfique de la mythologie iranienne qui aime causer la douleur et la destruction. L'étymologie de ce nom vient du mot indo-européen deiva signifiant « céleste, brillant ». Le mot persan a été emprunté en arménien sous le nom de dew, en géorgien sous le nom de dévi, en ourdou sous le nom de deo et en turc sous le nom de dev, avec les mêmes associations négatives dans ces langues. Leur chef est Ahriman.
DenkardLe Denkard (ou Dēnkart), signifiant Actes de Religion, est un recueil de textes du zoroastrisme du . Plutôt qu'un ensemble d'écrits religieux, les neuf livres du texte constituent des commentaires encyclopédiques sur la religion. L'auteur est Aturpât-i Êmêtân. C'est l'édition d'un texte partiellement perdu écrit au par Ādurfarnbag ī Farroxzādān. Aturpât-i Êmêtân, Denkard, Acts of Religion, trad. Ratanshah E. Kohiyar, 1876 (A ninth century encyclopedia of the Zoroastrian religion).
AneranAnērān (Middle Persian, 𐭠𐭭𐭩𐭥𐭠𐭭) or Anīrân (Modern Persian, انیران) is an ethno-linguistic term that signifies "non-Iranian" or "non-Iran" (non-Aryan). Thus, in a general sense, 'Aniran' signifies lands where Iranian languages are not spoken. In a pejorative sense, it denotes "a political and religious enemy of Iran and Zoroastrianism." The term 'Aniran' derives from Middle Persian anērān, Pahlavi ʼnyrʼn, an antonym of ērān that in turn denoted either the people or the Sasanian Empire.
VishtaspaVishtaspa (𐬬𐬌𐬱𐬙𐬁𐬯𐬞𐬀 ; 𐎻𐏁𐎫𐎠𐎿𐎱 ; گشتاسپ ; Ὑστάσπης ) is the Avestan-language name of a figure of Zoroastrian scripture and tradition, portrayed as an early follower of Zoroaster, and his patron, and instrumental in the diffusion of the prophet's message. Although Vishtaspa is not epigraphically attested, he is – like Zoroaster – traditionally assumed to have been a historical figure, although obscured by accretions from legend and myth. In Zoroastrian tradition, which builds on allusions found in the Avesta, Vishtaspa is a righteous king who helped propagate and defend the faith.
