The Relationship Between Zoroastrianism and Kingship in the Iranian Empire

Abstract

This essay discusses the relationship between Zoroastrianism and kingship through the primary source of Shahnameh, the epic of the Persian Kings, written by Abolqasem Ferdowsi. Shahnameh is a crystal of Iranian culture, it is a complete religious doctrine following the guidance of Zoroastrianism, it teaches the practice of threefold paths to Asha with the idea of spreading goodness into the society. They include personal religion, social life, and individual morality. Furthermore, the study connects the religious concept of the threefold paths to Asha and khvarenah, a mysterious concept in Iran myth that symbolize the bless from heaven and God, to the actual examples of the engagement of kingship.[ Zhibin, H, Zhibin, X. (2019) The Trajectory of Zoroastrianism in Iran. Journal of World Religion and Culture, 6: 58-64.] The paper introduces and corresponds the example of Jamshid, a Shah in the mysterious age of the Iranian empire, to the practice of Zoroastrianism. Finally, the paper concludes that in the Sassanid dynasty of Iran empire, the king in the world was decided by the heaven.[ Boyce, M. (2000) Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge, London.] The heaven blesses and protects those who were destined to be the king in all aspects. This is the myth of the divine right of kingship propagated by the rulers to maintain their power and status. However, although the kingship is shrouded in mystery, humans on earth eventually decide the kindship.[ Kantorowicz, E. (2016) The King’s Two Bodies. Princeton University Press, Princeton.]