Zoroaster (or Zarathustra) was
born into the Spitama clan, evidently in northwestern
Iran though he ministered in northeastern Iran. According
to Arabic sources he lived from 628 to 551 B.C., which
would accord with the tradition that he converted
Hystaspes, the father of Darius who ruled the Persian
Empire from 522-486 B.C. (Greek sources were greatly
mistaken in placing Zoroaster 6000 years before Plato!)
Zoroaster was married three times and had several sons
and daughters.
Zoroaster served as a priest of
the polytheistic Iranian religion before he was converted
at age thirty to the sole worship of Ahura Mazda. He
succeeded in converting some of his kinsmen and also
Hystaspes, a king in northeastern Iran. When his new
teaching met strong opposition, he responded by
pronouncing curses upon his opponents. Zoroaster also
denounced the intoxicating cult of the haoma plant
and exhibited great concern for the care of cattle. In
Zoroaster's view material prosperity and godliness went
hand in hand, a trait perhaps reflected today in the
remarkable prosperity of the Parsees (modern
Zoroastrians) in Bombay, India.
According to Al-Biruni (A.D.
973-1048) Zoroaster was killed by invading Turanians. The
Shah Namah (c. A.D. 1000) describes the
event:
And all before the Fire the Turkmans
slew
And swept that cult away. The Fire, that
erst
Zardusht [Zoroaster] had litten, of their
blood did die;
Who slew that priest himself I know not.
