Conception of Space in Early Zoroastrianism. Cosmic, Ritual and Social Aspects

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Kianoosh Rezania
• Subject Area: Religious Studies and Jewish Studies
• Term: from 2010 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 189977162

The spectrum of concepts of space in cultural-religious perceptions ranges from sensually perceivable spaces to spaces formed in mental constellations, thereby encompassing various aspects of space; the gods of space, discussion of space in cosmogonical and cosmological discourse, cosmography, the hereafter, the ordering of space in ritual and ritual places, as well as the relationship between social structures of space and cosmic and ritual ones all play a role. As the oldest and most important manifestation of Old Iranian culture, Zoroastrianism, which has been practiced for more than 3000 years especially in Iran and India, is an adequate frame within which to explore spatial conception and their historical developments. The material for this study is comprised primarily of Avestan as well as Old Persian texts (ca. 1200-300 B.C.) based on precise linguistic analyses. This project will make on the one hand a decisive contribution to a broader understanding of Zoroastrianism; on the other, it will provide reliable/authentic historical material for other cultural studies on the concept of space in further interdisciplinary research.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants