Ancient Iranian religious beliefs
Ancient Iranian religious beliefs were polytheistic, closely aligned with what is now recognized as ancient Persian mythology. These beliefs first emerged in Greater Iran (encompassing the Caucasus, Central, South, and West Asia) but later became concentrated in the region now known as Iran by the 3rd millennium BCE.
Influence of Elamite and Susian Beliefs
The religion predated the Elamites and Susians, and their beliefs are thought to have influenced the development of ancient Iranian religion. The Persians were part of a broader migration of tribes, including the Alans, Bactrians, Medes, Parthians, and Scythians, who referred to themselves as Aryans (meaning “noble and free” and describing a group of people, not a race). These tribes settled near the Elamites in what is now Fars province, giving rise to their religious practices.
Religion During the Achaemenid Empire
Although the exact nature of early Persian worship is unclear, it is believed to have involved fire rituals and open-air altars, reminiscent of modern Zoroastrian ceremonies. Evidence from the Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BCE) sheds light on the religious beliefs of the kings, reflecting either ancient polytheism or Zoroastrian monotheism. Religion remained central through the Parthian (247 BCE – 224 CE) and Sassanian Empires (224-651 CE), during which Zoroastrianism became the state religion.