Zoroastrianism. We learn from the Pahlavi works that this apostle of the faith left behind him one hundred disciples who preached the Mazdayasnian faith in the land of Seistan.[1] Armenia came under the Zoroastrian influence at a very early date, and a corrupt form of Zoroastrianism prevailed in the country for several centuries.[2] Cappadocia, Lydia, and Lycia were the scene of an active Zoroastrian propaganda. The Aramaic inscriptions recently discovered in Cappadocia mention Daena, the female genius of the Mazdayasnian religion, conjointly with the native God Bel.[3] India and China witnessed the spread of the gospel of Iran.[4]
The proselytizing work on the part of the Zoroastrian ministers of the faith was thus carried on with a considerable amount of success, though we are not in a position to form any idea regarding the numbers of the followers of the religion of Mazda at this period.
- ↑ Modi, The Wonders of Sagastān in Aiyādgar-i Zarirān, p. 126, 127, Bombay, 1899; for further references see Jackson, Zoroaster, p. 137, n. 6.
- ↑ Cf. Ananikian, Armenia (Zoroastrian), in ERE. 1, 794-802.
- ↑ Lidzbarski, Ephemeris für Semitische Epigraphik, vol. 1, p. 67 f., Giessen, 1902.
- ↑ ShN. 1. 76, 77; For references regarding the Zoroastrian propaganda in China see Jackson, Zoroaster, p. 278-280.
