Religion

The main religion of ancient Persia was Zoroastrianism, one of the oldest religions in the world. It was founded by a teacher named Zoroaster, who taught people to choose good over evil and to live honest, kind lives.

Zoroastrians believed in one main god, Ahura Mazda, who stood for truth, goodness, and light. They believed the world was a battle between good and evil, and every person had a choice to help good by their thoughts, words, and actions. This idea later influenced other religions.

Fire was very important in Zoroastrianism. Fire was not worshipped as a god, but it was seen as a symbol of truth, purity, and light. Sacred fires were kept burning in temples, and people prayed near them to remind themselves to live good lives.

When people died, Zoroastrians did not bury or burn bodies. Instead, they used special places called Towers of Silence. Bodies were placed on top of these towers so birds could clean them naturally. This practice was meant to protect the earth, fire, and water from pollution.

Today, Zoroastrianism is still practiced by about 100,000–200,000 people worldwide, mostly in India and Iran. Even though the religion is small today, its ideas about good vs. evil, judgment, and moral choices had a huge influence on world history.