Topic: Zoroastrianism

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Three clay fragments bearing part of the Epic of Gilgamesh (photo: Osama Shukir Muhammed Armin; FRCP / CC-by-sa 4.0)

Treasures of the Ancient Middle East

Deciphering the first written language

Some time around 3200 BC, humans living in the ancient Middle East developed the first written language. George Smith presented fragments of the Flood narrative from the ancient Middle Eastern story of Gilgamesh at a conference in London in 1872 – and mankind’s first epic was rediscovered. By Melanie Christina MohrMore

Between Tigris and Euphrates: Mesopotamia: the cradle of civilisation Islamic archaeology: Samarra, centre of the worldIraq's National Museum re-opens: Only photos on view of the Nimrud treasures
Faravahar is the symbol of Zoroastrianism, a religion based on the teaching of the prophet Zarathustra which originated in what is now modern-day Iran (source: Reza Sjadirad/DW)

Goethe and Zoroastrianism

The eternal battle between good and evil

All his life Johann Wolfgang von Goethe felt a strong connection with Persia. Not only did he feel a spiritual affinity with the poet Hafez, he was also inspired and fascinated by the teachings and practices of Zarathustra, who lived in the first millennium before Christ. Melanie Christina Mohr reportsMore

Zoroastrians in Iran: In declineGoethe and the Orient: Why did the poet's mind wander to far-off climes?Goethe′s fascination with the "Thousand and One Nights": Mephistopheles spoke; Scheherazade beguiled
The blue peacock, symbol of the Yazidi faith (source: Wikipedia)

The culture and faith of the Yazidis

Demonised and eternally misunderstood

Their persecution by Islamic State has put the Yazidis in the international spotlight. In her book on the Yazidis, Birgul Acikyildiz provides insights into the culture and faith of this endangered community. By Ulrich von SchwerinMore

The abduction of women by IS: Traded like cattlePhoto gallery: Between fear and annihilation – Yazidi refugees in IraqYazidis and Kurds in Iraq: Are we arming the right people?Persecution of the Yazidis in Iraq: Don't abandon us!
A Persian "Haft Sin" table featuring seven foods and objects all beginning with the letter "s" (photo: Imago/UPI Photo)

Nowruz: one of the world's oldest festivals

"My paleness is yours, your colour is mine!"

The Iranian New Year celebration "Nowruz" has been a feature of Persian culture for more than 2,500 years. The roots of this festival lie in the ancient Persian religion of Zoroastrianism. Today, more than 300 million people all over the world celebrate Nowruz. Shohreh Karimian looks back at the history of this new year celebration and explains some of its customsMore

Photo gallery: NowruzIranian musician Shahram Nazeri: The Persian nightingale and the flowers of hopeIran and the Legacy of the Persians: Persepolis: A Political Compass

In brief

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Most Recent Photo Essay

Aleppo before the war: a photo taken in 2001, when no-one suspected the suffering and destruction the city would experience barely a decade later. It shows Aleppo's citadel peacefully overlooking the Old Town bathed in a golden light. At the time, the minaret of the Great Mosque had just been scaffolded for renovation

A digital archive to preserve Syria's cultural heritage

Countless cultural assets have been destroyed by the Syrian Civil War. The Syrian Heritage Archive Project in Berlin contributes to preserving their memory with an exhibition showing what has been lost — and what remains. By Christina Kufner