Bausani (1921-88), a professor of Islamic studies at the University of Rome, covers a broad sweep from prehistoric to modern times. He describes the native religions such as Zoroastrianism, which had become the official religion by the third century, and its offshoots Manicheism and Mazdakism and the later messianic movements of Shaikhism and Babism and finally the Baha'i faith. He also explores the branches of Islam that developed in or were important in Persia, in particular Shi'ite and its forms of Isma'ilism and Imami Shi'ism and mystical strains such as Sufism. The original Persia Religiosa was published in Milan in 1959. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Religion in Iran: From Zoroaster to Baha'u'llah

Religion & Spirituality

Bausani, Alessandro

Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts

Bibliotheca Persica

In this volume the author introduces and discusses the origins and development of Mithra, in ancient Indo-Iranian mythology, the god of light, whose cult spread from India in the east to as far west as Spain, Great Britain, and Germany. His worship spread to Persia and, after the defeat of the Persians by Alexander, throughout the Hellenic world. In the 3rd and 4th centuries ad, the cult of Mithra, carried and supported by the soldiers of the Roman Empire, was the chief rival to the newly developing religion of Christianity. As god of light, Mithra was associated with the Greek sun god, Helios, and the Roman Sol Invictus. He is often paired with Anahita, goddess of the fertilizing waters.

The Personalities of Mithra in Archaeology and Literature (Biennial Ehsan Yarshater Lecture Series)

Bivar, A.D.H.

Obayd Zakani: Collected Works

Ubayd Zakani, Nizam Al-Din D.

The history of the European representation of Zoroaster (Zarathushtra) uncovers the image of both the man and his teaching as seen through a Western lens. Analyzing the process of the reception by and transmission to European eyes, Rose's impressive study reveals the historical depiction of the prophet and his teaching.

The Image of Zoroaster: The Persian Mage Through European Eyes (Persian Studies Series)

Rose, Jenny

This publication is the first in the series Ehsan Yarshater Distinguished Lectures in Iranian Studies, delivered at Harvard University. Professor Tafazzoli divided his lucid presentation into 3 major classes of Sasanian society: warriors, scribes, and dehqans.

Sasanian Society: Warriors, Scribes, Dehqans (Ehsan Yarshater Distinguished Lectures in Iranian Studies)

Politics & Social Sciences

Tafazzuli, Ahmad

Social Sciences

In this survey of more than forty illustrative murals excavated over the last 54 years in Panjikent, a 5th-8th century C.E. town in the Zerafshan Valley in Tajikistan, Boris Marshak discusses the rich repertory of legends, tales and myths of the Sogdians that have come to light and recreates the secular literature of Soghdia, one of the most important regions along the Silk Road. Prior to the Panjikent excavations only small fragments of Soghdian secular literature had been discovered in Soghdian colonies in Turfan and Dunhuang. Prof. Boris Marshak has been participating in this famous archaeological expedition since 1954; and has served as its leader since 1976. Soghdian merchants were the masters of the Silk Road and, therefore, their art and literature included many motifs of Greek, Persian and Indian origin. In Soghdia among the pictorial narrative cycles there were at least three epics: a local version of the Indian Mahabharata, the well-known Roman story of Romulus and Remus, and the Iranian legends of Rustam. The excavation teams have found on the walls of the houses of Panjikent dozens of pictorial representations of parables, fables, fairy tales and anecdotes. In several compositions the author has recognized scenes from Aesop's Fables, the Panchatantra and the Sindbad-nameh. He has compared these subjects with those of the fragmentary Soghdian texts. Marshak's book is an important one for anyone interested in the history of the Soghdia, in Iranian studies in general, in comparative studies in folklore and literature, in studies on the problem of narration in the visual arts, and the history of cultural exchange along the Silk Road.

Legends, Tales, and Fables in the Art of Sogdiana (Biennial Ehsan Yarshater Lecture Series)

Marshak, Boris I.

Livshits, V. A.

Arts & Photography

"This book examines the hypothesis that connections exist between Greek Hellenistic romances and a small group of 11th century Persian romances. It further suggests that parts of the Hellenistic romances themselves derive from Persian prototypes. If both hypotheses are correct it means that an intermittent mutual borrowing and mingling of Greek and Persian literary cultures existed for several hundred years..." Taken from the Introduction

Panthea's Children: Hellenistic Novels and Medieval Persian Romances (Biennial Ehsan Yarshater Lecture Series)

Literature & Fiction

DAVIS, Dick

History & Criticism

Based on a series of lectures given at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London in 1997, this book is a survey of the art and archeology of the Sasanian Near East from the 3rd to the 7th century A.D. Drawing upon the examination of a variety of artifacts and monuments from different perspectives, Dr. Harper presents the reader with an understanding of the rich and varied nature of Sasanian culture and society in the period immediately before the advent of Islam and the Arab conquests of Near Eastern lands.

In Search of a Cultural Identity: Monuments And Artifacts of the Sasanian Near East, 3rd to 7th Century A.d. (Biennial Ehsan Yarshater Lecture Series)

Harper, Prudence Oliver

Anthropology

The Secrets of God's Mystical Oneness or the Spiritual Stations of Shaikh Abu Sa Id (Persian Heritage Series)

Muhammad Ibn Al-Munavvar

Islam

Traditional Persian Art Music: The Radif of Mirza Abdullah (Bibliotheca Iranica: Performing Arts Series)

Tala'I, Dariush

Music

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