Still more surprisingly, there is mention of the “good wives” of Ahurā (the Ahurānīs), who are the Waters: “We venerate the Ahurānīs, the Waters” (Yasna 38. 3).43 And Haoma acquires an important place in the cult: “We worship the glorious Haoma of gold, we worship the shining Haoma that makes life prosper, we venerate the Haoma from which death flees” (42. 5). A number of authors have interpreted this exaltation of Haoma as a proof of syncretism, after the death of Zarathustra, between the Prophet’s message and the traditional religion. However, if it is true that Zarathustra in fact accepted
...more
