Zoroastrian Scholasticism in Late Antiquity: The Pahlavi version of the Yasna Haptaŋhāiti (Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Persia)

Examines Zoroastrian exegesis by investigating a late antique translation of an ancient Iranian text Challenges the view that considers the study of the Zand an auxiliary science to Avestan studies Views the Zand of the YH as a text in its own right and investigates it within the wider Pahlavi leiterature Considers the so-called glosses in the Zand for the first time as an integral part of the text Offers a variorum edition of the Middle Persian text, refusing to establish an Urtext In late antiquity, Zoroastrian exegetes set out to translate their ancient canonical texts into Middle Persian, the vernacular of their time. Although undated, these translations, commonly known as the Zand, are often associated with the Sasanian era (224–651 ce). Despite the many challenges the Zand offers to us today, it is indispensable for investigations of late antique exegesis of the Avesta, a collection of religious and ritual texts commonly regarded as the Zoroastrians’ scripture. Arash Zeini also offers a fresh edition of the Middle Persian version of the Avestan Yasna Haptaŋhāiti, a ritual text composed in the Old Iranian language of Avestan, commonly dated to the middle of the second millennium bce. Zeini challenges the view that considers the Zand’s study an auxiliary science to Avestan studies, framing the text instead within the exegetical context from which it emerged. Examines Zoroastrian Exegesis By Investigating A Late Antique Translation Of An Ancient Iranian Textchallenges The View That Considers The Study Of The Zand An Auxiliary Science To Avestan Studiesviews The Zand Of The Yh As A Text In Its Own Right And Investigates It Within The Wider Pahlavi Leiteratureconsiders The So-called Glosses In The Zand For The First Time As An Integral Part Of The Textoffers A Variorum Edition Of The Middle Persian Text, Refusing To Establish An Urtextin Late Antiquity, Zoroastrian Exegetes Set Out To Translate Their Ancient Canonical Texts Into Middle Persian, The Vernacular Of Their Time. Although Undated, These Translations, Commonly Known As The Zand, Are Often Associated With The Sasanian Era (224-651 Ce). Despite The Many Challenges The Zand Offers To Us Today, It Is Indispensable For Investigations Of Late Antique Exegesis Of The Avesta, A Collection Of Religious And Ritual Texts Commonly Regarded As The Zoroastrians' Scripture.arash Zeini Also Offers A Fresh Edition Of The Middle Persian Version Of The Avestan Yasna Haptaa Ha Iti, A Ritual Text Composed In The Old Iranian Language Of Avestan, Commonly Dated To The Middle Of The Second Millennium Bce. Zeini Challenges The View That Considers The Zand's Study An Auxiliary Science To Avestan Studies, Framing The Text Instead Within The Exegetical Context From Which It Emerged. 01.0_pp_i_iv_Frontmatter 2 02.0_pp_v_xii_Contents 6 03.0_pp_xiii_xiii_List_of_Figures 14 04.0_pp_xiv_xiv_List_of_Tables 15 05.0_pp_xv_xvi_Acknowledgements 16 06.0_pp_xvii_xviii_Series_Editors_Preface 18 07.0_pp_xix_xxiii_Preface 20 08.0_pp_xxiv_xxv_Conventions 25 09.0_pp_xxvi_xxviii_Abbreviations 27 10.0_pp_xxix_xxx_Dedication 30 11.0_pp_1_2_Introduction 32 12.0_pp_3_27_Introduction 34 13.0_pp_28_39_The_Zand 59 14.0_pp_40_62_Scholasticism 71 15.0_pp_63_97_Fire_in_Zoroastrianism 94 16.0_pp_98_122_Precis_Yasn_Haft_Hd 129 17.0_pp_123_124_Text_and_translation 154 18.0_pp_125_135_PY_35 156 19.0_pp_136_142_PY_36 167 20.0_pp_143_147_PY_37 174 21.0_pp_148_153_PY_38 179 22.0_pp_154_159_PY_39 185 23.0_pp_160_164_PY_40 191 24.0_pp_165_170_PY_41 196 25.0_pp_171_172_Miscellaneous_Observations 202 26.0_pp_173_203_PY 204 27.0_pp_204_216_PY_36 235 28.0_pp_217_248_PY_37 248 29.0_pp_249_262_PY_38 280 30.0_pp_263_273_PY_39 294 31.0_pp_274_278_PY_40 305 32.0_pp_279_282_PY_41 310 33.0_pp_283_284_Epilogue 314 34.0_pp_285_302_Reflections_on_the_Zand 316 35.0_pp_303_304_Appendices 334 36.0_pp_305_363_Transliteration_and_Apparatus 336 37.0_pp_364_367_Y_91 395 38.0_pp_368_370_Fire_in_the_Older_Avesta 399 39.0_pp_371_373_I 402 40.0_pp_374_374_MSS_Concordance 405 41.0_pp_375_395_Bibliography 406 42.0_pp_396_401_Index_of_Passages_Quoted 427 In late antiquity, Zoroastrian exegetes set out to translate their ancient canonical texts into Middle Persian, the vernacular of their time. Although undated, these translations, commonly known as the Zand, are often associated with the Sasanian era (224–651 ce). Despite the many challenges the Zand offers to us today, it is indispensable for investigations of late antique exegesis of the Avesta, a collection of religious and ritual texts commonly regarded as the Zoroastrians’ scripture. Arash Zeini also offers a fresh edition of the Middle Persian version of the Avestan Yasna Haptaŋhāiti, a ritual text composed in the Old Iranian language of Avestan, commonly dated to the middle of the second millennium bce. Zeini challenges the view that considers the Zand’s study an auxiliary science to Avestan studies, framing the text instead within the exegetical context from which it emerged. Arash Zeini is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Iranian Studies, Freie Universität Berlin. Following his PhD at SOAS, he held a Research Fellowship at the University of St Andrews. This project is based on his PhD thesis and is his first book. He has published a number of journal articles and has chapters forthcoming in The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity and The Oxford Bahari Lectures In late antiquity, Zoroastrian exegetes set out to translate their ancient canonical texts into Middle Persian, the vernacular of their time. Although undated, these translations, commonly known as the Zand, are often associated with the Sasanian era (224-651 ce). Despite the many challenges the Zand offers to us today, it is indispensable for investigations of late antique exegesis of the Avesta, a collection of religious and ritual texts commonly regarded as the Zoroastrians' scripture. Arash Zeini also offers a fresh edition of the Middle Persian version of the Avestan Yasna Haptanhaiti, a ritual text composed in the Old Iranian language of Avestan, commonly dated to the middle of the second millennium BCE. Zeini challenges the view that considers the Zand's study an auxiliary science to Avestan studies, framing the text instead within the exegetical context from which it emerged List of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgements Series Editor’s Preface Preface Conventions Abbreviations I Introduction 1. Introduction 2. The Zand 3. Scholasticism 4. Fire in Zoroastrianism II Text & translation 6. PY 35 7. PY 36 8. PY 37 9. PY 38 10. PY 39 11. PY 40 12. PY 41 III Miscellaneous observations 13. PY 35 14. PY 36 15. PY 37 16. PY 38 17. PY 39 18. PY 40 19. PY 41. IV Epilogue 20. Reflections on the Zand Appendices A Transliteration & apparatus B Y 9.1 C Fire in the Older Avesta D iθā E MSS Concordance Bibliography