The History of Antiquity, Vol. 5 (of 6)Duncker, Max
History
The History of Antiquity, Vol. 5 (of 6)
Duncker, Max
History, Ancient
a temple; that a century after him Artaxerxes II. erected statues and a
temple to Anahita at Ecbatana; and that at a later time a portable image
of Vohumano was in existence in Cappadocia.
The nucleus of the old religious conceptions of the Arians--the desire
to obtain increase and life from the gods--has been sufficiently
disclosed; and that which could not be obtained in this world, the
continuance of the individual life, heaven was to bestow upon them. This
line was followed up by the reform; the spirits of health and long life
were added by the priests to the circle of the Amesha Çpentas. When
Zarathrustra had increased the means for the protection and support of
life; when it became a fixed maxim that purity preserved life in this
world and ensured it after death; the sharp insistence on the command of
the pure and active and truthful life which men ought to lead in this
world, became developed into the conception of a judgment on the souls
after death. He who had lived purely, and given the Daevas no room to
exercise their power on his body, became himself pure and bright, and
could therefore enter after death as a pure spirit among the spirits of
light. Thus the Avesta announces that "when body and soul have
separated," the soul on the third night after death, as soon as the
brilliant sun arises, and the victorious Mithra seats himself with "pure
brilliance" on the mountains, comes over the Hara berezaiti to the
bridge of Chinvat, _i.e._ the bridge of assembly or of assembling, which
leads to Garonmana, _i.e._ to the dwelling of hymns, the abode of the
good gods. Here the Daevas and the gods contend for the soul;[288] the
judgment of the souls takes place;[289] here Auramazda asks the souls
about their conduct.[290] The pure soul, whose odour the Daevas
dread,[291] which approaches with virtue and sanctity, is joined by the
other pure souls and by the souls of the dogs which keep watch over the
bridge of Chinvat,[292] and the host of the heavenly Yazatas brings the
soul of the good over the bridge into heaven. In contentment the pure
soul goes to the golden throne of Auramazda, to the thrones of the
Amesha Çpentas, to the dwelling of the pure. And Vohumano rises from his
golden throne and inquires of the pure one: "How hast thou, O pure one,
come hither out of the perishable to the imperishable world?"[293] But
the souls which come to the bridge full of terror and sick, find no
friend there; the evil spirits, Vizaresha by name, lead them bound down
into the place of the bad, into the darkness, the dwelling of the
Druj.[294]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account