Zoroaster

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ËŒzÉ’roʊˈæstÉ™r/, /ˈzÉ’roʊˌæstÉ™r/

Alternative forms

• Zarathustra (directly from Avestan)

Origin

From Latin Zōroastrēs, from Ancient Greek Ζωροάστρης, from Avestan 𐬰𐬀𐬭𐬀𐬚𐬎𐬱𐬙𐬭𐬀.

Full definition of Zoroaster

Proper noun

1. the founder of the ancient Iranian religion Zoroastrianism
2. pseudepigraphic name used by various Ancient Greek and Latin authors of late antiquity to lend their opinions weight
3. ostensible source/founder of Mithraism, the "mysteries" of the Roman Mysteriae Mithrae ("Mysteries of Mithras", "Mithraic Mysteries"), an astrology-centric, middle-platonic mystery cult of the 1st-4th century Roman Empire whose adherents worshiped in "caves" (i.e. Mithraea) in imitation of "Zoroaster". (Porphyry, De Antro Nympharum 6)