Zoroastrianism
The Ancients20 Nov 2025

Zoroastrianism

A faith born in the distant prehistoric past, rooted in ancient Iranian texts over 4,000 years old, Zoroastrianism is one of the world’s oldest living religions. and one that shaped empires.


In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Almut Hintze to explore the origins, beliefs, and enduring legacy of Zoroastrianism. From the teachings of the prophet Zarathustra and the central role of Ahura Mazda, to holy fire and its influence on the Achaemenid and Sasanian worlds, join us to discover how this ancient religion helped shape ancient empires and Persian identity for millennia


MORE

The Wise Men

Listen of Apple

Listen on Spotify


Persia Reborn: Rise of the Sasanians

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify


Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

Theme music from Motion Array, all other music from Epidemic Sounds

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


You can take part in our listener survey here:

https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episoder(605)

Thucydides: Thoughts on the Athenian Empire

Thucydides: Thoughts on the Athenian Empire

From 478 BCE until 404 BCE, a collection of Greek city-states were united under the leadership of Athens. Beyond inscriptions and a few minor sources, there is very little to tell us about life within...

17 Des 202040min

The Garamantes: Farming the Sahara

The Garamantes: Farming the Sahara

Greco-Roman historians including Herodotus, Tacitus and Pliny the Elder would have us believe that the Garamantes were simple uncivilized cattle herders, living in sporadic camp dwellings. Until archa...

13 Des 202050min

Scotland's Enigmatic Ancient Structures

Scotland's Enigmatic Ancient Structures

Brochs. Early archaeologists believed that they must have been built by the Danish, that the indigenous population could never have managed it. More recent suggestions have been that architects travel...

10 Des 202031min

Old Testament Warriors

Old Testament Warriors

It’s probably the most famous book in the world, and it’s also essentially the only literary source which covers the genesis of warfare and the nation state. Simon Elliott is an archaeologist, histori...

6 Des 202049min

Spartacus: Life or Legend?

Spartacus: Life or Legend?

‘I’m Spartacus!’ In the field of epic film making, the 1960 historical drama ‘Spartacus’, is legendary. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, adapted from the Howard Fast novel by Red Scare blacklisted screenw...

3 Des 202047min

Dura-Europos: The Syrian Pompeii

Dura-Europos: The Syrian Pompeii

When we think of Pompeii, we remember the city which became frozen in time after a natural catastrophe. Well, in 1920, exactly 100 years ago, another 'frozen city' was rediscovered. This time it was D...

29 Nov 202049min

Pompeii and the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius

Pompeii and the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius

Pompeii is back in the news. An extraordinary new, touching discovery, found during the Great Pompeii Project of Professor Massimo Osanna and his team. Roughly 700 metres northwest of Pompeii, in the ...

26 Nov 202051min

Linothorax: Kevlar of the Ancients

Linothorax: Kevlar of the Ancients

The House of the Faun in Pompeii is known for being one of the largest and most impressive private residences in the ancient city. Among its many works of art is a depiction of Alexander the Great in ...

22 Nov 202048min

Populært innen Historie

rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
henrettelsespodden
rss-katastrofe
historier-som-endret-norge
rss-benadet
historier-som-endret-verden
sektledere
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
aftenposten-historie
rss-frontkjemperne
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
med-egne-oyne
rss-gamle-greier
historiepodden
vare-historier
liberal-halvtime
rss-historiepodden-ww2
rss-politisk-preik
rss-alt-var-bedre-for
rss-historiske-romanser-svik-drap-og-kjarlighet