Faravahar, the symbol of Zoroastrianism? 🔥✨
(Edited)
Faravahar (Persian: فَرَوَهَر), also known as Forouhar (Persian: فُروهَر) , or Farr-e Kiyâni (فَرِّ کیانی), is one of the most well-known symbols of Iranian peoples, and Zoroastrianism, the primary religion of Iran before the Muslim conquest of Iran, and of Iranian nationalism. There are various interpretations of what the faravahar symbolizes, and there is no universal consensus except to note that it does not represent the fravashi.Wikipedia Article
The pre-Zoroastrian use of the symbol originates as the winged sun used by various powers of the Ancient Near East, primarily those of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The Zoroastrian adoption of the symbol comes from its prevalence in Neo-Assyrian iconography. This Assyrian image often includes their Tree of Life, which includes the god Ashur on a winged disk.
Whilst being used by both modern day Zoroastrians and Persians, it is important to note the symbol is neither Zoroastrian nor Persian in its origin. It originates as an Mesopotamian Assyrian depiction of the wing deity Ashur. After the Achaemenian dynasty, the image of the farohar was no longer present in Persian art or architecture. The Parthians, Sassanians and Islamic kings that followed did not use the image. It was not until the 20th century, over 2000 years later,that the symbol re-emerged thanks to the work of Parsi scholar, Jamshedji Maneckji Unvala who published two articles in 1925 and 1930.
This is my take on this ancient symbol, at first I mistook it as a religious icon of one of the oldest religions still practised to this day, however upon further reading I discovered that while it is used as symbol of this faith in the present, it was not so for most of it's history and is more linked to Imperial regalia even though it probably has roots in another religious cult such as ancient Mesopotamian god Ashur.
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Killer drawing, I always like to hear about Zoroastrianism because it is the top religious mystery still living today and I think the way they keep the flame alive, constantly burning, says a lot about their spirituality.
Thank you @edouard :)
Yes Zoroastrianism is quite interesting, I was drawn to it because I found surprising it predates Abrahamic religions in it's monotheism.
Also read that it might be soon extinct due to it poor way of getting more followers...
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2013/dec/08/zorastrianism-adapt-archaic-laws-die-parsi
Love how the feathers in the wings and tail look! Less sure about the human part which looks like it's on a really awkward angle, though I know you were following a very flat 2d somewhat hieroglyphic looking image XD
I remember researching religion a very long time ago thinking they all sound so similar there must be a root one, and finding out that research is ongoing XD
and also that research and history are disgustingly biased