Available online
Description
Zoroastrianism has survived, unchanged, for at least 2000 years. Professor Mary Boyce traces the extraordinary history of the tiny group of Zoroastrians who retreated to the area of the village of... Sharifabad, in Central Iran, after the establishment of the Muslim Empire. They guarded their sacred fires there, and passed on the rights and practices of Zoroastrianism, untouched by outside influences. They lived, and live, a life of simple toil and joyous celebration of their religion. Some of the community went to Bombay in the 9th century and founded the Parsi (or Persian) branch of Zoroastrianism there. Ten centuries later the wealth of the Parsis has begun to influence the parent community. The modern temples are ornate, the simple 'towers of silence' have been abandoned for handsome graveyards. But the practice of the faith in the villages of Central Iran remains orthodox.
Zoroastrianism has survived, unchanged, for at least 2000 years. Professor Mary Boyce traces the extraordinary history of the tiny group of Zoroastrians who retreated to the area of the village of... Sharifabad, in Central Iran, after the establishment of the Muslim Empire. They guarded their sacred fires there, and passed on the rights and practices of Zoroastrianism, untouched by outside influences. They lived, and live, a life of simple toil and joyous celebration of their religion. Some of the community went to Bombay in the 9th century and founded the Parsi (or Persian) branch of Zoroastrianism there. Ten centuries later the wealth of the Parsis has begun to influence the parent community. The modern temples are ornate, the simple 'towers of silence' have been abandoned for handsome graveyards. But the practice of the faith in the villages of Central Iran remains orthodox.
| Module code and title: | AD208, Man's religious quest |
|---|---|
| Item code: | AD208; 04 |
| First transmission date: | 19-08-1978 |
| Published: | 1978 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:00 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Nuala O'Faolain |
| Contributor: | Mary Boyce |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Orthodox religion; Zoroastrianism |
| Footage description: | Apart from a brief extract from an amateur film the programme is based on photographs taken by Mary Boyce in Iran in 1964. Opening stills show the remnants of large Zoroastrian temples. An animated map is used by Boyce to describe the anihilation of the Persian Empire by Islam and to show where Zoroastrianism has survived. Numerous photographs of the villagers of Shari fabad. Boyce describes the persecution of Zoroastrian peasants by Muslims and comnents on their distinctive dress. She also describes how the religion affects their attitude towards farming. Stills of the houses in a Zoroastrian village. Over an animated diagram of the interior of a typical house, Boyce explains the design of various parts of the house. Particular attention is paid to the great pesgam. Shots of flames, over which Boyce explains the orthodoxy of the Zoroastrians of Sharifabad. Photographs of people praying, over which she explains the significance of fire. Animated diagram of the Sharifabadi fire temple, whose layout is explained. Amateur film taken in Tehran in 1976 showing the ceremony of sedra-pushun in which two children are initiated. Boyce provides commentary over. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/72435 |
| Production number: | 00525_3274 |
| Videofinder number: | 3595 |
| Available to public: | no |
