Zoroastrianism in the Religious Context of the Arsacid Empire
Abstract
Unlike the tendency to emphasize the multifaceted and diverse aspects of religious life in the Parthian Empire, this talk aims to identify shared characteristics by focusing on the religious preferences of the Arsacid rulers. Although Zoroastrianism was not yet clearly defined at this time, evidence suggests that Zoroastrian ideas influenced the ideology of Arsacid kingship. Conversely, the ideology of the King of Kings influenced the practices of families and rulers who reigned under their suzerainty, including those who were otherwise unaffected by Zoroastrianism. Although such practices were rare, they still had repercussions for the religious lives of the populace in the Arsacid Empire.
Citation
Dirven, Lucinda. "Zoroastrianism in the Religious Context of the Arsacid Empire," Pourdavoud Lecture Series (November 5, 2025).
About the Speaker
Lucinda Dirven
University of Nijmegen
Lucinda Dirven is a professor of ancient religions at the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands. She studied art history and theology (history of religions and comparative religion) at Leiden University, where she obtained her PhD, which was published in 1999. Following a postdoctoral fellowship in the archaeology department at the University of Amsterdam, she taught in the history departments at the universities of Utrecht and Amsterdam. Since completing her PhD, her research has focused on the Roman and Parthian Near East, particularly Dura, Hatra and Palmyra, and the influence of these regions on the Roman West. Her research combines material culture and written sources, primarily focusing on religion. One recent topic has been religious continuity and change in Syria and Mesopotamia, particularly during the Roman and Parthian periods. She is currently a Getty Scholar working on a project focusing on the cult of Mithras in Dura-Europos.