This is a review article of the second Festschrift for Iranist Philippe Gignoux. The contributions, which have generally been inspired by Gignoux’ own writings, are outlined and in many cases supplemented by the reviewer’s comments. Appendi- ces discuss the ritual phrase ēwēn mahr and the title Ohrmazd mowbed.

The Middle Persian literature from the early Islamic centuries frequently deals with practical theological issues faced by the Zoroastrian communities under foreign domination. Here, we present a number of questions regarding a Zoroastrian’s conversion to Islam and his subsequent repentance and desire to return to Zoroastrianism and answers given by ninth- and tenth-century Zoroastrian priestly authorities. It is shown how the priests cite ancient traditions found in the Pahlavi versions of Avestan texts to justify their answers, and then apply them (...) to the contemporary social reality. (shrink)

Iranisches Personennamenbuch, vol. 2: Mitteliranische Namen, fasc. 1: Iranische Personennamen in manichäischer Überlieferung. By Iris Colditz. Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Philosophischhistorische Klasse, Sitzungsberichte, vol. 889. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 2018. Pp. 716.

Iranisches Personennamenbuch. Vol. V/5a: Iranische Personennamen in der griechischen Literatur vor Alexander d. Gr. By RüdigerR Schmitt. Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Philosophisch-historische Klasse. Sitzungsberichte, vol. 823. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, 2011. Pp. 431. €56.

This article examines the historical representation of the Jinshin Rebellion as a foundational event in the Nihon shoki and other eighth-century Japanese texts. Focusing on the differences between two alternative stories of Tenmu’s departure from the Ōmi capital to Yoshino, I argue that the Nihon shoki contains traces of several competing historical narratives that are the expression of a historical process: the political struggles over the historical record and the representation of Tenmu’s legitimacy in the early eighth century when the (...) Nihon shoki was being compiled. (shrink)

The Spirit of Zoroastrianism. Translated and edited by Prods Oktor Skjaervø. The Sacred Literature Series. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2011. Pp. xii + 270.

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