justin h mccarthy the zend avesta review

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The etymology of the term Avesta itself is uncertain, but a derivation from middle Persian abestag, 'praise', is a frequently noted possibility.

The texts of the Avesta - which are all in the Avestan language - were collated over several hundred years. The most important portion, the Gathas, in Gathic Avestan, are the hymns thought to have been composed by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) himself, and date linguistically to around 1000 [BC]. The liturgical texts of the Yasna, which includes the Gathas, is partially in Older and partially in Younger Avestan. The oldest portions may be older than the Gathas, later adapted to more closely follow the doctrine of Zoroaster. The various Yashts are in Younger Avestan and thought to date to the Achaemenid era (559-330 [BC]). The Visperad and Vendidad, which are also in Younger Avestan, were probably composed even later but this is not certain. (Quote from wikipedia.org)

About the Author

Thomas Firminger Thiselton-Dyer (1843 - 1928)
Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer FLS FRS KCMG (July 28, 1843-December 23, 1928) was a British botanist.

Thiselton-Dyer was born in Westminster, London. Initially studying mathematics at Oxford University, he graduated in natural science in 1867. He became Professor of Natural History at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester and then Professor of Botany at the Royal College of Science in Dublin. In 1872, he became professor at the Royal Horticultural Society in London, being recommended by Joseph Hooker.

Then in 1875, Thiselton-Dyer was offered the Assistant Directorship at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, under Hooker, where he was to stay for thirty years. Thiselton-Dyer spent considerable time on the Colonies, e.g. introducing rubber to plantations of Sri Lanka

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Forgotten Books (May 7, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1606201956
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1606201954
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.71 x 9 inches
Reviewer: Utnapishtim
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Some explanation about what "Zend Avesta" is for people who are unfamiliar.
Review: The remaining scripture of Zoroastrianism written in Avestan (language) is called *Avesta*. Avestan is a very ancient language and on account of its age and continuity comes in two flavors, old Avestan and young Avestan which are as mutually intelligible as old English and modern English. It's believed that only 1/4 of the original texts of Avesta has remained and it was probably written over a period of a few centuries. The oldest sections of Avesta are called the Gathas which are believed to have been written by Zoroaster himself. The classical interpretations which came at least a 1000+ years later are called *Zend* which were written in a different Iranic language, namely Middle Persian (Pahlavi/Parsig - contemporaneous with Classical Latin). The whole book is sometimes, mistakenly, called *Zend Avesta* meaning that it should contain both the scripture and the classical interpretation, but it does not so the name "Zend Avesta" is a misnomer. Be that as it may, the Avesta is really not a single book but a collection of sacred texts that have survived over the millennia of very tumultuous history of Persia and here there are: (Everything that is written in this book is written in one of the Avestan languages. Nothing is in Old Persian or Pahlavi counts as Avesta)1. *Yasna*: 72 sections, Old Avestan, Liturgical texts - 1-27 - 28-34 (***Gathas***, written in very archaic language. The only text that could be as old Gathas are some closely related Vedic texts) - 35-41 (*Yasna Haptanghaiti*, almost as old as Gathas) - 42 - 43-51 (***Gathas***) - 52 - 53 (***Gathas***) - 54-722. *Visperad*: 23 sections, Young Avestan, Supplements to Yasnas3. *Vendidad*: 22 sections, Young Avestan, Descriptions of Different Types Of Evil and how to confound them. Contains lots about funerary rites of the ancient Persians4. *Yashts/Yasts*: 21 sections, Young Avestan, About different divinities. There are logs of divinities in Zoroastrianism5. *Sirozah*: 30 sections, Young Avestan, About different divinities related to month. "Si" means 30 and "roz" means day so "Sirozah" means a month.6. *Nyayeshs*: ? sections, Young Avestan, Prayers addressed to Sun/Mithra/Moon/Waters/Fire/Etc7. *Gahs*: 5 sections, Young Avestan, About five divinities associated with five sections of the day (Five Namazs).8. *Afrinagans*: 4 sections, Young Avestan, About four blessings addressed to the Dead/End of year/Seasonal feasts/End and start of summer9. *Fragments*: 20+ sections, Young Avestan, About miscellaneous stuffYou might sometimes here the word "Khordeh Avesta" (Little Avesta). That would be a book containing sections 4-9 only.

Reviewer: CW
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: resourcefull. and interesting
Review: This book is assumed to be written by Zarathustra although there is no historical evidence of such a thing therefore they say its writer is unknown. The book is easy to read the translation is good. Zarathustra asks questions to Ahura Mazda and Ahura Mazda responds to him which explains the laws to live by and creation of earth. There are 22 books of Fargard in this book. The issues of Death, burial and touching of corpses are addressed in this book. Apparently, in this religion corpse were taboos and they were not supposed to be touched because they believed that as soon as one dies he/she becomes demons. Also women's monthly periods, child births, miscarriages and pregnancies are addressed. It is a good source about an ancient religion i read it because it was religion of my ancestors and it explained some of my mother's superstitious beliefs (even though my mother does not know it is rooted from this religion). Also this religion had influenced Christianity and Islam. I recommend it to people to read it. Holy spirit comes from this religion as well as the concept of afterlife which influenced the ancient Greeks and Christianity.

Reviewer: kent
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Have patience its great reading
Review: Enlightening

Reviewer: Matt Keller
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great book
Review: As described. Nice book delivered in excellent condition

Reviewer: Probably Accurate
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Five Stars
Review: Well written explanation about what can be a rather confusing text.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good if you know what are buying
Review: With this kind of item one must know exactly what is buying: this is a reimpresion of a public domain XIX text, and besides it's not a "facsimile" reprint, like others, but a impresion with modern typography and a quite big font. That has his advantages; the text is easier to read and the impresion is very clean; some XIX reprints are a bit "dirty". One can see or read online the entire books in forgottenbooks's webpage. Not all the XIX reprints can be retyped.This books are an easy and affordable way to read confortably such texts instead of read in a screen or print at home.The book itself is a famous translation of the Avesta (not the entire Avesta) by Darmesteter. It's outdated in many aspects (He made another best translation into french, but sadly it's hard to find) but in general is still readable and highly interesant for the history of Avesta translations and studies. And it's by far a better option than the Spiegel/Bleeck translation for those interested in the subject that can't read avestan or german (Wolff's translation). This volume 1 contains a very interesant preface for the history of zoroastrian studies. Darmesteter translated for Sacred Books of the East volumes 1 and 2; volume 3 contains Yasna and Gathas translated by Mills and is a highly outdated version.

Reviewer: misael souza
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: very satisfied.
Review: Amazing book, a rare one, I will buy more books of this edition. Why we have to write that much?

Reviewer: The Tally Ho
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Avesta is the Sacred Book of Zoroastrianism
Review: Avesta, also called Zend-avesta, is the sacred book of Zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, & liturgy, the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra). The current Avesta is all that remains of a much larger body of scripture. The voluminous manuscripts of the original are said to have been destroyed when Alexander the Great conquered Persia. The present Avesta was assembled from remnants and standardized under the Sasanian kings (3rd–7th century ad). It is interesting to see how much of mythology of New Testament and Quran is influenced by Zoroastrianism. The Forgotten Books Series has descent size print and nice spacing making it comfortable to read. The Avesta is also interesting from a cultural aspect. I hope this is helpful to you.

Reviewer: Sylvia Weaver
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Great book about the avesta