An Analysis of the Herodotus's Report on the Customs of Iranians with the Zoroastrianism

Herodotus Halicarnassus, a Greek historian, has been praised or criticized by many scholars and researchers due to his famous history. A group accused him of falsifying and distorting historical realities and the others praised its reports and has used it in their researches. Herodotus reports of Iranian customs and traditions, according to his life (425-484 BC) that coincided with the two Achaemenid kings (Kheshayar Shah and Ardeshir I), support the prevalence of Zoroastrianism in ancient Iran. The way Herodotus used his historiography is a narrative style and it is possible that his writings have been transmitted incorrectly by the narrator. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze his reports in various aspects. Accordingly, comparing Herodotus' reports in this period about the customs of Iranians, including the existence of various Yazata (izadan), Yazesh and sacrifice for the Yazata on top of mountains, Yazesh of the elements of nature, the burial of the dead in crypt (dakhme), the presence of the Magi during the sacrificial ceremony, the impropriety of telling lies, observing the cleanliness of the rivers with the Avesta, the holy book of Zoroastrian and other Zoroastrian religious books can be a solution.