A Mythical Look at Creation in Zoroastrianism

A myth is a right holy story that has occurred in the time immemorial and explains why something was created, exists, and will perish in a symbolic, imaginative, and whimsical way. A myth is a symbolic way to discover the existence. In Zoroastrianism, there are two types of calendars: ancient Avestan and modern Avestan. The ancient Arestan calendar divides the year into six unequal parts (gah). Festivals called gahanbars (proper seasons) indicate the border lines. The first gahanbar is called Maidyozarem, when the sky was created. The second is called Maidyoshahem, when water was created. Paitishahem is the third gahanbar, celebrating the day when the earth was created. Plant was created in the fourth gahanbar, called Ayathrem. The fifth gahanbar, Maidyarem, is dedicated to the creation of animals. In the sixth gahanbar, Hamaspathmaidyem, man (kiyumars) was created. The seventh phenomenon created was fire. Modern Avestan calendar was the formal Sassanid calendar, which divided the year into twelve months of thirty days with five extra days, totaling 365 days. The present article studies the gahanbars and the relevant phenomena.