Millenarianism in Ancient Iranian Religions and Ikhwān al-Safā s Theory of Prophetic Cycles: A Comparative Study

Zoroasterianisam, Zurvanism and Mithraism have been combined with astrological beliefs in such a way that it is nearly impossible to grasp these schools and religions without having knowledge about astrological beliefs. Ikhwān al-Safā, a mystical and esoteric association in tenth century in Basra and Baghdad, wrote 52 epistles full of religioastrological beliefs and thoughts. For example their theory of Prophetic Cycles was developed to explain the cosmic cycles and the sacred history. Observing similarities between ancient Iranian religions and Ikhwān al-Safā and after surveying the religio-astrological elements of Iranian millenarianism (especially that of Zoroasterianism and Zurvanism) and Ikhwān al-Safā’s Prophetic Cycles, we decieded to compare these two religious traditions. In the present research, by using scientific and historical references, we have tried to recognize and analyze the common roots of these beliefs and thoughts in the both traditions. The most significant achievement of this research is presenting a new method for comparison between the ancient Iranian concept of ontological levels and Ikhwān al-Safā’s concept of celestial souls. Moreover, by surveying the role of the archetypes of infinite Time and eternal Place in the immaterial and material world, we could make a comparison between Yazatas and Ameshaspentas of ancient Iranian religions and Ikhwān al-Safā’s consepts of Universal Reason, Universal Soul and Celestial Souls.