THE CORRELATION BETWEEN UTOPIA AND REALITY IN ZOROASTRIANISM, MANICHAEISM AND MAZDAKISM AT THE SASSANIAN AGE

The article is trying to study the correlation between ideal, myth and power in the ideology of Zoroaster, Mani, and Mazdak. Zoroaster's thoughts led to form Sassanian Empire and the royal movement of Ardeshir Babakan. Mani and Mazdak who appeared as well known figures during the Sassanian period opposed to the empire. They benefited Qobad and Shahpour's support respectively. However, because of the lack of synergistic relationship between utopia and reality in their ideology, they failed and marginalized. On the other hand, there was a synergistic relationship between utopia and reality in Zoroastrianism, so it remained eternal and continued strong during the time. In addition to the disagreements with the Sassanian Empire, Mani and Mazdak's thoughts were in contradiction with Iran’s culture and social values on those days. So they could not last long. Thus, in this paper, we are seeking to answer the question of what connections there are between utopia and reality in the thoughts of Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, and Mazdakism. Our hypothesis is that the relation between utopia and reality in Zoroastrianism is more synergistic than Manichaeism and Mazdakism. The research applied analytical and descriptive approaches as well as historical studies. For this purpose, a theoretical framework about utopia and reality is firstly presented. Then the conditions necessary for the emergence of utopia in three schools of thought is reviewed. Finally, the connection of this binary concept – utopia and reality – at these schools of thought is tested.