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Hintze, Almut (2004) '“Do ut des: Patterns of Exchange in Zoroastrianism”. A Memorial Lecture for Ilya Gershevitch. Delivered at the Royal Asiatic Society on 13 June 2002.' Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 14 (1). pp. 27-45.

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Abstract

On the basis of the Avesta and the Rigveda, the article provides an outline the Indo-Iranian ritual involving a triangular configuration of patron, priest and god engaged in gift-exchange. By investigating the contexts of the much disputed, but important, Gathic word maga-, it highlights some aspects of the Old Avestan ritual governed by the same triangular pattern of ritually enacted gift-exchange. Finally, it discusses the Gathic evidence for exchange and reciprocity in a non-ritual, religious context. It concludes that there are, in the Gathas, two distinct, but interpenetrary, exchange patterns: first, the inherited Indo-Iranian triangular model underlying the ritual activity and governing the relationship between Zarathustra and some of his contemporaries and, secondly, a new pattern without Indo-Iranian antecedent, of a two-way relationship between any human being and Zarathustra’s god, Ahura Mazda.

Item Type: Journal Article
SOAS Departments & Centres: Legacy Departments > Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Department of the Study of Religions
ISSN: 13561863
Copyright Statement: © The Royal Asiatic Society 2004
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): https://doi.org/10.1017/S1356186304003591
Date Deposited: 29 Nov 2012 14:53
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/14642

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