Here Herodotus can be of some help again. “As to the…
““Here Herodotus can be of some help again. “As to the customs of the Persians, I know them to be these. It is not their custom to make and set up statues and temples and altars, but those who do such things they think foolish, because, I suppose, they have never believed the gods to be like men, as the Greeks do; but they call the whole circuit of heaven Zeus, and to him they sacrifice on the highest peaks of the mountains; they sacrifice also to the sun and moon and earth and fire and water and winds. From the beginning, these are the only gods to whom they have ever sacrificed; they learned later to sacrifice to the ‘heavenly’ Aphrodite from the Assyrians and Arabians. She is called by the Assyrians Mylitta, by the Arabians Alilat, by the Persians Mitra.”[28]””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage describes Persian religious practices, noting their worship of natural elements and later adoption of foreign deities, contrasting with Greek anthropomorphic gods.
In simple terms: Persians worshiped nature and later foreign gods, unlike Greeks.
Key Takeaway
Recognize cultural differences in religious concepts.
Themes
religion
culture
history
comparative mythology
anthropology
Mood
inquisitive
analytical
Type
historical
educational
informative
When to use this quote
- academic study
- museum exhibit
- travel guide
- interfaith dialogue
- educational curriculum
Key Concepts
polytheism
syncretism
iconoclasm
Questions to Reflect On
- How do religious practices evolve when cultures interact?
- What does this say about the fluidity of divine concepts?
A Different Perspective
Persian beliefs also included local spirits and ancestor veneration not mentioned here.