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Arda Wiraz Namag

The Book of Arda Viraf (Ardā Wīrāz nāmag) is a Zoroastrian text written in Middle Persian, containing about 8,800 words. It describes the dream-journey of a devout Zoroastrian through the next world.|||Middle Persian manuscripts.|||Written in the Sasanian era (c. 3rd–7th centuries CE). The text was redacted in the 9th–10th centuries.|||Canonical in Zoroastrianism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.|||Describes the dream-journey of a devout Zoroastrian through heaven and hell. One of the most important Zoroastrian apocalyptic texts, influenced by and influencing Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature.|||Vahman, F. Arda Wiraz Namag: The Iranian 'Divina Commedia'. Curzon Press, 1986.|||Gignoux, P. Le livre d'Ardā Vīrāz. Peeters, 1984.|||Arda Wiraz — Iranica Online|https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/arda-wiraz|Scholarly overview.;; Book of Arda Viraf — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Arda_Viraf|Background and scholarly discussion.|||" Then just Srosh and Adar Yazad took my hands, and brought me into a desolate place on the Peak of the Law." — Arda Wiraz Namag 1

Collection: Other Ancient Religious Texts Canon: varies

Canon Status

Canonical in Zoroastrianism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.

Date & Provenance

Written in the Sasanian era (c. 3rd–7th centuries CE). The text was redacted in the 9th–10th centuries.

Language & Manuscripts

Middle Persian manuscripts.

Why It Matters for Study

Describes the dream-journey of a devout Zoroastrian through heaven and hell. One of the most important Zoroastrian apocalyptic texts, influenced by and influencing Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature.

" Then just Srosh and Adar Yazad took my hands, and brought me into a desolate place on the Peak of the Law." — Arda Wiraz Namag 1

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

  • " Then just Srosh and Adar Yazad took my hands, and brought me into a desolate place on the Peak of the Law." — Arda Wiraz Namag 1 " Then just Srosh and Adar Yazad took my hands, and brought me into a desolate place on the Peak of the Law." — Arda Wiraz Namag 1

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Vahman, F. Arda Wiraz Namag: The Iranian 'Divina Commedia'. Curzon Press, 1986.
Gignoux, P. Le livre d'Ardā Vīrāz. Peeters, 1984.
Arda Wiraz — Iranica Online|https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/arda-wiraz|Scholarly overview.;; Book of Arda Viraf — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Arda_Viraf|Background and scholarly discussion.