Zarathustra

Zoroaster, legendary religious teacher, prophet of ancient Persia, founder of Zoroastrianism, c.628-551, subject of Nietzsche book

Fishburn and Hughes: "In Greek, Zoroaster: a figure who probably lived in the sixth century BC in eastern Persia. Very little is known about him. He was the consolidator of a religious doctrine now called Zoroastrianism, whose essential feature was dualism, expressed in a belief in two predominant spirits, Ormazd, the spirit of good and light, and Ahriman, the spirit of evil and darkness. The world was created out of the struggle between these two opposing powers; the conflict is reflected in man, who however is endowed with the freedom to choose between them. Zoroastrianism is a life-affirming religion, based on the ultimate triumph of good after the life on earth of a Saviour born of a virgin, for which it is thought to have influenced Apocalyptic Judaism and the New Testament. Nietzsche, in his poem 'Thus spake Zarathustra', talks admiringly of 'that Dionysian monster, whose fundamental message is that manhood is a state to be surpassed'. CF 232 and 131: refers to part 4 of the poem in which Zarathustra speaks of having overcome his last sin, pity. In a highly poetical rendering of an encounter with a soothsayer, who had come to seduce Zarathustra to feel pity for the higher man (italics in original), Zarathustra relates the various stages through which he overcame this temptation. Though pity for the suffering of the world hangs heavily upon a sensitive man, yet he must have courage to overcome it for 'courage is the best killer; courage kills even pity. But pity is the deepest abyss.' See Parsis." (214-15)