A thread on the heavenly bodies of the solar system in Persian and their Zoroastrian origins 💫
Sun
-Xôršîd, from Middle Persian Xwar(x)šēd, from Avestan Hvarə.xšaēta, the Yazata (divinity) of the radiant sun. Cognate with Greek Helios
Mercury
-Tîr, from Middle Persian Tīri, from Old Persian Tīriya, from Avestan Tištrya, the divinity of life-bringing rainfall and fertility. Later identified with the star Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Cognate with Greek Hermes
Venus
-(A)nâhîd, from Middle Persian Anāhīd, from Old Persian/Avestan Anahita, the goddess of the waters. Cognate with Greek Aphrodite
Moon
-Māh, from Middle Persian Māh, from Old Persian Māha, from Avestan Mångha, the personification of the moon. Cognate with Greek Selene
Mars
-Bahrâm, from Middle Persian Wahrām, from Avestan Vərəθraγna, the hypostasis of victory [in war]. Cognate with Greek Ares
Jupiter
-Hormoz, from Middle Persian Ōhrmazd / Hormozd, from Old Persian/Avestan Ahura Mazda, the lord of wisdom, the first and most frequently invoked deity in the Avesta. Cognate with Greek Zeus
Saturn
-Keyvân, from Middle Persian Kēwān, from Akkadian kajamānu “the permanent, steady”. Later identified as Zurvan, the god of time. Cognate with Greek Chronos
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (Urânus, Neptun, Neptun) were not visible to the naked eye, and thus they were derived from the common European names.
You can follow @narangestan.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: