The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v2.c41.s1.13

v2.c41.s1.13

Hertel naturally rejects the argument ⁴ in favour of an earlier date of Zoroaster derived from the occurrence of Mazdaku as a royal name in Media about 715 B.C., on the ground, also adopted by Jackson, that the name need not be derived from Mazdāh as a divine name, but merely from the word in its signification of wisdom, parallel to Sanskrit *medhā*. The occurrence of Assara Mazāš as a divine name in an inscription of the seventh century B.C. probably, in view of its form, carries back the existence of Ahura Mazdāh to a period before the life of Zoroaster, so that, even if the royal name were theophoric, it would prove nothing for the date of Zoroaster.¹