The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v2.c41.s1.8

v2.c41.s1.8

Such evidence Hertel finds in the Parsi tradition which gives something like 595–594 B. C. as the opening of Zoroaster’s ministry and makes him live about 660–583 B. C. The date is earlier than his own, but in view of the deplorable nature of the Parsi tradition generally, he deems this of no importance, and refers to the fact that Anquetil du Perron ¹ arrives at the date 559 B. C. for the beginning of Zoroaster’s work, on the strength of the fact that a religious sect, which immigrated into China about A. D. 600 and which is evidently of Zoroastrian origin, had an era dating approximately from that time, which Anquetil interpreted as fixed by the prophet’s leaving his home and entering on his mission. For the accuracy of the tradition the best argument to be adduced is that, if Zoroaster had not lived at a comparatively later epoch, the Parsis would not have brought his date down, since no sect willingly depreciates the age of its founder. Here, however, we are left to mere guess-work, and we have a very formidable argument to confront in the fact that tradition does not make the patron of Zoroaster, Vištāspa, identical with the father of Dareios until as late as Ammianus Marcellinus (5th cent. A. D.), whose evidence in this regard, Hertel very frankly admits, is worthless.