Anahita
Anahita /ɑːnəˈhiːtə/ is the Old Persian name of an Iranian goddess. The complete and earlier form of the name is Aredvi Sura Anahita (Arədvī Sūrā Anāhitā). She is the Indo-Iranian goddess of "the Waters" (Aban), This makes her associated with fertility, healing and wisdom. There is a temple named Anahita in Iran.
Aredvi Sura Anahita is Ardwisur Anahid (اردویسور آناهید ) or Nahid (ناهید) in Middle and Modern Persian. She is Anahit in Armenian.[1] A cult of Aredvi Sura Anahita was "introduced apparently in the 4th century BCE and lasted until it was suppressed in the wake of an iconoclastic movement under the Sassanids."[2] The symbol of goddess Anahita is the Lotus flower. Lotus Festival (Persian: Jashn-e Nilupar) is an Iranian festival. It is held on the sixth day of July.
Anahita Media
The Lotus flower is the symbol of goddess Anahita
Taq-e Bostan high-relief of the investiture of Khosrow II (r. 590 to 628). The king (center) receives the ring of kingship from Mithra (right). On the left, apparently sanctifying the investiture, stands a female figure generally assumed to be Anahita (but see remark, below).
4th-6th century silver and gilt Sassanian vessel, assumed to be depicting Anahita. (Cleveland Museum of Art)
Naqsh-e Rustam investiture of Narseh (r. 293–302), in which the Sassanian king (second from right) receives the ring of kingship from Anahita (right).
The figure of a female on an Achaemenid cylinder seal
References
- Sources
- Boyce, Mary (1975b), "On the Zoroastrian Temple Cult of Fire", Journal of the American Oriental Society, Ann Arbor: AOS/UMich. Press, 95 (3): 454–465, doi:10.2307/599356, JSTOR 599356
- Boyce, Mary (1983b), "Anāhīd", Encyclopædia Iranica, vol. 1, New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul, pp. 1003–1009
- Refernces
- ↑ Boyce 1983b, p. 1003.
- ↑ Boyce 1975b, p. 454.
