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Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1» 887, ,, 1161. Accession of Khasr6I . . 4, 831, 5, 292. » 900, 5, 1173. Bd. date of A.R.goO. . . 4, 543, 9, 305+ 9 951, 5, 1220. Accessionof Khisr6 TI. . 4, §90, 5, 356. » ooo, ,, 1265. Hd. date of A.R. 1000. 1» 635, 5) 405. » 017, ,, 1281. Death of Yazdakard III. » 651, 4, 422. 59. The object of preparing this statement has been to ascertain the reason for the intentional errors in the Bundahis chronology, and the probable period at which they were introduced. It has been mentioned, in § 57, that the effect of both the errors, which are not accidental, has been to postpone the end of the tenth millennium, but they also postpone the dates of some other events which are mentioned in the Zoroastrian legends. 60. Thus, we are told in Dk. VII, vii, 9, that benightedness arises after A.R. 400, which is postponed by the errors from B.C. 231 to 78, but both of these times seem to have been equally unpropitious to the Zoroastrians. Then we learn (ibid. 10, 11) that in the fifth and sixth centuries, say A.R. 440-560, orthodoxy is still upheld by four successive high-priests. This period is postponed by the errors from B.C. 191-71 to 156-36 (see p. xxxi, n. 2), and Zoroastrianism was probably flourishing the whole time. So far, no reason for the alterations can be discovered, as the vague description of events, supplied by the old writer, appears to be 1 The basis of calculation is the real date of each event and real century, but the Bd. date of each Bd. century. The only Bd. data are 284 years from the death of Alexander to the accession of Ardashir, and 460 years from the latter to the death of Yasdakard III, as stated in § 57. [47] c XXXiV PAHLAVI TEXTS. just as applicable to the original periods as to the altered ones.
2date of each Bd. century. The only Bd. data are 284 years from the death of Alexander to the accession of Ardashir, and 460 years from the latter to the death of Yasdakard III, as stated in § 57. [47] c XXXiV PAHLAVI TEXTS. just as applicable to the original periods as to the altered ones. 61. We are further informed (Dk. VII, viii, 2-45) that much evil and misery occur in the ninth and tenth centuries (A.R. 800-1000), at all events until the birth of Adshédar (ibid. 55-57) in A.R. 971; and such events as war, invasion, fall of monarchy, oppression, persecution, infidelity, and apostasy are mentioned. Adshédar confers with the archangels in A.R. 1001 (ibid. 58-60), and the evils afterwards pass away till A.R. 1400-1500 (ibid. ix, 3), when frightful winters occur. The evil period A.R. 800-971 was originally A.D. 170-341, or from the middle of the reign of Vologeses III to the middle of that of Shahpdhar II. But the Bundahis postpones ‘this period to A.D. 451-608, or from the time of the Armenian revolt in the reign of Yasdakard II, to that of the first total defeat of a Persian army by the Arabs near Dhf-Qér in the reign of Khisré II. The evil times were probably expected to continue till the end of the millennium, or later, as in the case of Zaratist himself; for Atshédar does not go to his conference till A.R. 1001, and might not be expected to begin to preach till A.R. 1011. These dates, originally A.D. 371-381, comprising the remainder of the reign of Shahpdhar II, would be altered by Bd. to A. D. 636-645, a period which includes the last two great battles with the Arabs, that decided the downfall of the Sds4nian dynasty, though king Yazdakard III lived some six years longer a a fugitive }. 62. It is hardly possible that king Ardashir (A.D. 226- 241) and his chancellor Tanvasar, when collecting and revising their sacred books, would have compiled the original traditional system of chronology, however general might have been the terms in which the evils were described by the records they possessed, because it would have been a voluntary confession that they had no power to remedy 1 The authorities consulted, for Persian historical facts and dates, have been Noldeke, Aufsdtse zur perstschen Geschichte; and A. von Gutschmid, Geschichte Irans und seiner Nachbarlander von Alexander dem Grossen bis sum Untergang der Arsaciden: edited by Néldeke. INTRODUCTION. XXXV
3von Gutschmid, Geschichte Irans und seiner Nachbarlander von Alexander dem Grossen bis sum Untergang der Arsaciden: edited by Néldeke. INTRODUCTION. XXXV the evils of their own time. But if they found the system in an ancient document, they might have been quite willing to admit that evils existed, owing to their enemies, which would have become much worse if they had not been mitigated by their own exertions. In fact, an old document prophesying evil which actually occurred at the time specified, could be used as evidence of the truth of their religion, and would therefore be carefully preserved. And it is quite certain that, if they had altered the chronology of an old document which foretold the time of the downfall of the monarchy, they could not have correctly guessed that time before the downfall occurred. For these reasons we must conclude that the original system of chronology, handed down by the Bundahis, was neither compiled nor altered in the time of Ardashir. 63. For the long reign of Shahpdhar II (A.D. 309-379) the original tradition predicted not only a continuation of evil times, but also the birth and education of a new apostle, Adshédar, for the next millennium, who was expected to put an end to evil for about four centuries. His birth was to take place in A. D. 341, and his conference was to commence in 371. These dates are so well defined that, if we could discover any important religious teacher to whom they could refer, we might be justified in believing that the original chronology was compiled in his time. Unfortunately, we know very little of the internal history of Persia during this reign; there was war with the Romans in 337-350 and 358-363, and on the eastern frontiers in the intervening period ; also a persecution of the Christians, beginning about 339; all of which fairly represent the predicted evils. 64. Regarding the priesthood and religious history of the reign, we have only the traditions handed down in Pahlavi texts to guide us. In these we are told that Atdrpad, son of Maraspend (Dk. VII, vii, 19), was born in the steel period (Dk. IX, viii, 4), and lived in the reign of king Shahpdhar II, son of Adharmazd (AV. p. 145 n), being high-priest over the religion (Dd. XX XVII, 36). He also collected and preserved the Nasks (Dk. VIII, i, 22), Cc 2 XXXVI PAHLAVI TEXTS.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1» 887, ,, 1161. Accession of Khasr6I . . 4, 831, 5, 292. » 900, 5, 1173. Bd. date of A.R.goO. . . 4, 543, 9, 305+ 9 951, 5, 1220. Accessionof Khisr6 TI. . 4, §90, 5, 356. » ooo, ,, 1265. Hd. date of A.R. 1000. 1» 635, 5) 405. » 017, ,, 1281. Death of Yazdakard III. » 651, 4, 422. 59. The object of preparing this statement has been to ascertain the reason for the intentional errors in the Bundahis chronology, and the probable period at which they were introduced. It has been mentioned, in § 57, that the effect of both the errors, which are not accidental, has been to postpone the end of the tenth millennium, but they also postpone the dates of some other events which are mentioned in the Zoroastrian legends. 60. Thus, we are told in Dk. VII, vii, 9, that benightedness arises after A.R. 400, which is postponed by the errors from B.C. 231 to 78, but both of these times seem to have been equally unpropitious to the Zoroastrians. Then we learn (ibid. 10, 11) that in the fifth and sixth centuries, say A.R. 440-560, orthodoxy is still upheld by four successive high-priests. This period is postponed by the errors from B.C. 191-71 to 156-36 (see p. xxxi, n. 2), and Zoroastrianism was probably flourishing the whole time. So far, no reason for the alterations can be discovered, as the vague description of events, supplied by the old writer, appears to be 1 The basis of calculation is the real date of each event and real century, but the Bd. date of each Bd. century. The only Bd. data are 284 years from the death of Alexander to the accession of Ardashir, and 460 years from the latter to the death of Yasdakard III, as stated in § 57. [47] c XXXiV PAHLAVI TEXTS. just as applicable to the original periods as to the altered ones.
2date of each Bd. century. The only Bd. data are 284 years from the death of Alexander to the accession of Ardashir, and 460 years from the latter to the death of Yasdakard III, as stated in § 57. [47] c XXXiV PAHLAVI TEXTS. just as applicable to the original periods as to the altered ones. 61. We are further informed (Dk. VII, viii, 2-45) that much evil and misery occur in the ninth and tenth centuries (A.R. 800-1000), at all events until the birth of Adshédar (ibid. 55-57) in A.R. 971; and such events as war, invasion, fall of monarchy, oppression, persecution, infidelity, and apostasy are mentioned. Adshédar confers with the archangels in A.R. 1001 (ibid. 58-60), and the evils afterwards pass away till A.R. 1400-1500 (ibid. ix, 3), when frightful winters occur. The evil period A.R. 800-971 was originally A.D. 170-341, or from the middle of the reign of Vologeses III to the middle of that of Shahpdhar II. But the Bundahis postpones ‘this period to A.D. 451-608, or from the time of the Armenian revolt in the reign of Yasdakard II, to that of the first total defeat of a Persian army by the Arabs near Dhf-Qér in the reign of Khisré II. The evil times were probably expected to continue till the end of the millennium, or later, as in the case of Zaratist himself; for Atshédar does not go to his conference till A.R. 1001, and might not be expected to begin to preach till A.R. 1011. These dates, originally A.D. 371-381, comprising the remainder of the reign of Shahpdhar II, would be altered by Bd. to A. D. 636-645, a period which includes the last two great battles with the Arabs, that decided the downfall of the Sds4nian dynasty, though king Yazdakard III lived some six years longer a a fugitive }. 62. It is hardly possible that king Ardashir (A.D. 226- 241) and his chancellor Tanvasar, when collecting and revising their sacred books, would have compiled the original traditional system of chronology, however general might have been the terms in which the evils were described by the records they possessed, because it would have been a voluntary confession that they had no power to remedy 1 The authorities consulted, for Persian historical facts and dates, have been Noldeke, Aufsdtse zur perstschen Geschichte; and A. von Gutschmid, Geschichte Irans und seiner Nachbarlander von Alexander dem Grossen bis sum Untergang der Arsaciden: edited by Néldeke. INTRODUCTION. XXXV
3von Gutschmid, Geschichte Irans und seiner Nachbarlander von Alexander dem Grossen bis sum Untergang der Arsaciden: edited by Néldeke. INTRODUCTION. XXXV the evils of their own time. But if they found the system in an ancient document, they might have been quite willing to admit that evils existed, owing to their enemies, which would have become much worse if they had not been mitigated by their own exertions. In fact, an old document prophesying evil which actually occurred at the time specified, could be used as evidence of the truth of their religion, and would therefore be carefully preserved. And it is quite certain that, if they had altered the chronology of an old document which foretold the time of the downfall of the monarchy, they could not have correctly guessed that time before the downfall occurred. For these reasons we must conclude that the original system of chronology, handed down by the Bundahis, was neither compiled nor altered in the time of Ardashir. 63. For the long reign of Shahpdhar II (A.D. 309-379) the original tradition predicted not only a continuation of evil times, but also the birth and education of a new apostle, Adshédar, for the next millennium, who was expected to put an end to evil for about four centuries. His birth was to take place in A. D. 341, and his conference was to commence in 371. These dates are so well defined that, if we could discover any important religious teacher to whom they could refer, we might be justified in believing that the original chronology was compiled in his time. Unfortunately, we know very little of the internal history of Persia during this reign; there was war with the Romans in 337-350 and 358-363, and on the eastern frontiers in the intervening period ; also a persecution of the Christians, beginning about 339; all of which fairly represent the predicted evils. 64. Regarding the priesthood and religious history of the reign, we have only the traditions handed down in Pahlavi texts to guide us. In these we are told that Atdrpad, son of Maraspend (Dk. VII, vii, 19), was born in the steel period (Dk. IX, viii, 4), and lived in the reign of king Shahpdhar II, son of Adharmazd (AV. p. 145 n), being high-priest over the religion (Dd. XX XVII, 36). He also collected and preserved the Nasks (Dk. VIII, i, 22), Cc 2 XXXVI PAHLAVI TEXTS.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
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