Avestan is one of the Old Iranian languages spoken in the northeastern areas of the Iranian plateau. Dating these texts, which were transmitted orally for a very long time, is challenging. It is assumed that these texts were composed in stages between 1200 and 300 BCE. Most of the surviving Avestan texts are liturgical or have been transformed into liturgical texts. They are still recited in Zoroastrian rituals today.
The Avestan corpus can be divided into three chronological layers: Old, Middle, and Young Avestan. The small Old Avestan corpus includes the *Gathas*, whose authorship was previously ascribed to Zarathustra in scholarly works. The Young Avestan layer is chronologically comparable to Old Persian, a Western Old Iranian language.
This course will introduce you to Young Avestan, its grammar and script. You will learn how to use the Avestan dictionary and digital corpora.
The course is open to undergraduate and graduate students. Completing the weekly exercises is required to earn the corresponding credit points.
- Kursleiter/in: Kianoosh Rezania