‎MOLE, MARIJAN.‎
‎Culte, mythe et cosmologie dans l'Iran ancien. Le problème zoroastrien et la tradition mazdéenne. - [“MOST EXTENSIVE ANTHOLOGY OF RELIGIOUS PAHLAVI TEXTS”]‎

‎Paris, Presses Univesitaires de France, 1963. Royal8vo. Uncut in the original yellow printed wrappers. Small white paper-label pasted on to top of spine. A very fine and clean copy. XXXI, 597 pp.‎

Reference : 60295

‎First edition of Molé’s monumental doctoral thesis on Zoroastrianism and ancient Iranian history. In this pioneering work, Molé argues that Zoroaster’s accomplishment was not an anti-ritualistic ethical reform, it was rather the result of a gradual evolution of elements essential to Indo-Iranian religiosity in which the ritual of sacrifice plays a major role. Molé’s introduction to the structure of Iranian religion presents original perspectives on the relationship between the Achaemenid and Gathic religions. “Book I deals with ritual, the doctrine of sacrifice and the Gathic service. Not denying the prophet’s historicity, Book II focuses on the character of Zoroaster which is based on myth (hence one cannot situate him in time). The prophetic legend – (Zoroaster is not a prophet of the Semitic type) –, his dialogues with Ahura Mazda, and the conversion of Vištaspa (see Kayanian ix.) are examined in this section Molé continues to maintain that a “life of Zoroaster” is purely mythical. Book III deals with Mazdean cosmology as depicted in the Yašts and Videvdad. Here Molé emphasizes the pre-eminence of Man in the Cosmos and provides a definition of “The Perfect Man”, best exemplified by Zoroaster. Finally, Molé demonstrates that Mazdaism is not strictly dualistic since Ahura Mazda’s creations are more lasting than those of Ahriman who will be perished at the end of time. “ (Encyclopædia Iranica)‎