Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination

11 October – 14 December 2013Brunei Gallery, SOAS, University of London

A visual narrative of one of the oldest world religions

One of the world’s oldest religions, Zoroastrianism originated amongst Iranian tribes in Central Asia during the second millennium BCE and spread to Iran where it became the principal faith until the advent of Islam. Central to the religion is the belief in a sole creator god, Ahura Mazda, his emissary Zarathustra (Zoroaster) and the dichotomy between good and evil.

The Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination is the first exhibition of its kind to provide a visual narrative of the history of Zoroastrianism, its rich cultural heritage and the influence it has had on the major world religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The exhibition takes you on a journey from the earliest days of the religion to its emergence as the foremost religion of the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian empires of imperial Iran.

A fascinating and diverse collection of artefacts, texts, paintings and textiles are displayed alongside spectacular installations that include a walk-in fire temple and a ten-metre glass etching based on the cast of the western staircase from the palace of Darius at Persepolis in the British Museum.

A two day conference, “Looking Back: The Formation of Zoroastrian Identity Through Rediscovery of the Past”, organised by the Centre for Iranian Studies at SOAS will take place at the Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre on the 11th and 12th October 2013.

CYRUSPOONAWALLA

Brunei GallerySOAS, University of LondonThornhaugh Street, Russell SquareLondon WC1H 0XG

FLAMEin History and Imagination

THE EVERLASTING

Zoroastrianism11 October – 14 December 2013

Overleaf photo: Kirdir inscription at Naqsh-e Rajab. Photograph – Khojeste MistreeL: Detail from the Ambassadors painting, south wall, Institute of Archaeology. Samarkand Photograph © MAFOUZ de SogdianeR: Ewer depicting senmurv and the Tree of Life, The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg Photograph © The State Hermitage Museum/Vladimir Terebenin, Leonard, Kheifets, Yuri Molodkovets

+44 (0)20 7898 4046www.theeverlastingflame.com

Open: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:30 – 17:00Late night Thursday until 20:00Closed: Sundays, Mondays and Bank Holidays

Patron – Zubin Mehta

Admission

FREE

AEQUA FOUNDATION