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2 Nov, 2013

Exhibition retraces evolution of Zoroastrianism – DAWN.COM

LONDON: Years of exploration and careful coordination across the seas from Pakistan and India to Hong Kong and the United States have culminated in a unique exhibition retracing the evolution of Zoroastrianism. The display is both engrossing and informative.

Zoroastrianism may only have a modest following of two million worldwide, but before Islam, it was the state religion in Iran. Its beliefs are rooted in the dichotomy between good and evil, quite similar to Christianity and Islam. “The Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination” maps out the history of the religion from the second millennium BC to date, a first of its kind to provide a visual narrative of the history of the religion and its rich cultural heritage.

The 200 unique Zoroastrianism cultural artifacts on display at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London are the fruit of years of painstaking fundraising and hard work. In the basement of the Brunei Gallery is the replica of a fire temple complete with prayer room, and portraits of notable Zoroastrians, which include familiar names such as members of the Tata family, the Wadia family and Framji Pestonjee Patuck, on loan from the Tata Central Archives, Hameed Haroon and the Royal Asiatic Society.

Read the rest: Exhibition retraces evolution of Zoroastrianism – DAWN.COM.