Peaceful coexistence: Archaeologists reveal 1,500-year-old secrets

Peaceful coexistence: Archaeologists reveal 1,500-year-old secrets

Archaeologists in northern Iraq have discovered significant evidence of peaceful coexistence between Christians and Zoroastrians 1,500 years ago. The excavations took place near the Persian fortress of Gird-î Kazhaw, where remains of a Christian monastery from the year 500 and Zoroastrian settlements were identified. This discovery indicates a remarkable religious tolerance that existed in the region at the time. Dr. Alexander Tamm from the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Prof. Dirk Wicke from the Goethe University Frankfurt led the excavations, which were carried out by a team of ten who are interested not only in the individual finds, but also in the social structure of the region Focus reports.

The finds include stone pillars and architectural evidence of a church in the center of the monastery, which is the first Christian structure in the region. A large jug with an early Christian cross, which gained importance after the legalization of Christianity in the Roman Empire in the 4th century, illustrates the connection between the two faith communities. Further evidence, such as the discovery of a pillar building with clay floors and remains of walls, also indicate a sacred character of the complex. The proximity of these buildings to the Sasanian fortifications raises questions about the possible simultaneous use of both structures and could indicate a harmonious coexistence of Christian and Zoroastrian communities in the 5th century, such as [Herder].

Insights into Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism, also known as Zoroasterism or Mazdaism, is one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world and was founded by Zoroaster between 1800 and 600 BC. Founded in BC. The central figure of the faith is the creator god Ahura Mazda, who is accompanied by the “benevolent immortals” (Amescha Spenta) and the adversary Angra Mainyu. The holy scripture, the Avesta, was first passed down orally and later recorded. In late antiquity, Zoroastrianism, particularly the Zurvanist variety, was widespread among the Sassanids, but lost influence after the Islamic conquest of Iran, leading to the current global spread of approximately 130,000 Zoroastrians, living primarily in India, Iran and the United States. These aspects of Zoroastrianism can be found summarized in an article on Wikipedia.

The discoveries at the Gird-î Kazhaw site open up new perspectives on the coexistence of different faiths at that time and show that religious diversity and tolerance could not only have been historical exceptions, but also a lived reality. The next excavation seasons will use new archaeometric methods to explore everyday life at the time in more detail and thus further refine the picture of the region's social and religious structures.