Herodotus (484 - 425 BC) was an ancient Greek writer, geographer, and historian born in the Greek city of Halicarnassus which was part of the Persian Empire (now Bodrum in Turkey). He wrote ‘The Histories’ which is a detailed account of the Greco-Persian Wars. Herodotus was the first writer to do systematic investigation of historical events and is thus regarded as ‘The Father of History’, a title conferred on him by the ancient Roman orator Cicero.

Let’s study how Herodotus describes Persian customs as they would have been practiced about two and a half millennia ago (around the year 430 BCE) at Susa and other Persian strongholds. The passages, from Book I of his ‘Histories’, are interesting, considering the way Herodotus contrasts the behavior and values of the Persians with those of the Greeks and with the Persians seeming to come off more favorably. But he also adds: “There is no nation which so readily adopts foreign customs as the Persians.” This is so true even today or as true as it has been down history.

Ability To Adapt

Writes Herodotus: “There is no nation which so readily adopts foreign customs as the Persians. Thus, they have taken the dress of the Medes, considering it superior to their own; and in war they wear the Egyptian breastplate. As soon as they hear of any luxury, they instantly make it their own: and hence, among other novelties, they have learnt unnatural lust from the Greeks. Each of them has several wives, and a still larger number of concubines. Next to prowess in arms, it is regarded as the greatest proof of manly excellence to be the father of many sons. Every year the king sends rich gifts to the man who can show the largest number: for they hold that number is strength.”

When the Parsis came to India they followed in the footsteps of their Persian forebears. We adopted the Indian dress, the Gujarati language etc.

Early Education

Herodotus writes: “Their sons are carefully instructed from their fifth to their twentieth year, in three things alone – to ride (a horse), to draw the bow, and to speak the truth. Until their fifth year they are not allowed to come into the sight of their father, but pass their lives with the women. This is done that, if the child dies young, the father may not be afflicted by this loss,” adding, “They hold it unlawful to talk of anything which it is unlawful to do. The most disgraceful thing in the world, they think, is to tell a lie; the next worst, to owe a debt: because, among other reasons, the debtor is obliged to tell lies.”

One may wonder how learning to ride a horse or learning to draw a bow can be considered as education? However, Persians believed that horse-riding instilled in the child qualities of strength, courage and resilience together with a sense of alertness and responsibility. It also helped the child build core strength and improve balance and coordination.

Archery also helped the child to focus and concentrate and develop a disciplined mind in a strong body with good reflexes. Both, horse-riding and archery helped the child inculcates qualities of patience, teamwork and problem-solving skills. While riding or shooting, the child was made to face unexpected obstacles and challenges which the student had to quickly fix or learn to adapt. The child automatically learned to think out of the box and acquire problem solving skills for all situations in life.

While, today we may not be teaching our children to ride a horse or to draw a bow, speaking the truth and leading a righteous life continue to remain a fundamental Zoroastrian value.

Herodotus writes: “They never defile a river with the secretions of their bodies, nor even wash their hands in one; nor will they allow others to do so, as they have a great reverence for rivers. There is another custom which is spoken of with reserve, and not openly, concerning their dead. It is said that the body of a male Persian is never buried, until it has been torn either by a dog or a bird of prey.”

Thus, Zoroastrians appear to have been practicing ‘sky burial’ (leaving the corpse exposed to the elements of Nature) for virtually twenty-five centuries. Revering the waters also remains a living tradition. Persians were truly environmentally conscious and saw the Creator in Creations like earth, water, air and fire. They revered all the elements of Nature.

Worship

Writes Herodotus: “The customs which I know the Persians to observe are the following: they have no images of the gods, no temples nor altars, and consider the use of them a sign of folly. This comes, I think, from their not believing the gods to have the same nature with men, as the Greeks imagine. They offer to the sun and moon, to the earth, to fire, to water, and to the winds. These are the only gods whose worship has come down to them from ancient times.”

In other words, Persians revered Nature and through Nature looked up to Nature’s Creator. Little wonder we see no images of Divinities or for that matter even the image of Zarathushtra in that period. Today, by contrast, images of Zarathushtra (although no one really knows what Zarathustra looked like) and other holy personages adorn Zoroastrian homes and fire temples.

Celebrating Birthdays

Herodotus writes: “Of all the days in the year, the one which they celebrate most is their birthday. It is customary to have the table furnished on that day with an ampler supply than common with all types of meats. They eat little solid food but abundance of dessert, which is set on table a few dishes at a time; this it is which makes them say that ‘the Greeks, when they eat, leave off hungry, having nothing worth mention served up to them after the meats; whereas, if they had more put before them, they would not stop eating.’ They are very fond of wine, and drink it in large quantities.”

Now we know where our fondness of meats, desserts and wine comes from!

Decision Making

According to Herodotus Persians had a unique way of decision making. He writes: “It is also their general practice to deliberate upon affairs of weight when they are drunk; and then on the morrow, when they are sober, the decision to which they came the night before is put before them by the master of the house in which it was made; and if it is then approved of, they act on it; if not, they set it aside. Sometimes, however, they are sober at their first deliberation, but in this case, they always reconsider the matter under the influence of wine.”

Lesson Of History

It would seem many of the customs and traditions we still follow. A few others we have adapted and some we have completely done away with. Throughout human history, communities that have remained loyal to their rich traditions and culture as also imbibed values and ethics of their illustrious forebears, have remained strong and vibrant. Even in the corporate world, the most effective organizations are those which respect and celebrate tradition, culture, values and ethics. It is no coincidence that some of these most highly admired corporations are also among the most profitable. As with institutions, so with communities. A community which respects and celebrates tradition, culture, values and ethics remains strong and vibrant.