Iranian Studies

Abstract As one of the most significant Gnostic movements of late antiquity, Manichaeism emerged from the cultural and religious context of Iran. One of the most debated issues in Manichaean studies concerns the extent and nature of this religion's indebtedness to Zurvanism, an influential current within Sasanian Zoroastrianism. Adopting a comparative approach, this study demonstrates that Manichaeism's encounter with Zurvanism transcended mere borrowing, evolving into conceptual interaction and ultimately cosmological opposition.The central question addresses the extent of Zurvanian elements in Manichaeism and how this conceptual engagement led to cosmological confrontation between the two systems. Employing a descriptive-analytical method, this research draws upon Manichaean texts (including the Kephalaia and hymns), Pahlavi sources (such as the Bundahishn and Ardā Wirāz Nāmag), and historical accounts.Findings indicate that while Manichaeans adopted the concept of "Zurvan" as the god of boundless time, they fundamentally transformed its function. In Zurvanism, Zurvan holds a primordial and exalted position; in Manichaeism, however, he becomes symbol of the material world and imprisoning time—synonymous with the dark hell. This conceptual shift reveals a profound cosmological opposition: Manichaeism regards the world and time as absolute evil from which liberation is sought, whereas Zurvanism attempts to explain the origin of evil within a framework tending toward monotheism.Thus, Manichaeism appropriated Zurvanian myths to construct a new adversary for the God of Light, redefining Zurvan as embodiment of darkness and captivity. This study contributes significantly to understanding pre-Islamic Iranian religious interactions and their divergent approaches to the fundamental problems of evil and time. 

Abstract Dualism idea is one of the most important ideas in Zoroastrianism that has put in the centrality of cosmology in this religion. This idea has attempted to describe and divide the World into two origins namely good and evil that contrast with each other. Dualism is an idea that has anticipated to be presented in all levels and structures of this religion like system of morality. In this paper, we have attempted to survey the influence of this idea on the system of morality in Zoroastrianism by adopting two approaches: Text-based approach and logical approach. In Text- based approach, we have regarded to survey of similarities and coexistences in the Text, between Dualism and concepts of morality. By adopting of this approach, we can perceive this idea has left its dichotomy among the concepts of morality in different ways and has oriented toward itself. Because a discussion about the lack of relation between descriptive and morality propositions always challenges the relationship between moral principles and cosmology of a religion، this topic has been regarded as a second approach in order to survey the issue in this paper. In this approach, we have considered the logical relation between the concepts of morality and Dualism as an idea that attempts to describe the World in a special method. In one hand, if we consider the influence as a deduction of cosmology propositions and in the other hand, the logical relation has not been existed between (ought and is), on the basis of this, any kind of relation and assumption of the influence between cosmology of Dualism and morality on the behalf of authors of these Texts and Founders has considered, it has been on the basis of logical fault and sophistry (is and ought). Although with comprehensive look on the historical process of Zoroastrian ethics، we can find out the deep influence of dualism on morality principles in Pahlavi literature unto Old Avesta that has been reduced and we can see a kind of movement toward the severing of the ethics from cosmology principles.