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This research investigates the concept of fire contamination in Young Avestan texts and its implications for historical understanding.

June 6, 2026Open Access

The Fire Beyond: Non-Ritual Avestan Fires

Key Points

This research investigates the concept of fire contamination in Young Avestan texts and its implications for historical understanding.
Analysis of the Young Avestan text Wīdēwdād 8.81–96 regarding fire usage
Exploration of material culture related to fire in southern Central Asia during the first millennium BCE
Historical contextualization of Avestan texts in relation to the Achaemenid period.
Identified key non-ritual uses of fire and their cultural significance in ancient society.
Demonstrated the process of restoring the purity of contaminated fires as a reflection of cultural values.
Provided insights into the socio-historical context of fire usage during the Achaemenid period.

Abstract

Abstract The Young Avestan text Wīdēwdād 8.81–96 deals with the contamination of fire as a result of its use in daily activities, arguing that the pristine purity of this sacred element be restored by bringing each of the polluted fires to an appropriate place. While listing non-ritual uses of fire, this text also gives precious details about the material culture of the speakers of Young Avestan in southern Central Asia during the first millennium BCE. This information is relevant for not only better understanding the history of the region in that period but also tracing the composition of these passages back to the Achaemenid period.

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