Who founded Zoroastrianism?

Zoroaster founded Zoroastrianism.

Also known as Zarathushtra or Zarathustra, Zoroaster was an Iranian religious reformer and prophet whose teachings became the foundation of the faith. The religion centers on devotion to Ahura Mazda, the wise and beneficent supreme deity, and emphasizes the moral choice between truth and falsehood, commonly expressed through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.

Zoroaster’s exact lifetime is uncertain. Traditional accounts often place him near the 6th century BCE, while many modern scholars argue for a much earlier date based on the language and social world reflected in the Gathas, the oldest hymns attributed to him. These hymns form the core of the Avesta, Zoroastrianism’s sacred collection.

The names can cause confusion: “Zoroaster” is the Greek form, while “Zarathushtra” is closer to the Avestan name. Mazdak and Mani were later Iranian religious figures, and Mithra was an important deity, not the founder of Zoroastrianism. The faith later became influential in several Iranian empires, including the Sasanian Empire.