MythicZarathustra, founder of Zoroastrianism
UBZoroaster, Salem missionary descendant
Zoroaster, Salem missionary descendant = Zarathustra, founder of Zoroastrianism
The Connection
The UB identifies Zoroaster as a direct descendant of the Salem missionaries. He encountered remnants of Melchizedek's original teaching and reformulated them into the Zoroastrian religion. His monotheistic impulse, moral dualism, and concept of a final judgment all trace back to Salem sources rather than being independent innovations.
UB Citation
Academic Source
Boyce, Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (1979); Clark, Zoroastrianism (1998)
Historical Evidence(Strong evidence)
The UB states: "Zoroaster was in direct contact with the descendants of the earlier Melchizedek missionaries." Mary Boyce documents Zoroaster's radical monotheistic reform of Iranian polytheism, dating his activity to approximately 1500-1200 BCE. His proclamation of Ahura Mazda as the one supreme God closely parallels the Salem teaching of one God. Peter Clark notes that Zoroastrianism's ethical monotheism was unprecedented in the Iranian context, consistent with an external teaching influence.
Related Mappings
Seven Master Spirits, supreme universe administrators
= Ahura Mazda + seven supreme gods (Amesha Spentas)
Lucifer rebellion, distorted memory of cosmic war
= Zoroastrian dualism (Ahura Mazda vs. Angra Mainyu)
Zoroastrian influence on Jewish theology
= Jewish heaven, hell, devils derived from Zoroastrianism
Corrupted Zoroastrianism in Rome
= Mithras, mystery cult with December 25th festival