Vishtaspa
Zoroastrian · mortal · legendary · mortal
He is not identified here with Hystaspes the father of Darius, and the alt-name list carries 'Hystaspes' only as the Greek form of the same theophoric name, not as an identification. The equation is an old and much-argued proposal and it is one of the pivots of the dating question; asserting it would smuggle in a date for Zarathustra through the back door. In the later Persian tradition he is Goshtasp of the Shahnameh, which is the same figure carried forward under a Middle Persian form.
Domains
- patronage of religion
- kingship
Relations
- ally: Zarathustra
- overlord of: Jamasp
- overlord of: Frashaoshtra
Sources
- Reference treatments of Vishtaspa, of Goshtasp, and of the Gathic references to his court.