Vishtaspa
Zoroastrian · mortal · legendary · Recorded classification
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: ZarathustraReciprocal of the edge on the prophet's record.Reference treatment of Vishtaspa as the prince patron of Zoroaster. (secondary)
- overlord of: JamaspNon-symmetric; the court relation, not a friendship.Reference treatment: Jamasp was a nobleman at Vishtasp's court. (secondary)
- overlord of: FrashaoshtraSame.Reference treatment: Jamaspa and Frashaoshtra are two members of Vishtasp's court, named at Yasna 51.17-18. (secondary)
Sources
- Kavi Vishtaspa is the princely patron of Zarathustra, celebrated in the Gathas as the establisher of the first Zoroastrian community, with Jamasp and Frashaoshtra at his court.: Reference treatments of Vishtaspa, of Goshtasp, and of the Gathic references to his court. (secondary)