Written by How University Presses Proved Western Religion Is Persian (And Nobody Told You)
A Two-Part Investigation Into 150 Years of Published Evidence
INTRODUCTION: The Field You’ve Never Heard Of
There’s an academic discipline called “Irano-Talmudica.”
It’s been around since the 1880s.
It studies Persian and Zoroastrian influence on Judaism.
Hundreds of papers have been published. Multiple books from major university presses. Entire conferences dedicated to it.
You’ve never heard of it.
That’s not an accident.
WHAT THE ACADEMICS HAVE DOCUMENTED
1. The Babylonian Talmud Was Written In Persia
The Basic Facts:
The Babylonian Talmud (called the “Bavli”) is the foundation of modern Rabbinic Judaism. It’s the authoritative text that defines Jewish law, practice, and theology.
Where was it written?
In Babylonia/Mesopotamia, under Persian rule. Specifically under the Sasanian Persian Empire (224-651 CE).
For how long?
The Bavli was compiled over 400 years (200-600 CE), entirely under Persian governance.
What scholars say:
“For nine centuries Babylonian Jews lived under Iranian rulers, Parthian, then Sasanian, from the middle of the 2nd century BCE to the 7th century CE”
“The Babylonian Talmud is full of Iranian words. Rabbis could understand spoken Persian”
Translation: The rabbis who wrote the foundation of modern Judaism lived in Persia, spoke Persian, and were saturated in Persian culture for 400 continuous years.
2. The Talmud Itself Admits “Too Persianized”
This isn’t speculation. The Talmud documents its own Persianization.
Scholars note: “According to both Talmuds, this innovation was introduced by R. Nahman, who is criticized elsewhere in the Babylonian Talmud for being too Persianized by half“
Read that again.
The Talmud criticizes one of its own rabbis for being “too Persianized.”
Not “influenced by.” Not “familiar with.”
“Too Persianized.”
They knew exactly what they were doing.
3. Hundreds of Persian Loanwords
The linguistic evidence is overwhelming:
“There are a few hundred Iranian—usually Middle Persian—loanwords in Babylonian Jewish Aramaic”
Not a few words. Not dozens.
Hundreds.
Scholars state: “Quite simply, knowing Iranian languages leads to a more accurate understanding of the Bavli when it uses these loanwords”
In other words: You cannot properly understand the Talmud without knowing Persian.
4. Specific Theological Concepts Are Explicitly Persian
What scholars directly attribute to Persian/Zoroastrian influence:
“The Bavli is full of Iranian words and motifs, such as the resurrection of the dead and the last judgment, that are familiar in Zoroastrianism“
Resurrection of the dead = Zoroastrian
Last judgment = Zoroastrian
This isn’t interpretation. This is explicit scholarly statement.
“They attributed much of the worldview unique to the Babylonian Talmud to this influence, including Talmudic magic, sorcery, angelology, demons as well as menstruation and purity laws“
Magic, angels, demons, purity laws—all documented as Persian influence.
5. Even Adam and Eve Are Persian-Influenced
“They also noted that Adam and Eve in the Bavli reflect the Iranian Mashya (man) and Mashyana, the Iranian Adam (man) and Eve“
The Genesis story as told in the Talmud shows Persian influence.
Not peripheral details. The foundational creation narrative.
6. Jewish Law Borrowed From Persian Legal Codes
Specific example:
“We may note the rabbinic institution of the ‘rebellious wife,’ the moredet, which finds its exact counterpart in the Sasanian atarsagāyīh… with similar definitions and penalties”
Jewish marital law = Persian marital law
Not inspired by. Not parallel to.
“Exact counterpart.”
7. Rabbis Visited Zoroastrian Temples
“Secunda argues that Zoroastrians may have been interfaith interlocutors for the Babylonian rabbis… Stories in the Bavli indicate familiarity with Zoroastrian ideas and rituals. A few rabbis may have frequented Zoroastrian religious spaces“
Rabbis went to Zoroastrian fire temples.
They studied Zoroastrian practices.
They incorporated them into Judaism.
This is documented in academic literature.
THE ACADEMIC FIELD EXISTS
“Irano-Talmudica”: 150+ Years of Scholarship
From Encyclopaedia Iranica:
“Irano-Talmudica is one of the older sub-fields of Jewish studies dating back to the mid-19th century. It explores the junction of Iranian studies and the Babylonian Talmud”
This field has existed since the 1880s.
Major scholars working in it include:
- Yaakov Elman (pioneer of modern Irano-Talmudica)
- Shai Secunda (author of “The Iranian Talmud”)
- Multiple others publishing in academic journals
What they study:
“The chapter discusses the broader significance of talmudic discussions of Persians, Persian culture, Sasanian royalty, its bureaucracy, and its priesthood; the Talmud’s use of Iranian loanwords; talmudic engagement with Sasanian law, its institutions, and technical terminology; the Zoroastrian context of talmudic ritual taxonomies and classifications; the Iranian context of talmudic narratives and myths“
Not just words. Not just concepts.
Law. Rituals. Classifications. Narratives. Myths.
Everything.
THE MAJOR ACADEMIC WORKS
Books Published by Major University Presses
“The Iranian Talmud: Reading the Bavli in Its Sasanian Context”
- Author: Shai Secunda
- Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
- Status: Major academic work
Description:
“Delving deep into Sasanian material culture and literary remains, Shai Secunda pieces together the dynamic world of late antique Iran, providing an unprecedented and accessible overview of the world that shaped the Bavli“
The world that shaped the Bavli = Persian Iran.
Multiple other academic works:
- Published in Cambridge University Press journals
- Presented at Library of Congress
- Featured in Encyclopaedia Iranica (official Persian academic encyclopedia)
- Covered in Jewish Virtual Library
This is mainstream scholarship.
WHAT SCHOLARS URGE
You Need Persian To Understand The Talmud
“In 1982, the late E.S. Rosenthal urged the mastery of Middle Persian, the Sassanian lingua franca, as a gateway to Talmud study“
Translation:
To properly study the Talmud, you need to know Persian.
Not Greek. Not Latin. Not just Hebrew and Aramaic.
Persian.
Because the Talmud was written in a Persian context, filled with Persian words, shaped by Persian culture, and cannot be understood without it.
THE SCOPE OF INFLUENCE
What Scholars Say About Persian Context
“Although the Babylonian Talmud, or Bavli, has been a text central and vital to the Jewish canon since the Middle Ages, the context in which it was produced has been poorly understood“
Why?
Because the Persian context has been systematically downplayed.
“Babylonian rabbinic elite display the influence of Persian culture, law, theological and general Weltanschauung”
Culture. Law. Theology. Worldview.
All four. Completely.
The Compatibility Factor
Why did Persian influence work so well?
“Zoroastrianism was, if anything, on the whole, a more benign presence than either Roman paganism or Christianity. Moreover, its theological and ritual structure was more in tune with that of Rabbinic Judaism than Roman paganism was“
Zoroastrian structure aligned naturally with Judaism.
That’s why the influence was profound and thorough.
Jews Were Comfortable In Persia
“By and large, the two communities coexisted peacefully; as the late third-century R. Huna put it, the Babylonian ‘exiles’ were at ease in Babylonia, as the other exiles—those in the Roman world—were not“
Jews preferred living under Persian rule.
12 centuries of coexistence.
Writing their most important texts there.
Absorbing Persian culture thoroughly.
THE TIMELINE OF PERSIAN INFLUENCE
Stage 1: The Babylonian Exile (586-539 BCE)
Jewish elite captured by Babylon, educated by Zoroastrian Magi for 70 years.
Biblical evidence: Daniel becomes “chief of the Magi” (Daniel 2:48, 5:11)
Stage 2: Persian Liberation (539 BCE)
Cyrus the Great (Zoroastrian Persian king) conquers Babylon, frees Jews.
Biblical evidence: Isaiah 45:1 calls Cyrus “mine anointed” (Messiah/Christ)
This is the first person in history called “Messiah” by the Hebrew Bible.
A Zoroastrian Persian king.
Stage 3: Persian Period (539-332 BCE)
Jews return to Judea under Persian governance for 200 years.
During this period: ALL the “new” theological concepts appear:
- Resurrection
- Heaven and Hell
- Satan as cosmic adversary
- Angels (Michael, Gabriel, Raphael)
- Demons
- Messianic prophecy
- Final judgment
- Apocalyptic literature
None of these existed before Persian contact.
All of them existed after.
Stage 4: Talmud Composition (200-600 CE)
Babylonian Talmud written entirely in Persia under Sasanian rule.
For 400 years.
Rabbis speaking Persian, using Persian legal codes, visiting Zoroastrian temples, incorporating Persian concepts throughout.
Result: The foundation of modern Judaism is thoroughly Persianized.
THE SUPPRESSION MECHANISM
Why Have You Never Heard Of This?
The evidence exists. It’s published. It’s documented.
So why doesn’t anyone know?
The Gatekeeping Strategy
Academic Level: Published in university presses, taught to PhD students, discussed at conferences
Religious Level: Rabbis with advanced degrees know about Irano-Talmudica
Public Level: Complete silence
The mechanism:
- Allow the evidence to be published (can’t suppress forever)
- Keep it in academic journals and specialized books
- Never mention it in public education
- Never discuss it in synagogues
- Never cover it in mainstream media
- Frame anyone who brings it up publicly as “fringe”
Result: The evidence is “public” (technically) but effectively hidden.
What Happens If This Becomes Common Knowledge?
If people learn that:
- Modern Judaism is built on Persian/Zoroastrian foundations
- The Babylonian Talmud was written in Persia
- Resurrection, judgment, angels, demons are Zoroastrian concepts
- Rabbis were criticized for being “too Persianized”
- Jewish law borrowed from Persian legal codes
Then:
- Religious authority is undermined – Rabbis claim to teach ancient Hebrew wisdom, but it’s actually Persian wisdom
- Historical narrative collapses – Western civilization claims Judeo-Christian roots, but those roots are Persian
- Geopolitical implications – Iran/Persia being sanctioned as “evil” while Western religion is built on Persian foundations
- Identity crisis – 15 million Jews discovering their religion’s core is Zoroastrian
This cannot be allowed to become common knowledge.
So it stays in academic journals.
THE PROOF IS PUBLIC
Where To Find The Evidence
Academic Books:
- “The Iranian Talmud” by Shai Secunda (University of Pennsylvania Press)
- Multiple articles in Encyclopaedia Iranica
- Cambridge University Press journal articles
- Library of Congress presentations
Online Resources:
- Encyclopaedia Iranica (iranicaonline.org) – search “Talmud”
- Jewish Virtual Library – Babylonian Talmud articles
- Academic databases (JSTOR, Project MUSE) – search “Irano-Talmudica”
Primary Source:
- The Babylonian Talmud itself – see references to “R. Nahman” being “too Persianized”
This is not hidden in secret archives.
It’s published by major university presses.
You just were never told to look for it.
PART 1 CONCLUSION: They Published The Confession
For 150 years, scholars have documented:
- Persian influence on the Talmud is fundamental
- Zoroastrian concepts (resurrection, judgment) are throughout Jewish theology
- Rabbis lived in Persia for centuries and absorbed the culture
- You cannot understand Judaism without understanding Persian context
This is mainstream academic consensus.
Published by University of Pennsylvania Press.
Featured in Encyclopaedia Iranica.
Taught to PhD students.
Never mentioned to the public.
Until now.
COMING IN PART 2:
“From Cyrus to Christ: How The Bible Itself Confesses The Persian Source”
What we’ll document:
- The Biblical timeline proving all concepts appear POST-Persian contact
- Direct Biblical verses calling Cyrus “Messiah” and Daniel “Chief of Magi”
- Jesus’s conflict with Pharisees over “traditions of men” (Persian concepts)
- The Magi visiting Jesus (Zoroastrian priests recognizing their own prophecy)
- Dead Sea Scrolls’ explicit Zoroastrian dualism
- Modern academic papers stating the connections directly
The evidence will be undeniable.
Because it’s already published.
By scholars.
In the Bible itself.
Good Thoughts. Good Words. Good Deeds.
Asha prevails. The fire never went out.