Martin Haug

Martin Haug was the first person who translated the Gathas to a European language. He was born in Germany in 1827. Later he became interested in Sanskrit and Oriental languages.

In 1859, Martin Haug traveled to India and became professor of Sanskrit in the city of Poona. There he studied the Avesta and discovered the 17 Songs composed by Zarathushtra. He understood that these Songs were much older than the rest of the Yasna.

Martin Haug then decided to translate these Songs to German. He published his translation in 1860. His translation made it possible for Europeans to read the actual Words of Zarathushtra for the first time. He went on to publish more than 10 books on the Avesta and Zoroastrianism.