The Sasanian Empire
The Sasanians defeated the Parthians in 224 and established the Sasanian Empire. The Sasanians made Zoroastrianism the official state religion. They gathered the Avesta (the Zoroastrian scripture) and invented the Avestan script. They also built many fire temples. The Zoroastrian priests became very powerful during this period.This sculpture may be a protrait of Shapur II (309-379) who was the longest ruling Sasanian king. Shapur was a devout Zoroastrian who made Zoroastrianism the state religion and supported the priests. In the beginning of his reign, he persecuted the Christians, but later he recognized their rights and respected their religion.
