Who wrote the Zend Avesta?

Answer: The Zend Avesta was written by a number of authors over several centuries, but it is traditionally attributed to Zoroaster (Zarathustra), the founder of Zoroastrianism.

1. Origin and Authorship: The Zend Avesta’s core, the Gathas, were composed by Zoroaster (Zarathustra), the founder of Zoroastrianism, around 1200 BCE to 1000 BCE.
2. Compilation: It is a collection of religious texts, compiled over several centuries by various authors, reflecting the religious practices, laws, and beliefs of Zoroastrianism.
3. Components: Besides the Gathas, it includes the Yasna, Visperad, and Vendidad, among others, each contributing to rituals, cosmology, and legal codes.
4. Transmission: Originally transmitted orally, the texts were later written down, preserving Zoroaster’s teachings alongside subsequent scholarly and priestly expansions.
5. Preservation and Loss: Significant portions were lost over time, especially during the Islamic conquest of Persia, with the surviving texts representing only a part of the original scripture.

The Zend Avesta is a composite text, central to Zoroastrianism, rooted in Zoroaster’s teachings but expanded by many contributors over centuries, reflecting the evolution of the religion.