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Abstract
Geo Widengren’s studies in the religion and history of ancient Iran are a prominent feature of his scholarly profile. Besides a large number of articles and minor monographs four works should be singled out to serve as a basis for the present discussion. The first one is Hochgottglaube im alten Iran from 1938, in which he elaborated the ‘high god’ character not only of Ahura Mazdā but also of Mithra, Vayu and Zurvān. The second work to be mentioned is “Stand und Aufgaben der iranischen Religionsgeschichte, I and II”, published in the two first issues of Numen (1954–55). The third one is his book from 1965, Die Religionen Irans, which appeared in the series ‘Die Religionen der Menschheit’. The fourth work to attract attention is Widengren’s detailed study of Iranian apocalyptic ideas entitled ‘Leitende Ideen und Quellen der iranischen Apokalyptik’ from 1983.
(b. 24 April 1907; d. 28 January 1996), historian of religions, particularly those of the ancient Near East and Iran.