The Ritual Drama of the High Priest Kirdēr

Two Middle Persian inscriptions (KSM and KNRm) of the Great Priest Kirdēr describe an eschatological “vision”, which the Great Priest Kirdēr had during his life. The framework within which this “event” took place is unclear and its determination has given room to controversial interpretations. Some scholars have assumed that the “vision” belongs to a shamanic performance or suggest other forms of esoteric ceremonies. The present study on the contrary analyses the context of the described performance in the framework of the liturgical Mazdean doctrine and suggests that the text was referring to a ritual drama, in which the afterlife travel of the Great Priest Kirdēr and the meeting with his feminine double, here named hangirb, were represented. Then, this ceremony was a particular kind of esoteric performance, in which Kirdēr was shown his future destiny.