Toward the end of the fifth century c.e., another religious reform movement was launched by Mazdak. It came in 497… Mazdak asked King Kobad (488-531) the question, “How do you judge a man who has the antidote but does not help his scorpion-bitten neighbor?” The king answered, “He shall be put to death.” Immediately, Mazdak left the royal court for the streets, announcing to the masses, “The King has permitted you to get food from the rich and kill them too.” Ready for revolt, the masses took this as a signal for a popular uprising against royalty, the priesthood, and all the aristocrats. The ladies in the palaces were raped and the masters’ honor torn down, and Zoroastrianism, the official state religion, lost all respect among the people.
Isma’il Ragi al Faruqi, ed., Historical Atlas of the Religions of the World
READER COMMENTS
Robert Speirs
Jul 14 2006 at 3:36pm
What is this “c.e.” stuff? “Common Era”? Why is one era “common” and another not? Why the change from “Anno Domini”? Of such squeamish pettifoggery are cultural declines made!
Or is there some rational, practical reason for the newly popular usage?
As to King Kobad, I surmise his regime was in deep trouble before the scorpion antidote interpretation incident.
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