Place of Origin: Ancient Persia (Greater Iran)
Origin Date: Circa 1200 BCE (Avestan period)
Domain: Plant life, immortality, and sustenance
Symbols: Flourishing plants, trees, and the color green
Attributes: Immortality, nourishment, growth, and preservation
Epithets: The Immortal One, Guardian of Plants, Sustainer of Life
Equivalents: Often compared to fertility and vegetation deities in other traditions, such as the Greek goddess Demeter.
Religion: Zoroastrianism
Sacred Texts: Avesta (Yasna and Yashts, circa 1200 BCE)
Iconography: Ameretat is often depicted as a serene figure surrounded by lush vegetation, symbolizing her nurturing and life-sustaining role.
Relations: Haurvatat (sister Yazata), Ahura Mazda (creator)
Description
Ameretat, whose name translates to "Immortality," is one of the Amesha Spentas in Zoroastrianism. She symbolizes eternal life and the preservation of plant life, embodying the sustenance and nourishment essential for existence. Ameretat is often paired with Haurvatat, the Yazata of wholeness, as they collectively represent health and immortality. In Zoroastrian cosmology, Ameretat is the guardian of plant life, ensuring its growth and vitality as a source of sustenance for all living beings. Her role emphasizes the interconnectedness of physical and spiritual nourishment, making her a vital figure in the Zoroastrian spiritual framework.
Narratives
The Guardian of Plants: Ameretat ensures the growth and vitality of plant life, sustaining the cycle of nourishment and immortality. (Source: Boyce, M. (1975). Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge.)
The Divine Pair: Ameretat and Haurvatat work together to provide health and immortality, symbolizing the eternal balance of life. (Source: Boyce, M. (1983). A History of Zoroastrianism. Brill.)
Worship Beliefs and Practices
Ameretat is honored through rituals involving plants, such as offerings and prayers for growth and vitality. Her guardianship of plant life is celebrated in ceremonies emphasizing renewal and sustenance.