ABSTRACT
In contrast to the prevailing tendency to emphasise the multifaceted and diverse aspects of religious life in the Parthian Empire, this chapter sets out to identify shared characteristics by focusing on the religious preferences of the Arsacid rulers. The central argument of this study is that the Arsacids were standing in the Zoroastrian tradition. While Zoroastrianism was still not clearly defined at this time, it can be demonstrated that Zoroastrian ideas influenced the ideology of Arsacid kingship. In turn, the ideology of the King of Kings exerted its influence on the practices of families and rulers who reigned under their suzerainty, even those who were otherwise devoid of Zoroastrianism. Although rare, it can be shown that such practices also had repercussions for the religious lives of the populace in their huge empire.
