Prophet Zarathushtra, usually known in English as Zoroaster after the Greek version of the name, was a Persian (Iranian,Arian) prophet and the founder of Zoroastrianism, which was the national religion of Persia from the time of the Achaemenidae to the close of the Sassanid period. Zoroaster was probably born in the northeastern part of Persia (Iran , Badakhshan of Afghanistan), though there is also a tradition that he came from Balkh in modern day Afghanistan. In Modern Persian the name takes the form of Zartost or Zardost.

Zoroaster is generally accepted as a historical figure, but efforts to date Zoroaster vary widely. Scholarly estimates are usually roughly near 1800 BC. Others, however, give earlier estimates, making him a candidate as the founder of the earliest religion based on revealed scripture, while still others place him in the 6th century BC, which would make him contemporary to the rise of the Achaemenids.

His illumination from Ahura Mazda came at age 30. His first converts were his wife and children, and a cousin named Maidhyoimangha.