Bruce Lincoln

Professor Bruce Lincoln is a distinguished academic affiliated with the University of Chicago, specializing in the study of ancient religions, particularly focusing on Pre-Islamic Iranian Religions, Zoroastrianism, and Comparative Religious History. His career spans decades of critical analysis and scholarship in myth, ritual, and the intersection of religion with culture and politics.

Lincoln’s research explores Indo-European cosmogony, Achaemenid imperial ideology, Zoroastrian demonology, and ritual practices across ancient societies. His work often engages with critical theory and historiographical debates, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches.

A recurring theme in Lincoln’s recent publications involves the role of the Magi in ancient Persian religion, myth-genre analysis, and political theology. His articles highlight connections between ritual, power structures, and apocalyptic discourses in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Lincoln has delivered influential talks on topics such as Pre-Islamic Iranian Religions and the Magi, which were archived in audio format for the Persian Circle at the University of Chicago. His contributions to religious studies and comparative history remain foundational.