Enrico G. Raffaelli

Enrico G. Raffaelli is an Associate Professor of History of Zoroastrianism in the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto. His research spans history of religions, Iranian philology, and the history of astrology, with a focus on pre-Islamic Iranian traditions.

Education:

• PhD from L’Orientale University (Naples) and École Pratique des Hautes Études (Paris)

Specializing in Avestan and Middle Persian literature, his work explores astrological elements in Zoroastrian texts, comparative analysis of sacred cosmology, and the evolution of Zoroastrian hymns and rituals. His publications integrate philological rigor with historical-religious contextualization.

His research reveals recurring themes in Zoroastrian cosmology, liturgical development, and astrological systems, showing continuity between ancient Iranian traditions and later religious frameworks. Articles demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches bridging linguistics, astronomy, and theology.

Key Contributions:

• Author of two monographs: L’oroscopo del mondo (2001) on astrological cosmology and The Sih-rozag in Zoroastrianism (2014) on divine worship texts
• Conducted comparative studies of Bundahišn and Pahlavi texts