Jamaspa
Figure from the Iranian national history
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Jamaspa (Avestan: 𐬬𐬌𐬱𐬙𐬁𐬯𐬞𐬀 Jāmāspa; Avestan pronunciation: [d̠ʒaːmaːspa]) is a figure from the Iranian national history, where he appears as an official at the court of Vishtaspa and overall important figure in the early history of Zoroastrianism.[1]
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Name
The name Jamaspa is widely considered to be a contraction of tetrasyllabic jāma-aspa, an Avestan compound term, where the second word means aspa, i.e. horse. This term is also found in the names of people like Vishtaspa, Arjaspa and Lohraspa.[2] Since they all originate from the same story, it has been interpreted as an important element in their culture. However, the meaning of the first term is unclear.[1] One interpretation connects jāma- to Vedic kṣāmáh-, with the meaning burnt, singed.[3] On the other hand, Gershevitch proposed leading horses,[4] whereas Schwartz has argued for he who bridles horses.[5]
In the Avesta
In the Avesta, Jamaspa first appears in the Gathas with his brother Frashaoshtra, both from the clan of the Hvōgva.[6] He is described as a counsellor and chancellor of Vishtaspa, the patron of Zarathustra, and quickly converts to the new faith.[7] In the later texts found in the Young Avesta, Jamaspa also appears. In the Aban Yasht, he is grouped with people from the Gathas, and set apart from other, probably pre-Zoroastrian figures of the Iranian national tradition.[8] In the Frawardin Yasht, he is again praised jointly with Frashaoshtra and Vishtaspa.[1]
In later tradition
According to later tradition, it is Jamaspa, who aquires a leadership role in the Zoroastrian community after the death of Zarathustra and it is him who writes down his teachings in the Avesta.[7] He is a prominent figure in the Jamasp Namag (Story of Jamasp), also known as Ayatkar i Zamaspik (Memorial of Jamaspa).[9] This text discusses a number of topics framed as a dialogue between him and Vishtaspa.[10] He also appears in works like the Denkard, the Ayadgar i Zariran and the Shahnameh.[1]