Recherches nouvelles sur l'histoire ancienne, tome II

This volume takes listeners on a meticulous journey through the tangled chronology of ancient Persia, zeroing in on the elusive era of the legendary law‑giver known in the West as Zoroaster. By laying out the competing timelines of the Pishdad and Kéân dynasties, the author illuminates how early Western writers struggled to reconcile Greek and Latin accounts with the rich testimonies of Eastern sources. The opening chapters present a vivid portrait of scholarly uncertainty, from Pliny’s cautious doubts to the bold assertions of 18th‑century researchers who claimed new clarity.

The narrative then turns to a lively debate among historians, juxtaposing the confident positions of Thomas Hyde and his followers with the skeptical critiques of later figures like Anquetil du Perron. Using a balanced, reporter‑like approach, the work dissects each argument, weighing dates, inscriptions, and literary fragments to expose how modern conclusions are built upon layers of interpretation. Listeners will appreciate the careful, almost forensic, method that traces how ancient myths and modern scholarship intersect.