New Findings Suggest Coexistence of Christianity and Zoroastrianism in Iraq
Recent archaeological discoveries in modern-day Iraq indicate that Christians lived alongside a lesser-known faith. This revelation, disclosed by Germany’s Goethe University Frankfurt in December, stems from excavations initiated in late summer 2025 at the Jild-i-Qazau site in the Kurdistan region, believed to date back to around 500 AD.
Initially, the purpose of the complex was unclear. However, the unearthing of five square columns hinted that it might have served as a church. Interestingly, researchers originally speculated it was part of a larger monastery, given the geophysical surveys highlighting more walls beneath the surface.
In addition to the columns, archaeologists discovered possible remnants of a three-nave structure, alongside another building that may have functioned as a Christian meeting place. Notably, pottery adorned with the Maltese cross was also among the finds.
Of particular interest to the researchers is the site’s proximity to Sassanian fortifications, suggesting Christians and Zoroastrians might have coexisted in the area. “Religious diversity was common,” the findings suggest, reflecting the intertwined histories of these faiths.
The Sassanid Empire, which dominated from about 224 AD to 651 AD, had Zoroastrianism as its state religion. However, with the empire’s decline in the 7th century, Islam began to spread across what is now Iraq and Iran.
Currently, about 100,000 Zoroastrians still adhere to this ancient religion. Alexander Tam, a professor involved in the excavation, pointed out the indirect evidence of Zoroastrians at the site. He mentioned, “There were small fortifications from that era. So far, we haven’t found artifacts that definitively indicate Christian presence,” suggesting a possible military unit could have been stationed there, likely comprising Zoroastrians.
It’s worth noting the fundamental differences between the two faiths; for instance, Zoroastrianism embraces multiple deities, while Christianity worships a singular God. Tam remarked on the substantial cultural differences, especially in burial customs, whereby Zoroastrians avoided direct ground contact to honor their beliefs, contrasting with Christian practices.
Despite these differences, Tam observed that there might have been some level of mutual respect for customs, even if they clashed directly with one’s religious teachings.
The unexpected scale of the ruins from the Sasanian period surprised the team, as they initially anticipated unearthing a small village. “There’s still a lot left to excavate,” Tam noted, emphasizing the unresolved aspects of Christianity’s early history in the region.
To add to this, he expressed hopes that ongoing excavations would yield further insights, stating, “Only new digs can bring back this information. The local team, mainly consisting of Islamic faith members, prioritizes archaeology and knowledge acquisition just as we do.”
