From Ahura Mazda, the Iranian prophet and founder Zoroaster or Zarathustra received a revelation; the Avesta, traditionally dated to the 6th century BC, describes other events in his life.
Legend identifies Balkh, the birthplace of Zoroaster, the prophet.
People also know Zoroaster as Spitama. This native of uncertain birthplace spoke of Old Avestan in the eastern part of the plateau. People know him mostly through the texts. Modern scholars generally place him in northeast at some time between 1400 BC and 1200 BC. People spoke the language and used it for composing the Yasna Haptanghaiti and the Gathas, probably to the first half of the 2nd millennium BC on archaeological grounds.