Classical Iranian Culture and Religion

[Veridagorin]

So I'm a barely educated American, and fantasy writer. I'm starting a new project set in a fantasy world inspired by classical Iran. I want to represent a foreign culture accurately and sensitively. Does anyone here have suggestions for books, and online resources that I could check out. I'm very interested in learning about the daily life and religious practices of ancient Iranian commoners. Most of written history focuses on the elites of any culture.   

[Genava55]

1 hour ago, Veridagorin said:

Does anyone here have suggestions for books, and online resources that I could check out.

Amélie Kuhrt's book is very useful but if you want something focusing on the society, I would suggest "The World of Achaemenid Persia", "A History of Zoroastrianism (Zoroastrianism under the Achaemenians)" and "Women in Ancient Persia, 559-331 BC".

Check the table of contents of "The World of Achaemenid Persia" and see if it could interest you.

[Dakara]

Dorood,

Persepolis and the Achaemenid Empire (British Museum) website, 

Zoroastrian .org.uk

The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History

[dmzerocold]

hello , if you have a specific questions you can share it with me and i will try to help you

And may i ask you why classical Iran ?

also when you refer it as Classical Iran, which period exactly you are refering to ?