He was favored by the gods and given supernatural powers. Once animals were created, Ahura Mazda then created human beings and then fire, but Gavaevodata was the first unique entity on earth and establishes the high value the Persians placed on animals. Zal Taken by the Simurgh (Public Domain). The stories which form the basis of Persian mythology come from early Persian religious belief. It took 800 years to grow and was the source of light and water in the world; light was thought to be reflected from it and water to come from its snow-caps before gathering in the primordial Vourukasha Sea from which all other waters then flowed. Gaya Maretan the first king of the Iranians (in some legends) who established law in the land and initiated civilization. Archenemy of the Amesha Spenta Haurvatat, goddess of wholeness. Her name means immaculate and she is depicted as a beautiful young woman in a white gown brocaded with gold wearing a gold crown and carrying the sacred barsom twigs which represented the earth; sometimes also shown with a water pitcher. Like all other animals, the dog owed its existence to the life-giving energies of one of the first of Ahura Mazda's creations, the Primordial Bull. Their name means immortal spirits. Suroosh would guard the soul against demonic attack as it crossed the bridge to meet the angel Rashnu, judge of the dead, who would decide whether the soul went to the paradise of the House of Song or the hell of the House of Lies. After some time, news comes to Sam's court of a great hero living in the mountains and, at the same time, Sam dreams of his son alive again and is encouraged to go find him. He is shown as a warrior with golden weapons, notably an impressive spear, charging against the forces of light or whirling about to destroy those of darkness. Owing to the first couple's acceptance of the lie, however, paradise has been lost and humans will now live in strife with the natural world and each other. Twinship is a predominant theme in much West African myth and ritual, because the human body is conceived as the twin of the cosmic body. Mark, Joshua J.. "Ancient Persian Mythology." Thank you! At birth, the fravashi sends the soul (urvan) into the physical body so that it can contribute to the fight against evil and experience the material world. Chamrosh a giant bird with a dog's body and the head and wings of an eagle. Submitted by Joshua J. The force equated with fortune or destiny which defined a person's role in life. The other major sources for Persian mythology are the Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) written by the Persian poet Abolqasem Ferdowsi (l. 940-1020 CE) drawing on the much earlier oral tradition, and the popular One Thousand Tales (better known as The Arabian Nights), written during the Sassanian Period (224-651 CE) and also based on oral tradition. The stories were passed down orally over the centuries until they were written down as part of the religious tradition of Zoroastrianism in the Avesta (Zoroastrian scripture) during the Sassanian Period (224-651 CE) in the reigns of the kings Shapur II (309-379 CE) and Kosrau I (531-579 CE) and then were fully addressed by the Persian poet Abolqasem Ferdowsi (l. 940-1020 CE) in his epic work Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) written between 977-1010 CE. House of Song the bright realm of paradise after death where the justified souls who had served Ahura Mazda were welcomed. tell our story about the . War in Europe fuels geopolitical tensions . The Al were invisible unless they wanted to be seen, so only their effects made people aware of their existence. Zal is raised by the dog-bird Simurgh and is later reconciled with his father. Two dogs guard the Chinvat Bridge and welcome justified souls while rebuking those who lived according to lies. He was associated with Anahita, the goddess of water and of fertility. Ahura Mazd, (Avestan: "Wise Lord") also spelled Ormizd or Ormazd, supreme god in ancient Iranian religion, especially Zoroastrianism, the religious system of the Iranian prophet Zarathustra (c. 6th century bce; Greek name Zoroaster). Tascheter one of the Four Royal Stars (modern designation Aldebaran) who worked for the good forces of Ahura Mazda. When the dog enters the room without hesitation and does not balk at approaching the corpse, Nasu is thought to have been driven away and mortuary rites may proceed. Jamshid (Jam, Yima Kshaeta) the fourth king of the world who brought civilization to its greatest height, initiated the construction of cities, established social hierarchy, and introduced winemaking. Mithra is the Persian god of the rising sun, contracts, covenants, and friendship. Known as the golden-heeled, he was finally defeated and killed by the hero Karsasp. Upon the earth, Ahura Mazda spread all different kinds of vegetation and imbued it with its own life and then created Gavaevodta, the Primordial Bull (also given as the uniquely created bull, Primordial Bovine, and Primordial Ox) who would give life to all other animals which would feed on, and fertilize, the vegetation. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. In both Persian and Arabic sources it is said that by eating the flesh of a black cat one is protected against magic (Je, II, p. 207; IV, p. 42; V, p. 341; Damr, II, p. 37; Qazvn, p. 417). Defining history is hardly easier than defining myth, but a historical approach necessarily involves both establishing a chronological framework for events and comparing and contrasting rival traditions in order to produce a coherent account. This page was last edited on 25 March 2023, at 20:33. She is sometimes referenced as the daughter of Ahura Mazda and Armaiti, combining wisdom and devotion, and so symbolizes the heart of religious belief. Like the Peri, they were neutral in the struggle between good and evil and seem to have based their actions on the circumstance of the moment. Books Ahriman Statue Front ViewTouraj Daryaee (CC BY-NC-SA). On the other side of the fence is Zahhak, a symbol of despotism who was, finally, defeated by Kve, who led a popular uprising against him. The trunk separated into a man and a woman, Mashya and Mashyane, and the fruit of the tree became the various races of humankind. The stories of these creatures, gods, and spirits as well as the heroes who contended with them were passed down in a long oral tradition until they were included in parts of the Avesta and, more fully, in the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi written between 977-1010 CE. Only Rustum was able to ride Rakhsh as Rustum's superior strength and power would have killed any other horse, although Rakhsh would not allow any other rider through devotion to Rustum. Please donate to our server cost fundraiser 2023, so that we can produce more history articles, videos and translations. Mark, Joshua J.. "Twelve Ancient Persian Mythological Creatures." Mark, J. J. He fell from divine grace when he began to think more highly of himself than he should have. Suroosh symbolized protection & Daena one's own conscience. The following is a list of the various entities of pre-Zoroastrian Persia who appear in some of the most famous myths and legends. On earth, he assists the righteous in their war against the forces of darkness; after death, he helps protect the justified soul on its journey to paradise. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. Hushedar was followed by Hushedar-mar and then by Saoshyant, the final messiah (whose name means One Who Brings Benefit), who would bring the end of the world and reconciliation with Ahura Mazda. A freelance writer and former part-time Professor of Philosophy at Marist College, New York, Joshua J. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. Bushyasta demon of sloth who causes people to slip toward the forces of darkness as he makes them too lazy to resist comfort and commit to fighting for truth. Thank you! Cite This Work A comprehensive list, or at least an attempt at one, should therefore prove useful to anyone interested in the subject of Persian mythology and religion specifically or the study of myth . Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. The stars worked for good on the side of Ahura Mazda; the planets were controlled by Angra Mainyu and attempted to corrupt or block the good influence of the stars. License. He is also known as Ahriman, especially in later texts on Zorvanism, where he is referenced as Ahura Mazda's twin brother. The first person and the founder of the Pishdadian Dynasty was Keyumars, according to Persian creation myth, and his offspring Mashya and Mashyana carried on the human species by their procreation. Ahuras divine spirits of light, emanations of Ahura Mazda, protectors and defenders of humanity; also known as ahuranis. They were neutral in the war between the forces of Good and those of Evil and based their actions on circumstance rather than ideology. Both assist the newly dead in their crossing from life to death. The ahuras were good spirits and the daivas were evil; both influenced human life and thought. Web. He was adopted by Simurgh, the dog-bird, and raised as one of her own children, acquiring great strength and wisdom. The dog was considered the best protection against these spirits as well as their physical manifestations. Ancient Persian Mythology is the term now referencing ancient Iranian Zorvanism (also given as Zuvanism, Zurvanism) was a sect of the Shadows in the Desert: Ancient Persia at War, The Persians: Ancient, Mediaeval and Modern Iran. Karsasp (Keresaspa, Garshasp) the great hero who defeated Gandareva, Karmak, and engaged in many other adventures. Persian mythology or Iranian mythology ( Persian : ) is the body of the myths originally told by ancient Persians and other Iranian peoples, and a genre of Ancient Persian folklore. The tale of King Yama is of particular interest to religious historians, as it can be seen as a potential inspiration . His son, the great Kay Kosrow, later avenged him. There are, of course, many other famous stories from Persian mythology the Rustum tales alone are epic, and the Shahnameh weaves these with others in 50,000 rhymed couplets, making it longer and more thematically complex than other famous works like The Epic of Gilgamesh or Homer's Iliad which explore and expand upon the theme of good vs. evil and order triumphing over chaos. Governed the autumnal equinox; known as Watcher of the West. Tang (Public Domain). Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1488/ancient-persian-gods-heroes-and-creatures---the-co/. It struck without warning but, sometimes, would announce itself with a growl like a trumpet. The biblical flood story is a composite of two flood stories spliced together (commonly called Yahwistic and Priestly), [1] and most biblical scholars agree that it is ultimately dependent on a Mesopotamian flood story. Rustum is born and, after one day, is the size and strength of a one-year-old and continues growing quickly to the height of a cypress tree and with the strength of an elephant (Curtis, 39). He was a god of courage and enlightenment, and led the chariot of the sun across the sky on its daily journey. Arishtat (Arshtat) god of honesty who encourages decency, fairness, and justice. He reigned for 300 years and then divided his kingdom between his sons Salm (West Asia, roughly), Tur (Central Asia, Kingdom of Turan), and Iraj (who received Iran). The Roman Mithras was an astrological deity while the Persian Mithra was considerably more complex. When Hushedar-mar appeared, people would stop drinking milk and the sun would stand still for twenty days. On the side of good was a pantheon of gods and spirits presided over by the supreme deity Ahura Mazda, the creator of all things seen and unseen, and, opposing these, was Angra Mainyu (also given as Ahriman), the spirit of evil, chaos, and confusion with his legion of demons and assorted supernatural (and natural) creatures and animals. Please donate to our server cost fundraiser 2023, so that we can produce more history articles, videos and translations. Shahrazad (Scheherazade) heroine of the One Thousand Nights and a Night who is married to the king Shahriyar. As with other ancient religions, the cosmological dichotomy of chaos and cosmos figured in both myth and worldview. World History Encyclopedia, 09 Dec 2019. They are Armaiti (Devotion), Asha Vahishta (Truth/Righteousness), Haurvatat (Wholeness), Khshathra Vairya (Desirable Dominion), Vohu Manah (Good Purpose), Spenta Mainyu (Holy Spirit), Ameretat (Immortality). Thus, in the first three centuries, a number of ideas from the ancient Middle East, from Hellenistic and especially from Jewish and Christian traditions . License. His name means evil spirit, and he is the archenemy of Ahura Mazda and the forces of light. Fravashis guardian angels, an aspect of one's higher self. Even if one never actually saw a Koresk, one could still have hope one would someday and all one's problems would be solved in a sudden streak of supernatural good fortune. Simurgh known as the dog-bird was an enormous winged creature with the head of a dog, body of a peacock, and claws of a lion, sometimes also imagined with a human face. Azhi Dahaka the great three-headed dragon created from the lies of Angra Mainyu to corrupt order and thwart the best impulses of the world. Arash the archer, great hero who fired his arrow to mark the boundary between Iran and Turan. Guardian of the summer solstice. We want people all over the world to learn about history. By the time Ferdowsi was writing, monotheism in the form of Islam had replaced the ancient Persian religion, but his work still resonated with an audience and continues to do so. The Umm-Naush were a subset of the evil spirits known as Khrafstra. They were also, like the Peri, adopted by the Muslim Arabs as neutral, though potentially dangerous, supernatural forces. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Ashozushta the great owl who flies at demons and scares them away as it recites holy words and phrases. Fourth edition, new print. Chinvat Bridge the span between the world of the living and the land of the dead. Kamak is so enormous that its spread wings blocked the rain, bringing drought to the land, and in the chaos which followed it easily plucked up human and animal prey to feed on. Azhdaha dragons, generally; large snakes who prey on people and livestock and are the regular adversaries of the great heroes. He then overthrew the king Jamshid and established a tyranny over the world which lasted 1,000 years. The gods, creatures, and heroes who made up these early stories of ancient Persian mythology are therefore scattered amongst the various works of Zoroastrianism and later collections of myth and fable. She was later replaced by Daena who welcomed or rebuked souls arriving at the Chinvat Bridge. Azhi Dahaka was the great three-headed dragon created out of the lies of Angra Mainyu to thwart any positive impulse in the world and create chaos. Buyasta demon of laziness who prevents people from doing what they should. C ., Indo-European peoples migrated south from the steppes into the regions now known as Turkey, Iran, and northern India. Tawrich demon of hunger, want, and need. Peris, like jinns, are considered neutral in the war between Good and Evil and, also like them, are as apt to trick a person as to deal fairly. Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter! Mark, published on 16 January 2020. He is associated with Simurgh, the dog-bird, whose feathers could be used to invoke her in times of need. The other major sources for Persian mythology are the Shahnameh ("The Book of Kings") written by the Persian poet Abolqasem Ferdowsi (l. 940-1020 CE) . Jinn were thought to especially favor lonely places such as desert plains and oases so amulets were carried by merchants and travelers for protection from their influences. Rustum is the greatest and best-known Persian champion, invincible in battle, who fights to maintain order and justice against the Kingdom of Turan. This exact theme is the foundation of virtually every ancient world religion to one degree or another, but for the Persians, it amounted to the meaning of existence. Zal albino, the white-haired hero born to the king Sam and father of the champion Rustum. Persian Hero GarshaspBaloo1000 (Public Domain). Cite This Work At this point, Ahura Mazda's supernatural enemy enters the narrative Angra Mainyu (also known as Ahriman) who embodies chaos, darkness, and evil. Duzhyairya demon of want, who causes bad harvests; archenemy of Tishtrya, god of rain. When she found it produced pleasing sensations, she brought the rest to Jamshid who reinstated her and decreed that grapes should be used in making wine. Her name means beneficent devotion, and she is also associated with the earth and the newly dead as one was expected to show devotion to one's home and to those who had passed from it. The great bird Chamrosh (with a dog's body and eagle's head and wings) assists in distributing seeds from the Great Tree and also protects Persians against threats by non-Persians while, on the opposing side, is the enormous bird Kamak who seeks to thwart whatever good Chamrosh intends. Most characters in Persian mythology are either good, or they are evil. Afterwards, justified souls went on to paradise where they were reunited with those who had gone before; evil souls were dropped into a dark hell of torment. One of the most potent invisible spirits was the Jinn (also known as Djinn and best known as Genies) who, unlike any other entity, were collectively neutral in the war between good and evil. One of the central values of ancient Persian culture was storytelling, and through their rich mythology, they created some of the most memorable characters and tales in world history which have fascinated audiences ever since. In some myths, he is the first king, in others Yima (Yama) is the first king and, in still others, Gaya Maretan and Haoshyangha follows after.
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