Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. 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. Mao god of the moon in some works although it is more common to find Mah referenced as female deity of the moon. Rustum and Sohrab meet in battle, neither knowing the other's identity, and Sohrab is killed. We care about our planet! African religions - Mythology | Britannica In Persian mythology and folklore, Jamshid is described as the fourth and greatest king of the epigraphically unattested Pishdadian . Yazatas beneficial spirits worthy of worship. Twelve Ancient Persian Mythological Creatures. 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. Dogs dogs feature prominently in Persian mythology as forces for good. Related Content Belief in such beings and their stories designated in the modern-day as 'mythology' was simply their sincere religious system, as valid to them as any religion is to an adherent in the present. 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. Creation began when he cast a beam of his pure light into . Mark, J. J. He is also known as Ahriman, especially in later texts on Zorvanism, where he is referenced as Ahura Mazda's twin brother. Many years after this, another set of twins is born who will become the progenitors of humanity. Shahriyar allows her to live so he can hear the ending. Even so, the oral tradition of the Persians is thought to have influenced the religious systems of other cultures many centuries earlier. Tascheter one of the Four Royal Stars (modern designation Aldebaran) who worked for the good forces of Ahura Mazda. The central vision of ancient Persian religion was of a universal struggle between the forces of good & evil, order & chaos. World History Encyclopedia, 10 Dec 2019. It originated in Persia but most followers today live in India and some still live in Iran. The strict monotheism of Islam does not allow for much mythological embellishment, and only reluctantly were the scriptural revelations of the Qurn elaborated and enlarged by commentators and popular preachers. Haoma god of the harvest, health, strength, and vitality; personification of the haoma plant whose juices brought enlightenment and of which Gaokerena was the greatest and largest. Mark, published on 16 January 2020. Chamrosh is also a protective entity who defends Persians against outside invaders, especially raiders, swooping down upon them and carrying them off. Barmayeh the great cow of the Alburz Mountains who nurses the hero Fereydun and cares for him. Mark, Joshua J.. "Ancient Persian Mythology." He may have been later replaced by Mithra or, more likely, worked with Mithra in dispensing justice after death. License. The dragon Azhi Sruvara preyed on humans and horses while another, Gandareva, stirred up the seas and sank ships. These include the Zoroastrianism creation myth and the tale of King Yama and the salvation of the earth. Since both of these originated from roughly the same environment and culture, they shared a common religious belief system, which would develop in time as the Vedic lore and Hinduism of India and the Early Iranian Religion and Zoroastrianism of Persia, all of which share key concepts and types of supernatural beings. President Joe Biden spoke about the creation of new manufacturing jobs Tuesday at the . Simurgh gave Zal three of her feathers to call upon her if he should ever need help. His name means radiant sun. 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. The general khrafstra manifested themselves frequently in the natural world, taking on the form of wasps, stinging ants, beasts of prey, rodents, spiders, and similar creatures. Cista - an early goddess of health and well-being who presided over one's path in life and also one's spiritual walk of faith. This Persian marvel was lost for millennia Only one ancient account mentions the existence of Xerxes Canal, long thought to be a tall tale. Silver Coin of Bahram IIOsama Shukir Muhammed Amin (Copyright). This so-called 'mythology', in fact, would go on to inform Zoroastrianism which, in turn, would influence the development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The soul was then called to cross a dark river to the land of the dead during which good souls were separated from bad ones (a process known as the Crossing of the Separator). It was usually depicted as an old woman with sharp teeth, long, stringy hair, and talons which could also harm or kill pregnant women and would strike when mother and child were sleeping. Those who settled in Iran became the Persians. Most characters in Persian mythology are either good, or they are evil. The Avesta was only finally written down during the reign of Shapur II (309-379 CE) and codified/revised under Kosrau I (r. 531-579 CE) of the Sassanian Empire (224-651 CE), while the Shannameh was only completed at the beginning of the 11th century CE. This was a polytheistic faith with a pantheon led by the supreme god Ahura Mazda ("Lord of Wisdom"), champion of order, against the dark forces of Angra Mainyu ("Destructive Spirit") and his legions of chaos. 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 . The Al were invisible unless they wanted to be seen, so only their effects made people aware of their existence. World History Encyclopedia. He was also associated with the haoma plant, as its protector, linking him with enlightenment and guided the faithful toward Truth (Asha) while defending them against the wiles of the forces of darkness. The mace confers authority and so Mithra was also associated with farr (divine grace) which legitimized a king's rule. Gaya Maretan the first king of the Iranians (in some legends) who established law in the land and initiated civilization. Guardian of the winter solstice. Persian Mythology | Encyclopedia.com Like Simurgh and the later Phoenix, the Huma was thought to live an immensely long life, die in its own flames, and give birth to itself afterwards. Some Jinn were malevolent and some benign but, overall, they seem to react to circumstances and individual prompts. Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! The Oxford Companion to World Mythology identifies a number of traditional narratives as "Islamic myths". Rashnu angel of judgment and divine judge of the dead at the Chinvat Bridge. Al (Hal) nocturnal predator demons who fed on newborns and could harm or kill women in late-stage pregnancies. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. She is scared off by a dog, especially the four-eyed dog (one with a spot above each eye), who is led into the room between three and nine times for this purpose. Daena the Holy Maiden who appears to the newly deceased on the Chinvat Bridge and comforts them as they cross. Zal becomes a great prince and marries the princess Rudabeh who has a difficult time giving birth to their son. Islamic myth and legend. Simurgh lived high in the Alburz Mountains, existing for a span of 1,700 years before it dove into a fire of its own creation and died, only to rise again (like the later Phoenix). Mah (Mangha, Maha) goddess of the moon who accepted the corpse of Gavaevodata and purified its seed so that animals could be created. One refers to these and similar stories from any culture as mythology in the present day only because the theological paradigm has changed and a universe of many gods, spirits, angels, and demons has been replaced either by the monotheistic or atheistic model. In some versions of the Persian* creation story a huge tree grew from the rotting corpse of the first human. The great heroes like Thraetaona or Karsasp or Rustum who defeated the forces of chaos served the same purpose, standing for the principles of goodness, justice, and order in an uncertain world and giving people hope that these ideals would triumph over selfishness, cruelty, and chaos. . This faith developed from an earlier polytheistic system featuring a pantheon of gods, led by their king Ahura Mazda, who stood against the forces of the evil spirit Angra Mainyu. Her name is translated to mean "to understand" or "to notice" and she inspired people to recognize the path they were on, change it if they were going wrong, and continue on with strength and perseverance if they were doing right (essentially, the personification of one's conscience). Its horn was thought to be a powerful antidote to poison and seeing one was thought to bring good luck. 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. Robert Alter in the Art of Biblical Narrative, recognizes that the Persian creation story of Genesis is utterly dualist. As with other ancient religions, the cosmological dichotomy of chaos and cosmos figured in both myth and worldview. The first three Fargards contained Zoroastrianism's most ancient tales, some of which date back to the 8th century BC. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Zarich the demon of ageing and decrepitude. They were allegedly imprisoned in their fairy-form until they had atoned for a past sin but were neither human souls nor immortal entities. He becomes the great hero of the Iranian forces against those of Turan and, though eventually killed through deceit and trickery, he prevails and order is restored. The couple cannot conceive for 50 years after their fall and, when Mashyanag finally does give birth, she and Mashya eat the children because they have lost any sense of balance and reason. Sizdah Bedar: The Persian Spring Tradition of Nature and Joy The trunk separated into a man and a woman, Mashya and Mashyane, and the fruit of the tree became the various races of humankind. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Kamak plays precisely the opposite role, feeding on Persians and their livestock and bringing destruction. Tushnamatay goddess of thought and meditation. Srisok - the celestial bull known earlier as Hadhayans who brought the three sacred ritual Great Fires, kindled by Ahura Mazda, to earth. A Jinn might grant one wishes but could twist and betray the outcome in doing so or, conversely, could simply be helpful outright. The creation pericope of Genesis 1-2:4a, is taken from the liturgy of the Babylonian or Persian New Year festival. Geus-Urvani god of cattle and their protector. The Al (Hal) is the most feared of these demons as it preyed upon newborns and sleeping mothers and their children. This hiking route explores an untouched wilderness in the Western Balkans Kara Fish fish that protect the Tree of Seeds and the plant Gaokerena in the middle of the Vourukasha Sea. House of Lies the dark abode of the dead, a hell in which the condemned soul was tormented while simultaneously feeling completely alone. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. The four stars were Tascheter (Aldebaran), Venant (Regulus), Satevis (Antares), and Haftorang (Fomalhaut). We care about our planet! World History Encyclopedia. The term 'mythology' comes from the Greek mythos (story-of-the-people) and logos (word or speech), meaning the spoken story of a people. His name means Lord of Wisdom. 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). C ., Indo-European peoples migrated south from the steppes into the regions now known as Turkey, Iran, and northern India. He was favored by the gods and given supernatural powers. Sam longed for a son and was overjoyed when Zal was born but that moment vanished quickly when he looked at the boy and saw he had bright white hair. Simurgh originally appears as the Great Falcon known as Saena who sits high in the branches of the Tree of All Seeds at the center of the world and, by flapping her wings, sends seeds scattering through the air which find their place in the earth through wind and rain. The sun purifies Gayomartan's seed in the ground, and 40 years later, a rhubarb plant comes from it and grows into the first mortal couple Mashya and Mashyanag into whom Ahura Mazda breathes the spirit of life which becomes their souls. Gandareva is said to guard the sacred haoma plant and tried to keep it and its many benefits for himself. Mark has lived in Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt. World History Encyclopedia. There were four levels descending down from the Chinvat Bridge, each one increasing in darkness until the lowest which was completely absent of all light. 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. One branch of these Aryans settled in and around the region now known as Iran (originally known as Ariana the land of the Aryans) prior to the 3rd millennium BCE and are referred to as Indo-Iranians; another branch settled in the Indus Valley and are known as Indo-Aryans. She is the later form of the earlier goddess Cista but with significant modifications such as her pivotal role at the Chinvat Bridge. 30 Apr 2023. If someone saw or even thought they saw the bird flying overhead, however, it was a great blessing. 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. Khshathra Vairya god of the desirable dominion (Kingdom of Heaven, paradise) who enables people to resist the lies of Angra Mainyu and fight against evil. They are best known from the Persian work One Thousand Nights and a Night (also known as The Arabian Nights) where Jinn play a pivotal role. Twelve Gods of Persian Mythology - World History Encyclopedia Daena would appear and, for the justified soul, would be a beautiful young woman while, to the condemned, she would appear as an ugly hag. He was the supreme creator, maker of heaven, earth, animals, humans, and the sacred elements of air, water, earth, and fire which allowed creation to function. Siyavash was the son of the king Kay Kavus and his favorite concubine who falsely accused the hero of raping her when he would not submit to her attempt at seduction. In time, the Huma would come to symbolize the concept of elevation and enlightenment. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities of deities, heroes, and mythological creatures . Zal Taken by the Simurgh (Public Domain). The Al was part of a larger group of evil demons known as the Umm Naush nocturnal predators who were themselves a subgroup of the larger assortment of demons known as khrafstra harmful spirits or demons who disrupted and destroyed lives. The evil demons known as khrafstra tried to kill it, taking on the form of a frog and a lizard to eat it, but the plant was protected by the Kara fish who swam around it and kept them away as well as by the Righteous Ass, a pure-white donkey with a single golden horn on his forehead, three legs, nine mouths, and six eyes. She is also associated with causing women's menstrual cycle but, as this is also said to have been instituted by Ahura Mazda and a natural occurrence, it is more likely she causes painful or difficult periods. Gavaevodta's corpse is taken to the moon and purified, and from the bull's purified seed, all animals come into being. Thank you! He is depicted with a helmet, shield, and spear and is associated with metal and metallurgy, especially with molten brass, thus linking him with transformation. Overall, they were regarded with suspicion, and amulets were carried for protection from their influence. https://www.worldhistory.org/Ancient_Persian_Mythology/. They are Armaiti (Devotion), Asha Vahishta (Truth/Righteousness), Haurvatat (Wholeness), Khshathra Vairya (Desirable Dominion), Vohu Manah (Good Purpose), Spenta Mainyu (Holy Spirit), Ameretat (Immortality). Arash the archer, great hero who fired his arrow to mark the boundary between Iran and Turan. 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. The sky element rose high above the earth and passed beneath it. He is a shapeshifter and can appear as a bull with yellow ears and golden horns, a white horse with gold trappings, a mighty camel, a strong boar, a young man in fighting form at the age of 15 (considered the ideal age when a boy became a man), as a huge ram, an agile deer, a warrior wielding a golden sword, a strong wind, or a great bird. Az demon of lust and greed, one of the more dangerous (female) drujs. Chamrosh a giant bird with a dog's body and the head and wings of an eagle. The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology: An A-Z Guide to the Myths and Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike, Rashnu an angel; the righteous judge of the dead, Verethragna the warrior god who fights against evil, Vayu god of the wind who chases away evil spirits, Atar god of the divine element of fire; personification of fire, Haoma god of the harvest, health, strength, vitality; personification of the plant of the same name whose juices brought enlightenment. He is given power by the gods as a reward for his selfless devotion and uses it wisely: when the world becomes overpopulated, he simply enlarges it, providing more space and resources for humans, animals, and vegetation to live together peacefully. Genesis Myths, Mesopotamian Mythology - CAIS @ SOAS Help us and translate this definition into another language! There were four levels ascending upwards from the Chinvat Bridge, where judgment was given, each brighter and lovelier than the last until one reached the highest heaven where the soul would live in the direct light of Ahura Mazda. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Zoroastruanism is the ancient pre-Islamic religion. Ask students to focus on the differences and similarities. Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter! Ashozushta the great owl who flies at demons and scares them away as it recites holy words and phrases. He is the son of the water god Vouru-Kasa, keeper of the waters, who gives water to humans. The world, seen and unseen, was created by Ahura Mazda, the source of all good and all life. Norse* mythology says that the first man and woman . Duzhyairya demon of want, who causes bad harvests; archenemy of Tishtrya, god of rain. Although this last concept of two possible final destinations is most closely associated with Christianity and Islam in the modern day, it is actually an ancient Persian creation which, along with influences from other cultures, contributed to the visions of both faiths. When he marries Shahrazad, she preserves her life by telling him a story the night of their wedding but not finishing it; to hear the conclusion, he lets her live, and so she continues telling her stories in the same way and escapes execution. Ahura Mazda king of the gods. Fereydun (Feridun) another name for the great Persian hero-king Thraetaona, who defeats the evil dragon Azhi Dahaka, liberates the people from Zahak (the dragon's embodiment), and was father of the princes who wage the Iranian-Tauranian War in the Shahnameh. He inspires the hero Fereydun to lead the revolt. Sassanian-style Plate with Simurghakhenatenator (Public Domain). Gaokerena the healing and life-giving haoma plant which grew nearby the Tree of All Seeds in the center of the Vourukasha Sea. Like the unicorn, the karkadann could be tamed by a virgin. After a reign of over 300 years, however, he begins to listen to the lies of Angra Mainyu and so he sins and the divine grace leaves him. Ahura Mazda was uncreated and eternal and, by his goodness, made all that was known in seven steps: Sky was an orb suspended in the midst of nothingness and, within it, Ahura Mazda released waters and then separated the waters from each other by earth. He derives strength from the proper worship of the people; fighting well when offerings are made in the right spirit and faltering when his worshipers neglect him. World History Encyclopedia, 09 Dec 2019. 30 Apr 2023. Khurshid an angel of the sun, associated with light. . Founded by Zoroaster, an Iranian prophet, In 6th Century BC. Mithra is depicted riding in a great chariot drawn by white horses, armed with a silver spear, bow, and arrows of gold. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. Since ancient Iran/Persia maintained an oral tradition until the Sassanian Period (224-651 CE), there is no ancient text along the lines of Hesiod's Theogony or Homer's Iliad and Odyssey (both c. 8th century BCE) describing and defining the old gods at the time they were being worshipped. 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) . Last modified December 09, 2019. Hushedar the first of three saviors to appear before the end of the world. . Mark, J. J. Kay Khosrow son of the hero Siyavash and warrior-king in the Shahnameh who avenges his father's death and rules justly after restoring order. The Shahnameh is an enormous epic spanning generations but, roughly speaking, tells the story of the forces of good, symbolized by the kingdom of Iran, battling those of chaos and evil personified by the kingdom of Turan. Persian Hero RustumMaksim (Public Domain). Hvar Ksata (Hvare Khshaeta) god of the full sun, the many-horsed god who drives his chariot across the sky throughout the day. The Al, like the other khrafstra, were invisible unless they wanted to be seen so, for the most part, only their effects made people aware of their existence. It lives beneath the Tree of All Seeds, gathers up those which fall when Saena-Simurgh flaps her wings, and scatters them into the wind and rain clouds which deposit the seeds all over the earth.