9 World Chronicles

Ahriman Chthonic God of Darkness

Culture Zoroastrian (Farsi-Persian)

Ahriman is the evil spirit in Early Iranian Religion, Zoroastrianism, and Zorvanism, Lord of Darkness and Chaos, and the source of human confusion, disappointment, and strife.

The antagonist of Ahura Mazda, the god of light and his attendant Mithra.

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Is said to have tried to persuade his attendant animals including the scorpion, ant, snake to drink the blood of the bull slain by Mithra in the premiere myth legend of dualistic conflict. If he had succeeded he would have prevented life from forming on earth. In another legend he tried to thwart a horror Mazda by sending a flood to destroy the world. Also recognize in Roman Mithraism. Rituals included animal sacrifice.

Book of Jamaspi"Ahriman, like a worm, is so much associated with darkness and old age, that he perishes in the end."[

the Zurvanite Ulema-i Islam Ahriman, "being devoid of anything good, does not issue from that which is owing to truth." (62.2)

He is the Angra Mainya (evil spirit) while Ahura Mazda is the Spenta Mainya  good or bright spirit)

He is the demon of demons, and dwells in an abyss of endless darkness in the north, the traditional home of the demons. Ignorance, harmfulness, and disorder are the characteristics of Ahriman. He can change his outward form and appear as a lizard, a snake, or a youth. His aim is always to destroy the creation of [Ahura Mazda] and to this end he follows behind the creator's work, seeking to spoil it. As Ahura Mazda creates life, Ahriman creates death; for health, he produces disease; for beauty, ugliness. All man's ills are due entirely to Ahriman.

The Younger Avesta. Vd. 19.47, Yt. 15.43, and Aogəmadaēca 28 place Angra Mainyu’s sojourn in the nether world, a world of darkness. According to Vd. 19.1 and 44, he dwells in the north, the region of the daēvas.

Angra Mainyu is the chief of all the daēvas and is called (Vd. 19.1, 43-44) daēvanąm daēvō “the daēva of daēvas.”

Ahura Mazda wise lord

Classification: The Supreme God

Associated: Light, Wisdom

Culture: Ancient Persian

Known period of worship Circa 1500 BCE

Cult Centers: Throughout the Near East during the Persian and Roman Empires.

Art References : Various Sculptures and reliefs

Literary Sources: Avestia

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Ahura Mazda represented the Sky and embodied wisdom fruitfulness and benevolence his opponent and also his creation was Angra Mainyu God of darkness and sterility.

 There were other deities, but life was essentially a struggle between the two gods of good and evil. In the 7th or 6th century BC E the Prophet Zoroaster the founder of Zoroastrianism declared Ahura Mazda alone worthy of absolute worship. Ahura Mazda was the essence of beneficent nature. creator of heaven and earth the font of law and morality and  Supreme judge of the universe .

When he was 30 he participated in a spring festival as a member of a priestly family and one of his duties was to draw water from the deepest and purest part of the stream for the morning ceremony. Here at the Daytia river, he met the angel Vohu Mana.

 The entity asked Zoroaster who he was and what was the most important thing in his life. To which Zoroaster answered that he wanted most of all to be righteous, pure and wise. By this answer, he was granted a vision of Ahura Mazda and his archangels from whom he learned the principles that would lead to the religion known late as Zoroastrianism.

He becomes the god of light and truth in the Zoarastrian concept of Dualism.

His chief attendant was Mithras. According to myth his first creation was a wild bull. It had to be confided to a cave to control the beast. It escaped and Mitra was tasked with finding filling the animal.  When the beast was slain it blood fell to the Earth and created life

He becomes the god of light and truth in the Zoarastrian concept of Dualism. His offspring include Could have been a love child  Gayomart  the archetype male.

Beyond, apart and without him, there is nothing in existence. He is changeless, moving all while not being moved by anyone, has no equal, and no one can take the heavens from him. He favors the just man, upholding the truth and proper behavior. Ahura Mazda created the twin spirits, Angra Mainyu, the destructive spirit, and Spenta Meynu, the good spirit.

Verethragna the most highly armed.

Classification God

Culture: Persian Iranian

His sacred animal is the Wild Boar whose iron-shoden feet crush opponents and is perceived to be ever present in the fierce wind.

"as a giver of victory Verethragna plainly enjoyed the greatest popularity of old." In Zoroastrian Middle Persian,

the figure of Verethragna is highly complex, parallels have also been drawn between, Puranic Vishnu, Manichaean Adamas, Chaldean/Babylonian Nergal, Egyptian Horus, Hellenic Ares and Heracles.

In the Bahram Yasht

Verethragna is described as "the most highly armed" the "best equipped with might" , with "effervescent glory" , has "conquering superiority" , and is in constant battle with men and daemons.

he is connected with sexual potency and "confers virility" , has the "ability to heal"  and "renders wonderful"

ten forms in which the divinity appears: As an impetuous wind; as an armed warrior and as an adolescent of fifteen and in the remaining seven forms as animals: a bull with horns of gold ; a white horse with ears and a muzzle of gold; a camel in heat, a boar a bird of prey (veregna,; a ram ; and a wild goat.

Verethragna was both identified as Ares and associated with Heracles, and given the Greek name Artagnes.

Name: Aesma Daeva

His name translates to mean madness

The Destructive Demon

Associated: Lust, Anger

Culture: Zoroastrianism Persian/Iranian

Classification: Demon

Weapon: Sword,  

In Zoroastrianism, the Daevas are a class of demons that follows Angra Mainya.  The three Daevas mentioned by the Gathas are Aka Manah, Druj, and Aeshma.

Aesma comes to the material world once on each night and according to the Legends, he is kept away by Sros.

The word “daeva” can be translated as “wrong god”, “rejected god” and “false god”. This term is used in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism in reference to their divine gods.

He was given the seven powers which he uses to destroy humanity and every other creature. His work is to sow discord among men, and cause slaughter. He can even incite demons to fight among themselves.

Due to his seven powers, he is said to be immune to poisons, natural and magical lightning.

Aeshma is a strange-looking creature. His body and face are engraved with markings and with two wings sprouting out of his back. Jagged spikes also form out of the back of his wrists and this compliment the brutishness of his physique.

He possesses great amount of physical strength, durability and great flight skills. When he punches the ground, it results to powerful shockwaves and fissures.

The recitation of a prayer from the Vendidad can drive away Aeshma. The Vendidad is a collection of texts that enumerate the various manifestation of evil spirits and the different ways to confound them.  The recitation of the Vendidad often requires a priest of higher rank.

Aeshma is opposed to Asha Vahishta, the Amesha Spenta, or good spirit, who embodies Truth. His chief adversary is Sraosha (Obedience), who is the principle of religious devotion and discipline.