Tishtrya, god of rain and lightning. 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. Drawn from the legendary past of Iran, they reflect the attitudes of the society to which they first belonged - attitudes towards the confrontation of good and evil, the actions of the gods, yazats (lesser gods), and the exploits of heroes and fabulous creatures. [4][5] The Encyclopædia Iranica uses the term Iranian Cultural Continent for this region.[6][7]. Many of the other gods of the original Early Iranian Religion were forgotten, however, and are only known through brief reference in Zoroastrian scripture, religious literature, and the tales collected and written down in works such as the Shahnameh and One Thousand Nights and a Night. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities of deities, heroes, and mythological creatures, and the origins and significance of the ancient Persians' own cult and ritual practices. Apam Napat, god of waters. Tiri – god of agriculture associated closely with Tishtyra and sometimes given as his twin; poorly attested and possibly the same deity in an earlier form. It was said to be so large it could easily stride the seven regions of the earth and people could climb on its back to travel from one place to another. On the other side of the fence is Zahhak, a symbol of despotism who was, finally, defeated by Kāve, who led a popular uprising against him. Share the video: https://youtu.be/CeDoNsBZRgISubscribe I have a great voice right?Subscribe! Armaiti (Spenta Armaiti) – goddess of devotion, daughter of Ahura Mazda, one of the seven Amesha Spentas. This was the name of the Greek god of the winds. It is considered the first mountain from which all others came and the source of water and light. Peris: Persian spirits of great beauty who guide mortals on their way to the Land of the Blessed. According to Persian Mythology, Goddess Anahita is the Immaculate Virgin Mother of Goddess Mitra. God of War Wiki. Persian MythologyPersian Mythology in ContextPersian mythology developed in what is now Iran around 1500 bce. Persian mythology is traditional histories and old histories, with all exceptional or supernatural humans involved. Spenta Mainyu – “Holy Spirit”, one of the seven Amesha Spentas, the embodiment of the light and goodness of Ahura Mazda. His name means “excellent order” or “outstanding truth”, and he stands in opposition to the forces of darkness and lies. Worship of him eventually spread outside of Persia, where it was known as Mithraism. 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. He was also responsible for maintaining cosmic order and regulating the change of the seasons at the proper times. Known as the Watcher of the East. Garshasp – another name for the monster-slaying hero Karsasp/Keresaspa. The waters are said to come from the Alburz Mountains through ice-melt and collect in the Vourukasha Sea and, from there, flow outwards to form all the other bodies of water in the world. The following is a list of the various entities of pre-Zoroastrian Persia who appear in some of the most famous myths and legends. Wikis. Category:Persian Mythology | God of War Wiki | Fandom. Amesha Spentas – also known as yazatas, the Amesha Spentas are seven immortal beings worthy of worship who personify the highest values and greatest goods. When Hushedar-mar appeared, people would stop drinking milk and the sun would stand still for twenty days. They are either good, or they are evil. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. His son, the great Kay Kosrow, later avenged him. In Persian mythology Ahura Mazda was the supreme creator, and the god of light, truth, and goodness. Oral tradition was especially important and storytelling a central value in ancient Persian culture, and so the stories of the old continued to be told, and many of the deities, now reimagined, appear in the works of the oldest monotheistic religion, Zoroastrianism, which developed between c. 1500-1000 BCE. The mace confers authority and so Mithra was also associated with farr (“divine grace”) which legitimized a king's rule. Mithra's heroic qualities formed the basis for the central figure of the Roman mystery religion known as the Cult of Mithras, but the two deities are not the same. God of Cattle. The holy book of Zoroastrianism (which is actually called Mazdisna in Persian), Avesta, is the primary source for early Persian mythology. He inspires the hero Fereydun to lead the revolt. Persian Mythology: Captivating Myths of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Legendary Creatures Kindle Edition by Matt Clayton (Author) › Visit Amazon's Matt Clayton page. Shabrang Behzad – the mighty black horse of the hero Siyavash. AMERETAT f Persian Mythology Means "immortality" in Avestan. Description. Like the unicorn, the karkadann could be tamed by a virgin. He protects paradise but also enables human souls to attain it. Turco-Mongol. Allatum – goddess of the underworld in the earliest vision of the Persian afterlife; later replaced by King Yima (also given as King Yama), the first mortal king to have died. Shipping and payments. The following are all drawn from the sources listed below in the bibliography. 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. At death, after three days, the urvan is reunited with the fravashi who assists it in crossing the Chinvat Bridge. Zam-Armatay – “Mother Nature”, the goddess of deified earth, the earth-energy which makes all things live and grow. Manuchehr initiates the Iranian-Turanian War. The world was their battlefield. See more ideas about mythology, persian, gods and goddesses. Wikis. He was also known as Thrisaok (meaning "three burning places") as deliverer of the fires which stood against the forces of darkness and chaos. She is sometimes referenced as the daughter of Ahura Mazda and Armaiti, combining wisdom and devotion, and so symbolizes the heart of religious belief. Satevis – one of the Four Royal Stars (modern designation Antares) who worked for the good on the part of Ahura Mazda. Sohrab – the tragic hero and son of Rustum and the princess Tahmineh in the Shahmaneh. The dog is led in three times but, if it hesitates, can be led in as many as nine times to make sure all evil spirits have been dispersed. Camros A bird creature from Persian mythology which collects the seeds of Gao-kerena, the … House of Song – the bright realm of paradise after death where the justified souls who had served Ahura Mazda were welcomed. Barmayeh – the great cow of the Alburz Mountains who nurses the hero Fereydun and cares for him. Faravahar – the famous Persian symbol of a royal figure seated on a solar disc in the center of outstretched wings, usually interpreted as representing divine grace and higher powers. Asto Vidatu – the demon of death who, not content with killing a person, then tries to snatch their souls into hell as they cross the Chinvat Bridge after their passing. Shahriyar (Shahryar) – the king in the One Thousand Nights and a Night who, upon finding out his wife was unfaithful, has her executed and then marries only virginal women, killing them the morning after the wedding night, before they have a chance to betray him. Zal is raised by the dog-bird Simurgh and is later reconciled with his father. She spends a night with Rustum who gives her an armband to give their child. Although the claim that the ancient Persians recognized these stars has been challenged, the Zoroastrian cosmological text Bundahisn, attests to such. Associated with the great dog-bird Simurgh, although some scholars claim they are two distinct entities. He has a magic cup used in divination which was thought to contain the elixir of immortality. Bahram – god of victory in life and after death, associated with the warrior god Verethragna. The prophet Zoroaster revised this earlier vision so that Ahura Mazda became the one true god while the most significant of the other deities became emanations and manifestations of his eternal goodness. The four-eyed dog – a dog with a spot above each eye – was considered especially potent protection against evil spirits. According to Persian Mythology, Goddess Anahita is the Immaculate Virgin Mother of Goddess Mitra. Khrafstra – evil demons who manifest themselves physically in the form of frogs, lizards, wasps, annoying insects such as stinging ants, and beasts of prey. Sraosa is a member of the Amesha Spentas. Author's Note: Grateful acknowledgement to Dr. Ezat Heydari for suggestions on this article. Associated with, but not the same as, the Huma Bird. 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. 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. Persian Mythology, Gods and Goddesses. Sam is the grandfather of the great champion Rustum. Geus-Urvani – god of cattle and their protector. 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, folklore, and religion generally. World History Encyclopedia. Their name means “immortal spirits”. Messenger-god in ancient Persia. Indra – the demon of apostasy who encouraged the abandonment of religious practice and true faith. Zahhak (Avestan: Aži Dahāka) was guarded by two vipers which grew out from both of his shoulders. Arash – the archer, great hero who fired his arrow to mark the boundary between Iran and Turan. She was prayed to for protection and survival by soldiers prior to battle and so is also considered a goddess of war. Persian Mythology: Captivating Myths of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Legendary Creatures (Hardback or Cased Book) Item Description. Ameretat – goddess of immortality whose name means “life” or “living”. Persian Mythology and its Origins Persian mythology is the reflection of multiple eras pervading a 12,000-year chronology. The four stars were Tascheter (Aldebaran), Venant (Regulus), Satevis (Antares), and Haftorang (Fomalhaut). AIOLOS m Greek Mythology Means "quick-moving, nimble" in Greek. Vohu Manah – “good purpose”, one of the seven Amesha Spentas, represented on earth by domesticated animals, especially the cow. Rapithwin. [note 3] It roughly corresponds to the Iranian plateau and its bordering plains. Ahura Mazda … His second flood creates the Vourukasha Sea, source of all waters. Known as the “golden-heeled”, he was finally defeated and killed by the hero Karsasp. The most famous legendary character in the Persian epics and mythology is Rostam. 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. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. Find all the books, read about the author and more. Known as the Watcher of the South. The list will also include religious concepts and places considered important in ancient Persian religion, such as the Chinvat Bridge which souls crossed from life to death or the House of Song, the Persian vision of paradise. The archenemy of Spenta Armaiti, goddess of devotion, who encourages gratitude and thankfulness. Airyaneum Vaejah – also known as Eranvej, the center of the world; the ancient Iranian homeland first ruled by the just king Yima who was favored by the gods before he fell from grace. Manticore – “man-eater”, a monster with the head of a man, body of a lion, and tail of a scorpion who devoured people whole, leaving no trace of them except – sometimes – spatters of blood. World History Encyclopedia. Known as the Watcher of the North. khsathra vairya … Read more. Simurgh – the “dog bird” who cares for the hero Zal after he is abandoned by his father Sam in the Shahnameh. Mark, J. J. God of Cattle. Pairaka (Pairi) – shapeshifting female demons (daeva) who appear as beautiful women to seduce and corrupt men in the night. 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. Categories Persian Mythology. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/article/1488/. Mithra is depicted riding in a great chariot drawn by white horses, armed with a silver spear, bow, and arrows of gold. Most famous of these is the Simurgh, a large, beautiful, and powerful bird; and the Huma bird, a royal bird of victory whose plume adorned Persian crowns. Drawn from the legendary past of Iran, they reflect the attitudes of the society to which they first belonged - attitudes towards the confrontation of good and evil, the actions of the gods, yazats (lesser gods), and the exploits of heroes and fabulous creatures. He is associated with light, righteousness, and purity. When a human encountered a jinn, the entity might grant the person's wishes or trick them at the last moment. It was the first of the seven regions created by Ahura Mazda. The list attempts to be complete but will omit some minor deities and even some heroes whose qualities are represented by others more famous. He is the son of the water god Vouru-Kasa, keeper of the waters, who gives water to humans. The most famous legendary character in the Persian epics and mythology is Rostam. When she flaps her wings, the seeds are scattered and carried away by the winds, with the help of the bird Chamrosh, to land in the earth. Drug (Druj) – an evil demon who is the personification of the lie. In the Zoroastrian text Vendidad, it is the mountain in the afterlife on the other side of the Chinvat Bridge, the span between the world of the living and the dead. Nairyosangha – an angel associated with fire and, therefore, purity; Ahura Mazda's messenger who also carries the prayers of people from earth to heaven. Vizaresha - demon who drags souls into hell from the Chinvat Bridge, associated with the demons Asto Vidatu and Aesma Daeva.