In further exploration of “Mythology,” blogger Sara Habibipour dives into the mythology of ancient Persia–centuries old, but too often not known well enough in Rancho Mirage, California.
We’re all acquainted with Greek mythology. But, do you know Persian mythology?
The stories which form the basis of Persian mythology come from the early Persian religious belief Zoroastrianism, which actually is thought to be the basis of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The stories were passed down orally over the centuries until they were written down as part of the religious tradition of Zoroastrianism.
The central theme of Zoroastrianism is a universal struggle between the forces of good and evil, so most of the mythological creatures fall within one of two categories. Although there are many, here are a few of the ancient Persian mythological creatures.
Gavaevodata
Gavaevodata is the “Uniquely Created Bull,” who is thought to be one of the earliest creations of Ahura Mazda, the “good” deity of Zoroastrianism. Gavaevodata was so beautiful, it attracted the attention of Angra Mainyu, the “bad” deity, who killed it. The bull’s body was then transported to the moon and purified into seeds; these seeds became what all animals would feed on and fertilized the earth’s vegetation. Once animals were created, Ahura Mazda then created human beings and fire, but Gavaevodata was the first unique entity on earth, which established the high value the Persians placed on animals.
Peri
Peris are similar to fairies; they enjoy playing pranks on people, but they can also be helpful. They were thought to be spirits imprisoned in the fairy-form to make up for past sins. A Peri might bring a message from the gods or, alternatively, trick someone into believing some untruth. They were later thought by Muslim Arabs to serve the same purpose as angels.
Azhi Dahaka
Azhi Dahaka was the great three-headed dragon created out of the lies of the “bad” deity, Angra Mainyu, to scare away any positivity in the world. Dragon-serpents (azhi) are often symbols of evil and chaos in Persian mythology. This creature is said to have a thousand senses so it can defend itself and hunt for prey at the same time.
Suroosh and Daena
Suroosh and Daena are angels that assist the newly dead in their crossing from life to death. After the soul has left the body, it was thought to linger on earth for three days while the gods came to a decision regarding one’s life and final fate. The soul then approached the Bridge where Daena would appear and, for the good soul, would be a beautiful young woman, while, to the condemned, would appear as an ugly hag. 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.
I hope you were all able to learn something new from this article. I’m half Persian, and I didn’t even know some of this! Learning about ancient beliefs from different cultures is important in ensuring that 1) we stay open-minded and that 2) we learn something new everyday. Keep a lookout for more mythology posts from different cultures on our page within the next few days!
Sources:
https://www.ancient.eu/article/1488/ancient-persian-gods-heroes-and-creatures—the-co/
Mythology Editor: Elizabeth Shay