Persian mythology
- Thread starter Frumpy
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Libros
Member
Specifically Persian mythology, as opposed to Scythian and other cultural contexts, deals heavily with oppositional forces. It is grounded in what would become Zoroastrianism, so the world is a battleground between two opposing forces, but it was created by the good force. They had battled each other for uncountable ages in a vast empty void. But the good force knew that evil thrives on emptiness, and filled the void with our world to better combat the evil. Spirits were first creation with will, being good and evil, and humans were second.
LegendofJoe
Active Member
There are some great books on Persian myths out there.
I enjoyed Persian Mythology by Hinnels.
Also, there are many retellings in English of that great Persian epic Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) by the poet Firdausi.
The most notable stories from this book center around Rostam, Persia's greatest hero.
In Zoroastrian tradition, before the world was made, there were two spirits: Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu.
Ahura Mazda was a good spirit and he created a world that was free from all sorts of evil.
A. Mainyu, the evil spirit, hated this new world and so he created all kinds of evils: he salted the oceans so that it would be undrinkable, he turned land into desert and he created death.
We have been living in this "mixed " world ever since and it will only be a matter of time before A. Mazda will face A. Mainyu in a final battle, in which the world will be restored to the way it was in the beginning.
This religion is more dualistic than Christianity: Angra Mainyu was not created by God and he is a formidable foe.
The God of the Judeo-Christian tradition on the other hand created Satan and is far more powerful than him. He can easily destroy him at any time but lets him have his way for now so that evil can exist and humans can be tested on whether or not they are deserving of heaven.
The Bible of the Zoroastrians is called the Avesta. Although it was not written down until the Sassanian period (just prior to the Muslim conquest), it is believed to be very ancient and was transmitted orally for centuries. It greatly influenced Judaism and Christianity, esp. in the area of eschatology.
I enjoyed Persian Mythology by Hinnels.
Also, there are many retellings in English of that great Persian epic Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) by the poet Firdausi.
The most notable stories from this book center around Rostam, Persia's greatest hero.
In Zoroastrian tradition, before the world was made, there were two spirits: Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu.
Ahura Mazda was a good spirit and he created a world that was free from all sorts of evil.
A. Mainyu, the evil spirit, hated this new world and so he created all kinds of evils: he salted the oceans so that it would be undrinkable, he turned land into desert and he created death.
We have been living in this "mixed " world ever since and it will only be a matter of time before A. Mazda will face A. Mainyu in a final battle, in which the world will be restored to the way it was in the beginning.
This religion is more dualistic than Christianity: Angra Mainyu was not created by God and he is a formidable foe.
The God of the Judeo-Christian tradition on the other hand created Satan and is far more powerful than him. He can easily destroy him at any time but lets him have his way for now so that evil can exist and humans can be tested on whether or not they are deserving of heaven.
The Bible of the Zoroastrians is called the Avesta. Although it was not written down until the Sassanian period (just prior to the Muslim conquest), it is believed to be very ancient and was transmitted orally for centuries. It greatly influenced Judaism and Christianity, esp. in the area of eschatology.