Hitchhiker's Guide to Religion
Zoroastrian

Angra Mainyu / Ahriman

The Destructive Spirit

Zoroastrian Destruction, Deception, Death, Disease
Portrait of Angra Mainyu / Ahriman
Attribute Value
Combat
ATK 98
DEF 90
SPR 85
SPD 90
INT 95
Rank Anti-Creator / Lord of Evil
Domain Destruction, Deception, Death, Disease
Alignment Zoroastrian -- Absolute Evil
Weakness Truth (Asha); destined to be destroyed at the Frashokereti
Counter Ahura Mazda and the Amesha Spentas
Source Gathas (Yasna 30:3-5, 45:2); Vendidad; Bundahishn

“The Evil Spirit, ignorant and full of death, fashioned the daevas and all wickedness. He chose the Worst Mind.” — Yasna 30:6

Lore: Angra Mainyu (“Destructive Spirit”), later called Ahriman in Middle Persian, is the uncreated source of all evil, lies, suffering, and death (Yasna 30:3-5, 45:2; Vendidad; Bundahishn). He did not fall from grace — he was never good. He exists as the cosmic opposite of Ahura Mazda, choosing evil from the very beginning. He created the daevas (demons), disease, winter, death, and every form of suffering. He is destined to lose the cosmic war and be annihilated at the end of time. This is the figure who became Satan. Before the Babylonian exile, the Hebrew “satan” was a role (“the accuser”) — a member of God’s court who tested humans on God’s behalf (see Job 1-2, where “the satan” has to ask God’s permission). After the exile, Satan became a personal being waging cosmic war against God — a concept that maps exactly onto Angra Mainyu. The dualism of Christian eschatology (God vs. Devil, final battle, ultimate triumph of good) is Zoroastrian dualism filtered through Judaism.

Parallel: → Satan / The Devil. The personal, cosmic enemy of God. The entire concept of a “Devil” as an independent evil being comes from this figure.


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Combat Radar

ATK DEF SPR SPD INT
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