Then ORMUZD created 28 _Izeds_, of whom MITHRAS is the chief. They watch, with _Ormuzd_ and the _Amshaspands_, over the happiness, purity, and preservation of the world, which is under their government; and they are also models for mankind and interpreters of men's prayers. With _Mithras_ and _Ormuzd_, they make a _pleroma_ [or complete number] of 30, corresponding to the thirty Aions of the Gnostics, and to the _ogdoade, dodecade_, and _decade_ of the Egyptians. _Mithras_ was the Sun-God, invoked with, and soon confounded with him, becoming the object of a special worship, and eclipsing _Ormuzd_ himself. The third order of pure spirits is more numerous. They are the _Ferouers_, the THOUGHTS of Ormuzd, or the IDEAS which he conceived before proceeding to the creation of things. They too are superior to men. They protect them during their life on earth; they will purify them from evil at their resurrection. They are their tutelary genii, from the fall to the complete regeneration. AHRIMAN, second-born of the Primitive Light, emanated from it, pure like ORMUZD; but, proud and ambitious, yielded to jealousy of the First-born. For his hatred and pride, the Eternal condemned him to dwell, for 12,000 years, in that part of space where no ray of light reaches; the black empire of darkness. In that period the struggle between _Light_ and _Darkness, Good_ and _Evil_, will be terminated. AHRIMAN scorned to submit, and took the field against ORMUZD. To the good spirits created by his Brother, he opposed an innumerable army of Evil Ones. To the seven _Amshaspands_ he opposed seven _Archdevs_, attached to the seven Planets; to the _Izeds_ and _Ferouers_ an equal number of _Devs_, which brought upon the world all moral and physical evils. Hence _Poverty, Maladies, Impurity, Envy, Chagrin, Drunkenness, Falsehood, Calumny_, and their horrible array. The image of Ahriman was the Dragon, confounded by the Jews with Satan and the Serpent-Tempter. After a reign of 3000 years, Ormuzd had created the Material World, in six periods, calling successively into existence the Light, Water, Earth, plants, animals, and Man. But Ahriman concurred in creating the earth and water; for darkness was already an element, and Ormuzd could not exclude its Master. So also the two concurred in producing Man. Ormuzd produced, by his Will and Word, a Being that was the type and source of universal life for everything that exists under Heaven. He placed in man a pure principle, or Life, proceeding from the Supreme Being. But Ahriman destroyed that pure principle, in the form wherewith it was clothed; and when Ormuzd had made, of its recovered and purified essence, the first man and woman, Ahriman seduced and tempted them with wine and fruits; the woman yielding first.