The History of Antiquity, Vol. 5 (of 6)Duncker, Max
History
The History of Antiquity, Vol. 5 (of 6)
Duncker, Max
History, Ancient
If the ancient gods have preserved more lively traits than the Amesha
Çpentas, the old demons have also more definite outlines than the
opposing spirits. Such are the Daeva Apaosha, who parches up the land
and keeps back the water from the earth; Çpenjaghra, the comrade of him
who was struck by lightning; Zemaka, the spirit of the cold winter; and
finally Azhi, who seeks to steal away the fire from men in the night.
Among these evil spirits may further be reckoned a female demon
Bushyançta, with long hands and of a yellow hue, who leads men astray
into much sleep and idleness, who does not allow them to see the rise of
the sun, and shortens the joy of existence;[264] the three Daevas of
drunkenness, Kunda, Banga, and Vibanga; the Daeva Buiti, the spirit of
lies and falsehood, who deceives men;[265] the spirit of flattery,
Ashemaogha;[266] and the very wicked Ashma "of evil glance," who
attempts to slay the sleeping, and withstands Çraosha by night with
terrible weapons.[267] Very evil also is Açtovidhotu, _i.e._ the
destroyer of bodies, and a female goblin, the spirit of the Daevas, the
Druj Naçu. This spirit enters the body immediately after death, and
exercises power over all who come in contact with it.
Under Auramazda are united the gods, the Amesha Çpentas, the rest of the
Yazatas (those worthy of adoration), in opposition to the troops of
hell, the Daevas, Druj, Pairikas and Jainis, which are led by
Angromainyu. The first are found in the light of sunrise, in the clear
gleam of the pure sky; the latter in the gloom of sunset, or in the
distant clouds of the north; in burial-places, and where the dead are
placed; in all corners into which the light of heaven does not pierce;
in the dark abyss under earth; in "the worst place."[268] On the summit
of the mountain Arezura (Demavend, apparently), they take counsel how
they are to turn the evil eye on men; how they can injure and slay
them.[269] To them belong gloom, cold, drought, the barren land and the
wilderness, thorns and poisonous herbs, hunger and thirst, sickness,
death, dirt, laziness, lying, sin. Theirs are the harmful beasts, the
Khrafçtras; beasts of prey, wolves, serpents; all animals which live in
holes and corners, lizards, scorpions, toads, frogs, rats, mice, gnats,
and lastly mosquitoes, lice, and fleas.[270] To the good spirits belong
light, water, springs, rivers, the fruitful earth, good plants,[271]
trees, fields, pastures, good food, purity, truth, life in this world
and the next; and theirs are the good animals, the animals of the
flocks, the birds which nestle on the heights, and live in the clear
air. The dog and the cock are worshipped in the Avesta as fighting with
men against the Daevas. The first protects the flocks against the beasts
of prey of Angromainyu. Of the cock the Avesta says: "The bird
Parodarsh, which evil-speaking men call Kahzkataç (_i.e._ Kikeriki or
the like), lifts up his voice in the last third of the night, roused by
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