The History of Antiquity, Vol. 5 (of 6)Duncker, Max
History
The History of Antiquity, Vol. 5 (of 6)
Duncker, Max
History, Ancient
Zarathrustra had increased the means for keeping off the evil ones, and
had made the struggle against the wicked spirits easier for men. But the
time will come when the struggle will be no longer necessary, and the
bright spirits alone will rule. This doctrine is indicated even in the
Gathas.[303] In the book of the law Zarathrustra says to Angromainyu: he
will smite the Daevas till Çaoshyant is born from the water of Kançava
in the eastern region.[304] Çaoshyant, _i.e._ the useful, the saviour,
is called in the Avesta, "the sublime, the victorious;" he will smite
the Druj, and Aeshma will bow before him. He will make the world to live
for ever, without age and death; the dead will rise again, and the
living will be immortal. Vohumano will smite Akomano, Asha will kill the
lies. Haurvatat and Ameretat will destroy thirst and hunger: "The
evil-doer Angromainyu, robbed of his dominion, bows himself."[305] This
doctrine of the Avesta also was well known to the western world. In
Herodotus Prexaspes tells Cambyses that when the dead rise again he will
see Smerdis and Astyages.[306] Theopompus of Chios tells us: Zoroaster
had proclaimed that there would be a time in which the dead will arise,
and men will be immortal, and everything will be done by their
invocations. Last of all, Hades will pass away; men will then be happy;
they will need no nourishment, and throw no shadows, and the god who
will accomplish this rests for a time, but not a long time for a
god.[307] It is true that men required no nourishment when Çaoshyant had
appeared, in the meaning of the Avesta, for Haurvatat and Ameretat had
overcome hunger and thirst as well as sickness and death; and as the
dark side of man was taken away, and only the bright side remained, they
could not cast any shadows.
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