Angra Mainyu/Ahriman

***Bold***

**Origin**: Persia

**Pantheon**: Zoroastrianism

**Alignment**: Chaotic - Evil

Ahriman (Angra Mainyu, Anra Mainyu, Aharman) In Persian mythology, the evil spirit, the Demon of all Demons and the source of all evil, opposed to the good creator god, Ahura Mazda; in the end Ahriman will be destroyed by the forces of good. Ahriman originally was a primordial desert spirit who became the personification of evil in Zoroastrianism. As such, he is not immortal, and eventually his reign of terror will be conquered by the forces of good. Though the prophet Zarathustra raised Ahura Mazda to the major rank of god and made Ahriman a lesser deity, in earlier Persian mythology both gods were equals and brothers, sons of the great god of time-space, Zurvan.

There are different legends about the origins of Ahriman as the evil god. In one, Ahura Mazda, the good god, created the universe and twins called Spenta Mainyu (the spirit of Light, Truth, and Life) and Angra Mainyu (the spirit of Darkness, Deceit and Death). The twins fight for supremacy and their battleground is Earth. Over time, Spenta Mainyu became absorbed into Ahura Mazda, and Angra Mainyu became Ahriman.
The battle between the two forces continues and will last for thousands of years, divided into eras. After the fourth era, three saviors will appear, who will destroy Ahriman and all his forces of evil. In a variation of this legend Ahura Mazda created Angra Mainyu in a moment of doubt when he was making the universe.

According to another legend, Ahriman and Ormazd (a contraction of Ahura Mazda) were twins born to Zuvan, the creator deity. When the two were conceived, Zurvan decided that whichever came to him first would be made king. When the evil Ahriman heard this in his mother’s womb, he ripped it open, emerged, and approached his father. “Who are you?” Zurvan asked.

“I am your son, Ahura Mazda,” the evil Ahriman replied. “Ahura Mazda is light, and you are black and stinking,” Zurvan declared. While they were speaking, Ahura Mazda came out of his mother’s womb. Zurvan immediately recognized him and made him king. “Did you not vow that to whichever of your sons should come first you would give the kingdom?” Ahriman complained. “You false and wicked one,” Zurvan replied, “the kingdom shall be given to you for nine thousand years, but Ahura Mazda is nevertheless king over you and will triumph after that time.” Ahura Mazda then created the heavens and the earth and all beautiful things, but Ahriman created Demons, snakes, and all evil.

The Earth is presently under the rule of Ahriman; that is why there are drought, famine, war, disease, pestilence, and other ills. To aid him in his rule, Ahriman created 99,999 diseases, and six Archdemons, called Evil Mind, Tyranny, Enmity, Violence, Wrath, and Falsehood. He also created a female Demon named AZ and a dragon. The Archdemons struggle against the six archangel amarahspands, or “Bounteous Immortals.”

Ahriman tried to maim the prophet Zarathustra but failed.

A legend about Ahriman says that he had a son named Zohak, whom he trained to be evil. He told Zohak to kill his own father. He disguised himself, however, and Zohak killed someone he thought was his father. Ahriman, again in disguise, became chef of the palace. Zohak was so impressed with him that he offered to reward him. Ahriman asked only to kiss his shoulders. When he did so, Serpents sprang from the spots. Every time Zohak cut them off, they grew back. Ahriman entered in another disguise, as a doctor, and told Zohak that he had to feed the serpents human brains every day. Zohak complied and became Ahriman’s pride. The son ruled for a thousand years and finally was destroyed.

Ahriman is identified with Iblis, the devil in Islamic mythology. In some works Ahriman, rather than the snake of biblical lore, is pictured as an old man offering Adam and Eve the fatal fruit. One early Persian sculpture portrays Ahura Mazda riding on horseback trampling on Ahriman’s snake-covered head.

Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy, said Ahrimanic forces are intelligent, clever spirits that seek to keep people mired in materialism.

## Fate Lore

Zoroastrianism, regarded as mankind's oldest good and evil dualism doctrine. A Servant crowned with the name of the devil king transmitted in said Zoroastrianism.

Only the summoner can judge whatever he is the true Angra Mainyu or not. An Heroic Spirit specialized in killing humans, but he can't do anything other than that. In the Holy Grail War, a place of battle for super-humans, he is of no use whatsoever. The weakest Servant, in both name and reality.

**Height/Weight:** 167cm ・ 58kg

**Source:** Zoroastrianism

**Region:** Ancient Persia

"*Please gentlemen, let me borrow your hands. Everyone's convenient villain has entered the stage, so let's us please give him a magnificent welcoming--- or so, ehehehehehe!*"

Of course, he is not a genuine devil. In a certain village, an ordinary young man who did not commit any sin and had no big achievement in the past became an Heroic Spirit. He is someone like you who has been chosen as a human sacrifice from one doctrine -- an arrangement like anywhere -- in the village.

The young man, who tasted all the pains a human can experience, died as a matter of course. However, the hatred towards that unreasonableness was etched on that stone prison, and he became a nameless ghost.
Even after the young man had vanished, even after the villagers that he kept hating were gone, and even after the village itself had disappeared. He remained bound to the mountain top and continued to gaze at people's lives, people's ugliness, people's happiness. A warm light. He longs for the "usual everyday" that was never given to him, just like a sage.

**False Copy of Inscribed Creation**

**Rank:** D **Type:** Anti-Unit

Verg Avesta. Zoroastrian Scriptures - Asterisk counterfeit.

A primitive curse that directly returns the wounds one has received to the opponent.

...that sounds good and all, but because he himself may end up dying before activating this Noble Phantasm upon receiving a mortal wound, it won't be activated unless he can't "receive a wound that barely doesn't kill him".

Avenger alone cannot triumph against his enemy, so a partner that would defeat the enemy in his place after he uses this Noble Phantasm becomes necessary. Truly, the weakest.

## Appearances in Modern Media

in Fate Grand Orderin Megami Tensei III: NocturneFrom Reign of Dragonsin Force of Willin Age of Ishtaria

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Information Source

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The Encyclopedia of Demons and Demonology – Written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley

Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow