Origin: Persian Mythology/Zoroastrian Belief
History: Azi Dahaka has been known as both a dragon and a snake, but he is always seen as a three-headed creature with at least two of these heads being snake-like in nature.1 The Avesta, the holy book of the Zoroastrian religion, refers to this creature as "the strongest Drug that Angra Mainyu [aka Ahriman] created against the material world".2
The creature was said to be born of the female demon Autak and also related to Ahriman, the great evil. He was first noted as a creature who preyed upon cattle, but then he began to dine upon human beings. He destroyed the first human, Yima; thus, Thraetaona planned to punish him.3
Thraetaona (also refered to as Atar) said, "Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sura Anahita! that I may overcome Azi Dahaka, the three-mouthed, the three-headed, the six-eyed, who has a thousand senses, that most powerful, fiendish Druj, that demon, baleful to the world, the strongest Druj that Angra Mainyu created against the material world, to destroy the world of the good principle; and that I may deliver his two wives, Savanghavach and Erenavach, who are the fairest of body amongst women, and the most wonderful creatures in the world."4
Thraetaona succeeded in his quest and temporarily defeated him, chaining him to Mount Demavand, rendering him powerless. At the end of time, however, the dragon is predicted to break free and wreak havoc, destroy one-third of the human population, but he will, in the end, be defeated by Keresaspa.5
Symbolism: Azi Dahaka is a symbol of evil and vengence as well as jealousy.
Physical Description: There are two very different descriptions of this dragon. One is a that Azi Dahaka is a winged snake with three heads and huge wings that blot out the Heavens. The other is that of a human with two serpents coming out of his neck.6 In addition, lizards and scorpions are said to crawl all over his body, both while moving and stationary.7
- Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
- Tables of Ancient Middle Eastern Deities
- Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
- Avesta: Khorda Avesta: Hymn to the Waters: IX
- Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
- Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
- Tables of Ancient Middle Eastern Deities
For more information about these footnotes, please see the bibliography.
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© Kylie 'drago' McCormick.
Last updated: 1 October 2009