Mythologis
Persian Mythology: The Complete Guide to Ahura Mazda, Ahriman, Mithra, and the Cosmic Dualism That Shaped Three Religions

Persian Mythology

Persian Mythology: The Complete Guide to Ahura Mazda, Ahriman, Mithra, and the Cosmic Dualism That Shaped Three Religions

From the Avesta to Ferdowsi's Shahnameh

The Zoroastrian cosmos of light against darkness, the Amesha Spentas, the hero Rostam, and the Shahnameh epic that preserved pre-Islamic Iran in verse.

150 pagesPDFEnglishMythologis Library

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Inside this book

What you will read

  • 11 chapters, primary sources
  • Instant PDF download
  • Original ink illustrations
  • Inline citations to original texts
  • Designed for print quality
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  1. 01The Avesta and the Structure of Zoroastrian Scripture
  2. 02Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, and the Seven Creations
  3. 03Angra Mainyu, Ahriman, and the Invasion of Evil
  4. 04The Amesha Spentas: Divine Emanations of the Good Mind
  5. 05Mithra, Anahita, and the Yazatas of Covenant and Water
  6. 06Zurvan, Infinite Time, and the Heresy of Zurvanism
  7. 07Yima, the First King, and the Vara Enclosure
  8. 08The Shahnameh: Ferdowsi's Epic and the Memory of Pre-Islamic Iran
  9. 09Rostam, Sohrab, and the Tragedy of the Greatest Hero
  10. 10Zoroastrian Eschatology: Judgment, Resurrection, and the Final Battle
  11. 11The Legacy: How Persian Dualism Entered the West

About this book

About this Persian mythology guide

The cosmic war between Ahura Mazda and Ahriman that invented the devil, plus the Shahnameh epic that kept Persia alive.

Persian mythology begins with the Avesta, the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, where Ahura Mazda creates the world and Angra Mainyu corrupts it. Mithra guards oaths under the sun, Anahita pours the celestial waters, and Zurvan measures infinite time. The Gathas and the Yasna hymns name the Amesha Spentas, the seven divine emanations who sustain creation. A thousand years later, Ferdowsi composes the Shahnameh, the Book of Kings, preserving the memory of Rostam, Sohrab, and the dynasties that ruled before Islam arrived.

This book cites the Avesta in translation, quotes the Bundahishn creation account, and walks through the Shahnameh's structure. You will see how Zoroastrian dualism, heaven and hell, the final judgment, entered Judaism during the Babylonian exile and shaped Christianity and Islam. Every figure is explained from primary sources: no vague summaries, no composite retellings.

Includes inline citations so you can read the Avesta and the Shahnameh yourself.

What you will discover inside

  • How Ahura Mazda created the world in seven stages and Angra Mainyu invaded it
  • Why Mithra's broken oath brings drought and Anahita's waters purify the faithful
  • What the Amesha Spentas are and how they map to creation's elements
  • The Gathas: Zarathustra's hymns and the oldest Zoroastrian theology
  • Rostam and Sohrab: the Shahnameh tragedy that defines Persian heroism
  • How Zoroastrian dualism shaped Jewish, Christian, and Islamic eschatology

Persian mythology book at a glance

TraditionPersian mythology
Chapters11 chapters
Length150 pages
SourcesDrawn from the primary sources, cited inline
Reading levelBeginner-friendly. Every name and place is explained from scratch
FormatPrint-quality PDF
DeliveryPDF within 24 hours

Formats and editions

EditionWhat you getPrice
Instant PDFPrint-quality download, readable on any device. PDF within 24 hours.$7.99
PaperbackA paperback edition is on the way. Sign up on this page to hear when it lands on Amazon.Coming soon

About the author

Guillaume Henry, founder of Mythologis

Guillaume Henry

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mythologis

Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every Mythologis book draws on the primary sources first, cross-references multiple translations, and avoids inventing details that aren't in the originals.

More about the author

Keep exploring Persian mythology

Prefer to read before you buy? These free, fully sourced guides cover the same gods, myths and sources you will meet in the book.

Read the complete Persian mythology guide

Questions about the Persian mythology book

When will I receive my PDF?

Within 24 hours of purchase. Your download link arrives in your inbox automatically.

Is this book based on primary sources?

Yes. The book cites the Avesta (Gathas, Yasna, Vendidad) in the standard Darmesteter and Mills translations, the Bundahishn creation text, and Ferdowsi's Shahnameh in the Dick Davis translation. Every myth is traced to its original source with references so you can read further.

How long is the book?

Eleven chapters, around 150 pages depending on the final layout. Designed to be read in evenings or in one long sitting.

Is this book for beginners or specialists?

Beginners welcome. The book explains every name, place, and concept from scratch. Specialists will find the source citations and translation notes useful for further reading.

Will there be a paperback on Amazon?

The PDF is available immediately. A KDP paperback edition follows once the book has been validated by readers.

What is the difference between Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu?

Ahura Mazda is the uncreated Wise Lord who chooses good and creates the material world. Angra Mainyu (later called Ahriman) is the destructive spirit who chooses evil and invades creation with death, disease, and lies. They are not equal: Ahura Mazda will win at the end of time. This dualism is the ancestor of the Christian Satan and the Islamic Iblis.

What formats is this book available in?

Every title is available as an instant PDF, downloaded the moment you buy it: the link appears on the confirmation page and lands in your inbox. Selected titles also have a paperback edition on Amazon. Where the paperback is not out yet, you can sign up to be notified the day it does.

What is the return policy?

The PDF is delivered instantly by Mythologis. If a download ever fails or a file looks wrong, get in touch and we will make it right. Paperbacks bought on Amazon are handled under Amazon's own returns and refund policy.

Can I order from outside the United States?

Yes. The PDF is a digital download, so it works instantly anywhere in the world, with nothing to ship. Where a paperback edition exists, it is sold across Amazon's international marketplaces, with shipping rates and delivery times depending on your country.

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