Ahura Mazdah is an entity not actually encountered in the game, but mentioned by Rebecca when musing about the deity that, upon solving the riddle of Arqua, awarded us with the Sword of the Dragon:
| “ |
Adam: Who do you think that spirit was who procured Eternity? |
” |
Context[]
According to the ancient Iranian religion of Zoroastrianism, Tishtrya was an ally of Ahura Mazdah the Wise Lord in the struggle against the dark forces of evil under Ahriman:
In the mythology of Yasht 8.21-29,[2][3] Tishtrya, as a mighty white horse with golden ears and golden tail, rushes towards the cosmic sea Vourukhasha. On his way, he is confronted by Apaosha, the Zoroastrian demon of drought, as a horrible black horse with black ears and black tail. They battle for three days and nights until Apaosha drives Tishtrya away. Tishtrya then complains to Ahura Mazda that he was weakened because humankind did not give him his due of proper prayers and sacrifices. Ahura Mazda then himself offers sacrifice to Tishtrya, who now strengthened reengages Apaosha in battle at noon and conquers the demon of drought. Tishtrya then causes the rains to fall freely upon the earth and all is well again.
Theological Background[]
Ahura Mazda (also known as Ohrmazd, Ahuramazda, Hourmazd, Hormazd, Harzoo and Hurmuz, Lord or simply as spirit) is the Avestan name for the creator and sole God of Zoroastrianism, the old Iranian religion predating Islam. Ahura Mazda is described as the highest spirit of worship in Zoroastrianism, along with being the first and most frequently invoked spirit in the Yasna. The literal meaning of the word Ahura is "mighty" or "lord" and Mazda is wisdom.
References[]
- ↑ This supposed spelling error in the subtitles actually sparks a bit of interest, considering aqua is the Latin word for "water" (and Tishtrya is the Zoroastrian deity representating all forms of water).
- ↑ Brunner, Christopher J. (1987), "Apōš", Encyclopaedia Iranica, 2, New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul, pp. 161-162.
- ↑ Lommel, Herman (1927), Die Yašts des Awesta, Göttingen-Leipzig: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht/JC Hinrichs.