Azhi Dahaki / Azi / Vritra / Azdaha / Zahhak / Ahi

Region: Persia and Babylon
Time Period: Unknown
References in Literature: Zoroastrian Creation Myth, Avesta
Sources: Dragons and Dragon Lore pgs 33, 36, Legends of the Dragon (Lady Paradox), Morgeu, LeStat, Drakhen’s Lair, Ancient Deities, Giants, Monsters and Dragons, , Circle of the Dragon, “From Iranian Myth…”, and just about everyone else

Notes:

• The “Biting Snake”
• In Avestrian language, Azhi = Snake but in Farsi, azhidakaka = dragon. In Egypt it was called Ahi and meant “daytime”
• Created by and serves the Angra Mainyu, or father of lies, to counter truth.
• May also be the son of Autak.
• 3 jaws, 3 heads (Pain, Anguish, and Death), 6 or 18 eyes, and filled with venomous beasts (spiders and snakes and the like) that would infect the world if set free. Also has fangs and wings. But in the Shanamah, is shown as humanoid with 2 serpents coming from his neck.
• Started eating cattle, then turned to humans and even tried eating Yima, the first human
• He is destined to return and and destroy 1/3rd of the world until he is stopped by Keresapa.
• In Vedic histories, he is called Vritra and is the celestial snake that withholds rain and was defeated by Indra.
• Often compared with India’s Visvarupa
• Called a “druj” (half-human, half-beast) in the Babylonian city Bapel
• Drought and disease

“Dormester asserts that the original seat of the Azhi myth was on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. He says that Azhi was the ‘snake’ of the storm – cloud, and is the counterpart of the Vedic Ahi or Vritra”. (Source: Dragons and Dragon Lore pg 36.)

“In the Shahnama was the king of Babel and appeared in anthropomorphic shape, with two snakes growing from his shoulders. According to Ferdawsi these snakes grew as a result of the kiss of Iblis and had to be fed on human brains before Feridun vanquished the king.” (Source: “From Iranian Myth to Folk Narrative: The Legend of the Dragon-Slayer and the Spinning Maiden in the Persian Book of the Kings.”). In Karnamak, blood from animals was used.

Tale may be based in a 4th century Chinese tale of Sou Shen chi.

Tale:

Tried to put out the sacred flame of the Divine Glory but failed and Atar / Athwya / Adar / Atarsh (the fire god) bound him under the Mount Demevend by the Caspian Sea. Some sources say it was Thraetona (the Persian King Fereydun) that bound him