Myth Madness

• Zahhak - The Serpent-Shouldered

  After Jamshid was pushed from the throne, the monstrous Zahhak rose to power and the accursed tyrant ushered in a Dark Age. It was a backwards world where virtue was shunned and cruelty celebrated. However, hope was never far away. This episode (67) details the story of Zahhak as presented in the Shahnameh and the rise of the hero Fereydun. 

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• Jamshid

  One of the best sources for Persian myths is the Shahnameh or “Book of Kings”. This epic poem was composed in 1010 AD and is one of the most important examples of Iranian literature. It tells a legendary history of Persia, starting with creation and the doings of the first kings, and then covers stories of successive generations of kings and their heroic champions. This episode (66) covers one of the most significant kings – Jamshid, and his rise and ultimate fall after he succumbs to hubris. 

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  26:45

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• Hushang & Tahmuras – Persian Mythology's Demon-Slayer Kings

  The struggle between Good and Evil is a central theme of Persian mythology. This is not just a human struggle. Persian myths and legends often feature divs, creatures who work mischief on behalf of the evil spirit Ahriman. In this episode (65) I talk about divs, how they made trouble for the early humans and how two legendary Persian kings – Hushang and Tahmuras – fought against the divs and defeated them. 

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  28:34

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• The Origin of Humans in Zoroastrianism

  In this episode (64) I cover the creation of humans according to ancient Zoroastrian religious texts. I talk about the role of Gayomart (aka Keyumars), the prototypical First Man, and how he fought against the supreme evil spirit Ahriman. To understand how these myths changed over time, I compare the Zoroastrian version to what is written in the Shahnameh, a medieval Persian epic poem. I also discuss the first couple Mashya and Mashyana and how their descendants spread over the Earth. 

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  19:14

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  19:14
• Persian Mythology - The Creation of the World in Zoroastrianism

  Welcome back to Myth Madness! This season of the podcast covers Persian mythology. The Persian or Iranian civilization’s roots go back over 3000 years ago, and this episode (63) gives a summary of that history from antiquity to the middle ages. For most of that time, the dominant religion in Persia was Zoroastrianism, and this means its stories have a very distinct Zoroastrian flavour. This episode covers the Zoroastrian creation myth and explains how the forces of Good and Evil battle for control of the universe. 

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