Ahriman is the Middle Persian name of Angra Mainyu, the "destructive" or "evil spirit" of Zoroastrianism. He is the adversary of the wise lord Ahura Mazda and the source of death, disease, falsehood and disorder. Zoroastrian texts teach that his attack on creation will ultimately fail, making him central to one of the world's most influential forms of religious dualism.
Ahriman at a glance
| Avestan name | Angra Mainyu ("destructive spirit") |
|---|---|
| Middle Persian name | Ahriman (Ahreman) |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
| Opponent | Ahura Mazda (Ohrmazd) and Spenta Mainyu |
| Key texts | Gathas, Vendidad, Bundahishn |
| Associated with | Druj (the Lie), daevas, death and pollution |
Name and Early Sources
In the Avestan language, Ahriman's name is Angra Mainyu, usually translated "destructive spirit" or "hostile spirit". The Middle Persian form Ahriman appears in texts of the Sasanian and early Islamic periods. In the Gathas, the hymns traditionally attributed to Zarathustra, the concept of two primal spirits appears most clearly in Yasna 30, which describes a good spirit and an evil spirit who made opposing choices. The expression "angra mainyu" itself occurs only rarely in the Gathas, and scholars debate how far the fully personified Ahriman of later texts is already present there.
Ahriman in Zoroastrian Cosmology
In the Younger Avesta, Angra Mainyu is a fully developed adversary. The first chapter of the Vendidad describes how, for each good land created by Ahura Mazda, Angra Mainyu produced a counter-creation, such as harsh winters, harmful creatures or sinful practices. He leads the daevas, demonic beings, and is linked with druj, the Lie or deceit, which opposes asha, truth and cosmic order.
The Middle Persian Bundahishn ("Primal Creation") presents a detailed cosmic history lasting twelve thousand years. Ohrmazd (Ahura Mazda) dwells in endless light and Ahriman in darkness. Ahriman attacks the good creation, bringing death to the primal man and the primal bull and introducing disease, decay and pollution into the world. History becomes a period of mixture in which good and evil struggle.
The Final Defeat
Zoroastrian eschatology teaches that Ahriman's power is limited and temporary. At the end of time a savior figure, the Saoshyant, will appear, the dead will be raised, and the world will be purified in an event called Frashokereti, the "making wonderful". Ahriman and his forces will be defeated or rendered powerless, and creation will be restored to perfection. Human beings take part in this struggle by choosing good thoughts, good words and good deeds.
Dualism and Its Varieties
Ahriman is often cited as the classic example of religious dualism. Scholars distinguish several forms. In mainstream Zoroastrian theology, Ahura Mazda is uncreated and good, while Ahriman is a hostile power who is not his equal and who will be destroyed. In Zurvanism, a movement prominent in the Sasanian period, Ohrmazd and Ahriman were described as twin sons of Zurvan, the god of time, a view later rejected by orthodox Zoroastrians. Many modern Zoroastrians emphasize ethical dualism, seeing Ahriman primarily as the destructive tendency that people must resist.
Greek writers knew of the concept: Plutarch, in On Isis and Osiris, refers to Oromazes and Areimanios as opposing principles in Persian belief.
Ahriman in Ritual and Daily Life
Zoroastrian belief in Ahriman has practical consequences. Because death, decay and impurity are regarded as his work, many traditional purity rules aim to limit their spread. Dead bodies were historically exposed on towers, known in English as towers of silence, so that corpses would not pollute sacred earth, fire or water; today many communities use other methods such as burial or cremation. Priests perform purification rites, and the sacred fire in fire temples symbolizes the light and order of Ahura Mazda.
Certain creatures, called khrafstra, such as snakes, scorpions and some insects, were traditionally regarded as belonging to Ahriman's counter-creation, and killing them was considered meritorious in older texts. Daily prayers include formulas that reject Ahriman and the daevas. In the Kusti ritual, performed when retying the sacred cord worn around the waist, the worshipper symbolically casts off evil and reaffirms commitment to Ahura Mazda. These practices express the conviction that every person takes part in the cosmic struggle through everyday choices.
Influence and Comparisons
Because Jews lived under Persian rule after the Babylonian exile, many scholars have argued that Zoroastrian ideas about a cosmic adversary, angels and demons, final judgment and resurrection influenced later Jewish and then Christian and Islamic thought, including images of Satan and figures such as Iblis. The extent of this influence is debated, since it is difficult to date many Zoroastrian texts precisely. Ahriman also shaped later dualist movements such as Manichaeism.
In the twentieth century the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner used the name Ahriman in Anthroposophy for a spiritual power associated with materialism and cold intellect, balanced against Lucifer. This usage is a modern reinterpretation rather than part of Zoroastrian teaching.
Related entries
Frequently asked questions
Is Ahriman the same as Satan?
They are similar in role, since both are adversaries of the good God and sources of evil. However, they belong to different religions with distinct histories and theologies. Some scholars think Zoroastrian ideas influenced Jewish and Christian conceptions of Satan, but the degree of influence is debated.
Is Ahriman equal to Ahura Mazda?
In mainstream Zoroastrian teaching, no. Ahura Mazda is the uncreated wise lord, while Ahriman is a destructive power whose attack on creation is limited in time and will end in defeat. Only the Zurvanite movement described them as twins, a view later rejected by Zoroastrian orthodoxy.
What does Angra Mainyu mean?
Angra Mainyu is Avestan for "destructive spirit" or "hostile spirit". It is the older name of the figure called Ahriman in Middle Persian. It stands in contrast to Spenta Mainyu, the "beneficent" or "holy spirit" associated with Ahura Mazda.
Sources and further reading
This entry replaces an article from the original Mystica encyclopedia (online since 2001). It was rewritten from the sources above by The Mystica Editorial Team under our editorial standards. Last reviewed: September 30, 2026.