The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

IN PERSIA. > 77
animals and ; sixth, man," or rather a being compounded
of a man and a bull. This newly created being lived in
a state of purity and happiness for many ages, but was
at last poisoned by the temptations of a subtle serpentgenius,
named Ahriman, 100 who inhabited the regions of
101
darkness, and was the author of evil; and his ascend-
as to create
ency upon earth became at length so great
a powerful rebellion against the creator, Ormisda; by
whom, however, he was at length subdued. To counteract
the effect of this renunciation of virtue, another
pure being was created, compounded, as before, of a man
and a bull, called Taschter, or Mithras, 102
by whose in-
tervention, with the assistance of three associates, 103 a
flood of waters was produced to purify the earth, by
prodigious showers of rain, each drop as large as the
head of an ox, which produced a general lustration. A
tempestuous wind, which blew for three successive days
from the same quarter, dried the waters from the face of
the earth ; and when they were completely subsided, a
new germ was introduced, from which sprang the present
race of mankind. 104
This theogony was also inculcated. Ormisda created
six benevolent gods, and Ahriman formed the same number
of malignant spirits, who were always engaged in a
violent contention for pre-eminence. The evil spirits at
length succeeded in gaining the dominion over one half
of the year, which the celestials deities were contented
to resign to their superintendence; 105 which was explained
by a reference to the change and variety of the seasons ;
59 " Mezdam," says the prophet, "separated man from the other
animals, by the distinction of a soul, which is a free and independent
substance, without a body or any thing material, indivisible and
without position, by which he obtaineth the glory of the angels. The
Lord of Being created his servant free; if he doeth good he gaineth
heaven; if evil, he becometh an inhabitant of hell." (Desatir. Book
10
of Abad.
Diog. Laert. in Procem.
101 This Persian doctrine was the foundation of the Manichean
which vexed the Christian Church from the fifth to the ninth
heresy,
century. (Vid. Bower. Hist, of Popes, vol. ii., p. 19.)
'* This being was denominated Mtoiroe &eoe, and referred to the sun.
103 Here we find another evident duplicate of Noah and his triple
offspring.
104
Vid. Perron's Zendavesta. vol. iii. Hyde, Rel. vet. Pers.,
p. 160. Bryant Annal., vol. iii., and Fab. Pag. Idol., b. iii., c. 3.
105
Plut. de. Isid. et Osir., p. 63.