아지다하카

DragonIran · West AsiaMythFear 10/10

Description

세 머리, 여섯 눈, 세 턱의 용. 인간의 어깨에서 뱀 두 마리가 자라나며, 매일 젊은이 두 명의 뇌를 먹어야 한다. 영웅 페리둔에 의해 다마반드 산에 봉인되었으나, 세계 종말 때 풀려난다.

Origin & Background

Azi Dahaka is considered the embodiment of evil in Iranian mythology and history. In the Avesta and Zoroastrian tradition, Azi Dahaka is regarded as the son of Ahriman, the enemy of Ahura Mazda. In Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, Azi Dahaka is depicted as the son of an Arab ruler named Merdas.

The Legend

Azi Dahaka is described as a monster with three mouths, six eyes, and three heads. He is cunning, powerful, and demonic. He appears in various Avesta myths and is mentioned in subsequent literature. Azi Dahaka possesses human traits and is not a mere animal. He has a mother who is a great sinner, having committed incest with her own son, and he embodies all sins and evil counsel. He lived in an inaccessible fortress called Kuylinta in the land of Babri, and he carries a snake on his shoulder that can only survive by feeding on the brains of two captured women.

Variants

In Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, Azi Dahaka appears under the name Zahhāk and transforms from a supernatural monster into an evil human. Zahhāk is born as the son of a ruler named Merdas and serves as a tool of Ahriman, causing chaos and disorder.

In Popular Culture

Azi Dahaka has appeared multiple times in modern popular culture. In the video game 'Defenders of Oasis', a descendant of Zahhak appears as a main antagonist, while in 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys', he is portrayed as a supernatural foe that Xena and Hercules must confront. Additionally, Azi Dahaka appears in 'Final Fantasy Legend III' and 'Prince of Persia: Warrior Within'.

This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Zahhak" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia