Zahhak

CreatureIran · West AsiaLegendFear 9/10

Description

A creature from the folklore of Iran. Zahāk is a personification of evil in Iranian mythology and historiography.

The Legend

Zahhak is considered the personification of evil in Iranian mythology and history. In the Avesta and Zoroastrian tradition, Zahhak is regarded as the son of Ahriman and an enemy of Ahura Mazda, but ultimately a servant of him. In Ferdowsi's 'Shāhnāmeh', Zahhak is depicted as the son of the Arab ruler Merdās. Zahhak is described as a monster with three mouths and six eyes, possessing three heads, cunning, powerful, and demonic. He has human-like characteristics and is more than just a simple animal. In his youth, Zahhak falls under the temptation of Ahriman, kills his father, and seizes the kingdom. Subsequently, two black snakes grow from his shoulders, and he must provide the brains of two humans daily to appease these snakes.

In Popular Culture

The legend of Zahhak appears multiple times in modern popular culture. In the 1992 Sega Game Gear video game 'Defenders of Oasis', a descendant of Zahhak appears as a major antagonist. In 'Xena: Warrior Princess' and 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys', Zahhak appears as a supernatural foe, and in 'Final Fantasy Legend III', he is depicted as a lizard with multiple heads. In 'Prince of Persia: Warrior Within', a shadowy figure named Zahhak appears. Additionally, the boss 'Azhdaha' in 'Genshin Impact' is inspired by Zahhak.

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