Zahhak or Zahak, known as Zahhak the Snake Shoulder, is an evil figure in Persian mythology, evident in ancient Persian folklore as Azhi Dahaka, the name by which he appears in the texts of the Avesta.
20 Facts About Zahhak
2.
In Zoroastrianism, Zahhak is considered the son of Ahriman, the foe of Ahura Mazda.
3.
In Persian mythology, Dahaka is treated as a proper noun, while the form Zahhak, which appears in the Shahname, was created through the influence of the unrelated Arabic word dahhak meaning "one who laughs".
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Zahhak is described as a monster with three mouths, six eyes, and three heads, cunning, strong, and demonic.
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Zahhak's mother is Wadag, herself described as a great sinner, who committed incest with her son.
6.
Zahhak is described as a sorcerer who ruled with the aid of demons, the daevas.
7.
In Ferdowsi's epic poem, the Shahnamah, written c 1000 AD and part of Iranian folklore, the legend is retold with the main character given the name of Zahhak and changed from a supernatural monster into an evil human being.
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Zahhak is handsome and clever, but has no stability of character and is easily influenced by his counselors.
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When Zahhak is a young man, Ahriman first appears to him as a glib, flattering companion, and by degrees convinces him to kill his own father and inherit his kingdom, treasures and army.
10.
Zahhak executes Jamshid by sawing him in half and ascends to Jamshid's prior throne.
11.
Each day, Zahhak's agents seize two men and execute them so that their brains can feed Zahhak's snakes.
12.
Zahhak wakes and shouts so loudly that the pillars of the palace shake.
13.
Zahhak's hesitant counsellors remain silent until the most fearless of the men reports that the dream is a vision of the end of Zahhak's reign at the hands of Fereydun, the young man with the mace.
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Zahhak is thrilled to learn the identity of his enemy, and orders his agents to search the entire country for Fereydun and capture him.
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Fereydun agrees to lead the people against Zahhak and has a mace made for him with a head like that of an ox.
16.
Fereydun goes forth to fight against Zahhak, who has already left his capital, which falls to Fereydun with small resistance.
17.
Fereydun frees all of Zahhak's prisoners, including Arnavaz and Shahrnaz.
18.
Kondrow, Zahhak's treasurer, pretends to submit to Fereydun, but discreetly escapes to Zahhak and reports to him what has happened.
19.
Zahhak initially dismisses the matter, but he is incensed to learn that Fereydun has seated Jamshid's daughters on thrones beside him like his queens, and immediately hastens back to his city to attack Fereydun.
20.
Zahhak finds his capital held strongly against him, and his army is in peril from the defense of the city.