Ahriman
/ˈɑːrɪmən/noun
In Zoroastrianism, Ahriman is the spirit of darkness and evil, opposing the good spirit Ahura Mazda.
Did you know?Ahriman, also known as Angra Mainyu, embodies chaos and destruction, and is believed to actively oppose creation, reflecting a cosmic battle between good and evil in Zoroastrian thought.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-Iranian
PII
*Ahriman
“The spirit of chaos and darkness.”
Avestan
Avestan
Aŋra Mainyu
“The Destructive Spirit, opposing the order of Ahura Mazda.”
Middle Persian
Middle Persian
Ahriman
“The embodiment of darkness and evil in Zoroastrian theology.”
Modern Persian
Persian
اهریمن (Ahriman)
“The name retained its meaning as the personification of evil.”
Modern English
English
Ahriman
“Adopted into English as a term for a malevolent force in Zoroastrianism.”