Samuel DenHartog's Blog: The Road to 1,440 - Posts Tagged "avesta"
: Awakening the Myths of Ancient Persia in "Tales from the Persian Avesta"
When I began shaping this mythology anthology, I wanted to bring forward the voices of ancient Persia in a way that would let readers feel their power and presence. These stories reach back thousands of years, carried through the Avesta, where light and darkness battle over creation, and human beings are called to stand on the side of truth. They are not dry fragments of history but living tales of gods, spirits, and heroes who shaped the imagination of one of the world’s oldest civilizations.
The book gathers accounts of Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord who formed the world, and Angra Mainyu, the destructive spirit seeking to undo it. Around them move the Amesha Spentas, radiant guardians of the elements and virtues, and the Yazatas, mighty beings who defend creation. Within these pages, you will meet Mithra, the keeper of oaths; Anahita, the goddess of rivers and fertility; Tishtrya, the star who brings the rains; and Atar, the sacred fire that stands against corruption. Their battles with drought, disease, and demons still echo with urgency and beauty.
Alongside these divine figures, human heroes also rise. The brave Thraetaona strikes down Azi Dahaka, the monstrous serpent that terrorized the land, while the Fravashis, guardian spirits of the dead and unborn, watch over the righteous. These stories are filled with struggle, sacrifice, and a vision of the world where every choice matters in the greater war between truth and the lie. Ancient Persia’s imagination shaped a cosmic order where the divine and the human are bound together in destiny.
I sought to bring together this vast tapestry of creation, conflict, and hope in “Tales from the Persian Avesta.” The stories are both mythic and human, rooted in the land of fire temples and starry skies yet reaching into timeless questions about good and evil, devotion and betrayal, life and immortality. I hope readers will enjoy these tales and feel the spark of wonder that sustained them for generations.
The book gathers accounts of Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord who formed the world, and Angra Mainyu, the destructive spirit seeking to undo it. Around them move the Amesha Spentas, radiant guardians of the elements and virtues, and the Yazatas, mighty beings who defend creation. Within these pages, you will meet Mithra, the keeper of oaths; Anahita, the goddess of rivers and fertility; Tishtrya, the star who brings the rains; and Atar, the sacred fire that stands against corruption. Their battles with drought, disease, and demons still echo with urgency and beauty.
Alongside these divine figures, human heroes also rise. The brave Thraetaona strikes down Azi Dahaka, the monstrous serpent that terrorized the land, while the Fravashis, guardian spirits of the dead and unborn, watch over the righteous. These stories are filled with struggle, sacrifice, and a vision of the world where every choice matters in the greater war between truth and the lie. Ancient Persia’s imagination shaped a cosmic order where the divine and the human are bound together in destiny.
I sought to bring together this vast tapestry of creation, conflict, and hope in “Tales from the Persian Avesta.” The stories are both mythic and human, rooted in the land of fire temples and starry skies yet reaching into timeless questions about good and evil, devotion and betrayal, life and immortality. I hope readers will enjoy these tales and feel the spark of wonder that sustained them for generations.
The Road to 1,440
I'm Samuel DenHartog, and at 51, at the end of November of 2023, I've embarked on a remarkable journey as a writer. My diverse background in computer programming, video game development, and film prod
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