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Verethragna ( ae, 𐬬𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬚𐬭𐬀𐬖𐬥𐬀‎ ') is an Indo-Iranian deity. The neuter noun ''verethragna'' is related to Avestan ''verethra'', 'obstacle' and ''verethragnan'', 'victorious'. Representing this concept is the divinity Verethragna, who is the
hypostasis Hypostasis, hypostatic, or hypostatization (hypostatisation; from the Ancient Greek , "under state") may refer to: * Hypostasis (philosophy and religion), the essence or underlying reality ** Hypostasis (linguistics), personification of entities ...
of "victory", and "as a giver of victory Verethragna plainly enjoyed the greatest popularity of old." In Zoroastrian Middle Persian, Verethragna became 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭 Warahrām, from which Vahram, Vehram, Bahram, Behram and other variants derive. The word is cognate with the Vedic Sanskrit. The Vedic god
Indra Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war.  volumes/ref> I ...
may correspond to Verethragna of the Zoroastrian Avesta as the Vedic vr̥tragʰná-, which is predominantly an epithet of Indra, corresponds to the noun verethragna-. The name and, to some extent, the deity was borrowed into Armenian Վահագն Vahagn and Վռամ ''Vṙam'', and has cognates in Buddhist Sogdian 𐫇𐫢𐫄𐫗 ''wšɣn w(i)šaɣn'', Manichaen Parthian 𐭅𐭓𐭉𐭇𐭓𐭌 ''wryḥrm Wahrām'', Kushan Bactrian ορλαγνο ''Orlagno''. While the figure of ''Verethragna'' is highly complex, parallels have also been drawn between, Puranic Vishnu,
Manichaean Manichaeism (; in New Persian ; ) is a former major religionR. van den Broek, Wouter J. Hanegraaff ''Gnosis and Hermeticism from Antiquity to Modern Times''SUNY Press, 1998 p. 37 founded in the 3rd century AD by the Parthian Empire, Parthian ...
''Adamas'', Chaldean/Babylonian
Nergal Nergal ( Sumerian: d''KIŠ.UNU'' or ; ; Aramaic: ܢܸܪܓܲܠ; la, Nirgal) was a Mesopotamian god worshiped through all periods of Mesopotamian history, from Early Dynastic to Neo-Babylonian times, with a few attestations under indicating hi ...
, Egyptian
Horus Horus or Heru, Hor, Har in Ancient Egyptian, is one of the most significant ancient Egyptian deities who served many functions, most notably as god of kingship and the sky. He was worshipped from at least the late prehistoric Egypt until the P ...
, Hellenic
Ares Ares (; grc, Ἄρης, ''Árēs'' ) is the Greek god of war and courage. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks were ambivalent towards him. He embodies the physical valor necessary for success in war b ...
and Heracles.


In scripture


In the ''Bahram Yasht''

'' Yasht 14'', the hymn of praise to Verethragna, "though ill-preserved, contains what seem very archaic elements". There, ''Verethragna'' is described as "the most highly armed" (''Yasht'' 14.1), the "best equipped with might" (14.13), with "effervescent glory" (14.3), has "conquering superiority" (14.64), and is in constant battle with men and daemons (14.4, 14.62). ''Verethragna'' is not exclusively associated with military might and victory. So, for instance, he is connected with sexual potency and "confers virility" (''Yasht'' 14.29), has the "ability to heal" (14.3) and "renders wonderful". The ''Yasht'' begins with an enumeration of the ten forms in which the divinity appears: As an impetuous wind (14.2-5); as an armed warrior (14.27) and as an adolescent of fifteen (14.17); and in the remaining seven forms as animals: a bull with horns of gold (14.7); a white horse with ears and a muzzle of gold (14.9); a camel in heat (14.11-13); a boar (14.15); a bird of prey (''veregna'', 14.19-21); a ram (14.23); and a wild goat (14.25). Many of these incarnations are also shared with other divinities, for instance, the youth, the bull and the horse are also attributed to Tishtrya. Likewise, the bird, the camel and the wind to '' Vayu-Vata'', another member of the Zoroastrian pantheon associated with martial victory.


In other texts

Together with '' Čistā'', ''Verethragna'' is a principal companion of Mithra (''Mihr Yasht'' 10.70). Several sections of the ''Bahram Yasht'' also appear in hymns dedicated to other divinities, but it is rarely possible to determine in which direction those sections were copied. The identification of Verethragna as a boar in ''Yasht'' 14 led Ilya Gershevitch to identify Dāmōiš Upamana – a boar in the Avestan hymn to Mithra – to be an alter-ego of Verethragna.; pro ; contra


In culture and tradition


In the Zoroastrian hierarchy

In the Zoroastrian hierarchy of divinities, Bahram is a helper of ''Asha Vahishta'' (Avestan, middle Persian: ''Ardvahisht''), the
Amesha Spenta In Zoroastrianism, the Amesha Spenta ( ae, , Aməša Spəṇta—literally "Immortal (which is) holy/bounteous/furthering") are a class of seven divine entities emanating from Ahura Mazda, the highest divinity of the religion. Later Middle Persian ...
responsible for the luminaries. In the Zoroastrian calendar instituted during the late Achaemenid era (648–330 BCE), the twentieth day of the month is dedicated to Bahram (''Siroza'' 1.20). In the later middle Persian texts ''Bahram'' is especially venerated as one of the
Amesha Spenta In Zoroastrianism, the Amesha Spenta ( ae, , Aməša Spəṇta—literally "Immortal (which is) holy/bounteous/furthering") are a class of seven divine entities emanating from Ahura Mazda, the highest divinity of the religion. Later Middle Persian ...
s, effectively giving him the high rank for his success in driving back Angra Mainyu


As the name of a planet

In the astronomical and calendrical reforms of the Sasanian (224-651 CE), the planet Mars was named Bahram. Zaehner attributes this to the syncretic influences of the
Chaldea Chaldea () was a small country that existed between the late 10th or early 9th and mid-6th centuries BCE, after which the country and its people were absorbed and assimilated into the indigenous population of Babylonia. Semitic-speaking, it was ...
n astral-theological system, where Babylonian
Nergal Nergal ( Sumerian: d''KIŠ.UNU'' or ; ; Aramaic: ܢܸܪܓܲܠ; la, Nirgal) was a Mesopotamian god worshiped through all periods of Mesopotamian history, from Early Dynastic to Neo-Babylonian times, with a few attestations under indicating hi ...
is both the god of war and the name of the red planet. (see also: "Fatalistic" Zurvanism).


In the name of a class of fire

According to Boyce, the present-day expression '' Atash-Behram'' as the name of the most sacred class of fires is a confusion of the adjectival "Victorious Fire" with "Fire of Bahram" The former is the way it appears in Middle Persian inscriptions such as the Kartir inscription at ''Kabah-i Zardusht'', while the latter is what is now understood by the term ''Atash-Behram''. Gnoli attributes the change to natural misunderstanding "abetted in Islamic times by a progressive decay in Zoroastrian priestly teaching"


In art and iconography

The only evidence of a cult appears in the first century account of
Strabo Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...
, who reports, probably on authority of
Nearchus Nearchus or Nearchos ( el, Νέαρχος; – 300 BC) was one of the Greek officers, a navarch, in the army of Alexander the Great. He is known for his celebrated expeditionary voyage starting from the Indus River, through the Persian Gulf and e ...
, that the
Carmanians Carmania ( grc-gre, Καρμανία, ''Karmanía'', Old Persian: 𐎣𐎼𐎶𐎴𐎠 ''Karmanā'',Lendering (1997) Middle Persian: ''Kirmān'') is a historical region that approximately corresponds to the modern Iranian province of Kerman, an ...
worshipped a divinity of victory (''Geographika'', 15.2.14). That this was Bahramb / Verethragna is unlikely if, as per Strabo, he was their "only god." However, the account does reveal that divinities of war were known to the people who were not of the Iranian plateau, evidence for which also comes from Herodotus (4.59.62). Under the Seleucids (330–150 BCE) and Arsacids (250 BCE–226 CE), that is, in the Empires influenced by Hellenic culture, ''Verethragna'' was both identified as
Ares Ares (; grc, Ἄρης, ''Árēs'' ) is the Greek god of war and courage. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks were ambivalent towards him. He embodies the physical valor necessary for success in war b ...
and associated with Heracles, and given the Greek name ''Artagnes''. This syncretism is well attested in statuary and iconography, most notably in that of the inscription of Antiochus I Theos of Commagene, in which all three names occur together. That Bahram was considered the patron divinity of travelers is perhaps reflected by the life-size rock sculpture of the divinity on the main highway at Behistun. There Bahram reclines with a goblet in his hand, a club at his feet, and a lion-skin beneath him. In the early Sasanian period Bahram is still represented as the Greek Heracles. In the relief of
Ardeshir I Ardashir I (Middle Persian: 𐭠𐭥𐭲𐭧𐭱𐭲𐭥, Modern Persian: , '), also known as Ardashir the Unifier (180–242 AD), was the founder of the Sasanian Empire. He was also Ardashir V of the Kings of Persis, until he founded the new em ...
at Naqs-e Rajab III, Bahram appears as one of the two smaller figures between
Ahura Mazda Ahura Mazda (; ae, , translit=Ahura Mazdā; ), also known as Oromasdes, Ohrmazd, Ahuramazda, Hoormazd, Hormazd, Hormaz and Hurmuz, is the creator deity in Zoroastrianism. He is the first and most frequently invoked spirit in the ''Yasna''. ...
and the king. There, he has a lion's skin in his left hand and brandishes a club in his right. The other small figure – who appears to be paying homage to Bahram – is the future king
Bahram I Bahram I (also spelled Wahram I or Warahran I; pal, 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭) was the fourth Sasanian King of Kings of Iran from 271 to 274. He was the eldest son of Shapur I () and succeeded his brother Hormizd I (), who had reigned for a year ...
. Bahram also appears as wings, or as a bird of prey, in the crowns of the Sasanian kings. This iconography first appears in the crown of
Bahram II Bahram II (also spelled Wahram II or Warahran II; pal, 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭) was the fifth Sasanian King of Kings (''shahanshah'') of Iran, from 274 to 293. He was the son and successor of Bahram I (). Bahram II, while still in his teens, ...
which also bears the name of the divinity. A similar image is adopted by Peroz (whose name also means 'victorious') as well as by Khosrau Parwez (again, Parwez meaning 'ever-victorious'). Similarly, boar and eagle heads on caps crown the heads of princes. Boar figures are widespread in Sasanian art, appearing in everything from textiles to stucco and in silver ornaments, coins, and seals. Other animal motifs have been found that recall the aspects of Bahram (see the ten forms of Bahram in the Avesta, above). The bird motif on Sasanian-era fire altars are also believed to represent Bahram.


As the name of kings

Bahram was the name of six Sasanian kings: *
Bahram I Bahram I (also spelled Wahram I or Warahran I; pal, 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭) was the fourth Sasanian King of Kings of Iran from 271 to 274. He was the eldest son of Shapur I () and succeeded his brother Hormizd I (), who had reigned for a year ...
, ''r.'' 271–274. Son and successor of Shapur I *
Bahram II Bahram II (also spelled Wahram II or Warahran II; pal, 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭) was the fifth Sasanian King of Kings (''shahanshah'') of Iran, from 274 to 293. He was the son and successor of Bahram I (). Bahram II, while still in his teens, ...
, ''r.'' 274–293. Son and successor of Bahram I *
Bahram III Bahram III (also spelled Wahram III or Warahran III; pal, 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭, New Persian: ), was the sixth king (shah) of the Sasanian Empire. He was son and successor of Bahram II.Touraj Daryaee, ''Sasanian Persia'', (I.B.Tauris Ltd, 201 ...
, ''r.'' 293. Son and successor of Bahram II *
Bahram IV Bahram IV (also spelled Wahram IV or Warahran IV; pal, 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭), was the Sasanian King of Kings () of Iran from 388 to 399. He was likely the son and successor of Shapur III (). Before his accession to the throne, Bahram served ...
, ''r.'' 388–399. Son and successor of Shapur III * Bahram V, ''r.'' 420–438. Son and successor of Yazdegerd I * Bahram Chobin, ''r.'' 590 - 591. Successor of Hormizd IV


In Avestan scholarship

The interpretation of the divinity was once one of the more widely debated fields in Zoroastrian scholarship since the theories of origin reflected a radical revolution in ethical, moral and religious values. Primarily because the Avestan adjective ''verethragnan'' ('victorious') had a corresponding Vedic term ''vrtrahan'' where it appeared "preponderantly sa qualification of Indra", Zoroastrians and Hindus accept that in Indo-Iranian times there existed the warrior god ''Indra'' and that Avestan ''Verethragna'' might be analogous to that divine figure. The Sanskrit cognate of Verethragna is Vritraghna, which is an epithet for
Indra Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war.  volumes/ref> I ...
in Vedic literature, and he too is the destroyer of " Vritra", an Asura whose name literally means obstacle. But western scholars oppose this identification. In the Avesta, it is the hero warrior-priest '' Fereydun'' who battles the serpent ''
Aži Dahāka Zahhāk or Zahāk () ( fa, ضحّاک), also known as Zahhak the Snake Shoulder ( fa, ضحاک ماردوش, Zahhāk-e Mārdoush), is an evil figure in Persian mythology, evident in ancient Persian folklore as Azhi Dahāka ( fa, اژی دهاک) ...
'' (which, for the virtue of 'Azi' being cognate with Sanskrit 'Ahi', snake, is – by proponents of the theory - associated with Vedic Vritra). One Western scholar claims that, in the Vedas, the epithet 'hero' (''sura'') is itself almost exclusively reserved for ''Indra'', while in the Avesta it is applied to ''Thraetaona'' and other non-divine figures. The term "victorious" is not restricted to ''Verethragna'', but is also a property of a number of other figures, both divine and mortal, including ''Thraetaona''. Then, while in the Vedas it is ''Indra'' who discovers Soma, in the Avesta, it is humans who first press Haoma and ''Thraetaona'' is attributed with being the "inventor of medicine". In the Vedas, ''Indra'' strikes with '' vajra'', but in the Avesta ''vazra'' is Mithra's weapon. Attempts to resolve these objections led to the development of another theory, in which, in addition to the pre-historical divinity of victory, there was also a dragon-slaying hero ''Indra''. Then, while the Iranians retained the figures independently of one another, the Indians conflated the two (leaving an echo in the character of ''Trita Aptya''). This theory too had its problems, in particular the fact that ''Indra'' was already evidently a divine figure, and not a man, in the Mittani treaties, where he appears in the company of
Mitra ''Mitra'' ( Proto-Indo-Iranian: ''*mitrás'') is the name of an Indo-Iranian divinity from which the names and some characteristics of Rigvedic Mitrá and Avestan Mithra derive. The names (and occasionally also some characteristics) of these t ...
and Varuna. That again raises more questions since the treaties echo the
Rig Veda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' ( ', from ' "praise" and ' "knowledge") is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canonical Hindu texts (''śruti'') known as the Vedas. Only one Sh ...
's invocation of all three as protectors of contract, again, not a property associated with ''Verethragna''. However, as Benveniste and Renou demonstrated, many of the objections to the first theory could be negated if the evidence were reviewed in light of the fact that the principal feature of ''Verethragna'' was not to slay noxious creatures but to overcome obstacles (''verethra''), in particular to unblock the flow of ''apas'', the waters, the holiest of the elements. Paul Thieme agreed with this principal feature, but clarified that while the wealth of archaic elements in the ''Bahram Yasht'' clearly point to the pre-Zoroastrian era, the interpretation of proper names is "highly conjectural", and "in no case do we get a decisive argument against their Indo-Aryan or old Indic character" Adopting "the exact linguistic and exegetic analysis" of Benveniste and Renou, Thieme concludes "Proto-Aryan ''*Indra'' has assumed the functions of a Proto-Aryan god ''*Vrtraghna''." Noting that ''Vrtrahan'' is the name of Indra only in the later Sanskrit texts (but not in the Rig Veda), Thieme adds "there is no valid justification for supposing that the Proto-Aryan adjective ''*vrtraghan'' was specifically connected with ''*Indra'' or any other particular god."


See also

*
Indra Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war.  volumes/ref> I ...
* Vritra


References


Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * {{Zoroastrian Calendar Yazatas Ancient Iranian gods Martian deities