Verethragna

Kanischka gold coin ; Orlagno appears on the reverse.

Verethragna ( Avestian Vərəθraγna ) is the name of an ancient Iranian deity . He is a warrior and therefore embodies the aggressive victorious force in the fight against evil. He punished the evil produced by humans and demons. In Bahram Yasht , a hymn dedicated to him, he appears in ten different manifestations: as a strong wind, as a bull with yellow ears and golden horns, as a white horse with golden harness, as a camel carrying a load, as a wild boar , as a youth, as a fast-flying bird, as a ram, as a combative stag and as a man who holds a sword with a golden blade in his hand.

Among the Greeks he was identified with Ares or Heracles . Among the Parthians he was often equated with Heracles. On coins of the Kushan he appears as Orlagno. In Middle Persian , his name becomes Vahram, Vehram, Bahram or Behram. In New Persian we encounter the name as Bahram . In Persian, the planet Mars is called Bahram .

literature

• Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis: Persian Myths . Reclam, Ditzingen 1994, ISBN 3-15-010399-1 .

Web links

• Verethragna in the Encyclopedia Mythica