Page:History of Zoroastrianism.djvu/429

Ahriman infests the earth with noxious creatures. One of the many malicious acts of Ahriman, to thwart the creation of Ormazd, is his creation of biting and venomous creatures, such as the snake, scorpion, frog, lizard, and many others, in so great a number that the noxious creatures did not leave an empty space on earth to the size of the point of a needle.^[1] Hence killing these noxious creatures and extirpating their burrows are meritorious deeds.^[2]

Ahriman disfigures Ormazd's creation. Smoke and darkness were mingled with fire by the Evil Spirit;^[3] the trees that grew on the earth before the appearance of Ahriman had neither thorns, nor rough bark, nor was poison mixed with any of their species. It was Ahriman who introduced these into vegetation, also blight to wither it.^[4] Thus he brings disfigurement upon the creatures of Ormazd,^[5] and exultingly cries out that everything of Ormazd has been assailed by him and spoiled.^[6] Over against each one of Ormazd's good creations there is balanced an evil one of Ahriman.

The end of Ahriman. One of the essential proofs of Ahriman's inequality with Ormazd is that he is not eternal. As has been noted above, although he was co-eval and co-equal with Ormazd, he is not co-eternal, because there will be a time when he will cease to exist.^[7] Ormazd and Ahriman are therefore not actually balanced equally against each other. As mankind advances in righteousness, and succeeds in weakening the dominion of wickedness, Ahriman will be baffled in his vile attempts to tempt men to the wicked path.^[8] Ahriman will then find his resources exhausted and will become impotent and confounded.^[9] Being completely overpowered,^[10] and broken,^[11] predominating no longer,^[12] he will become afflicted and miserable.^[13] He will bow his unwilling knees to the divine authority. Thus baffled,