7. Zoroastrian creation story tells of two opposing beings creating beneficial beings and their opposite “noxious” counterparts.
Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions in the world. In its creation story, there are two opposing forces: Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu. Ahura Mazda was the embodiment of benevolence and light while Angra Mainyu embodied malevolence and darkness. Both beings existed independently and manifested different parts of the universe. Ahura Mazda created Amesha Spentas, beings who live in the heavens with him and support his works. The universe itself was created to trap evil. Ahura Mazda created the universe in two separate parts. First, he created the spiritual plane, and 3,000 years later he created the physical plane of existence. Once he had created heavenly beings and the universe, he created the archetypal perfect man and a bull.
Ahura Mazda’s purpose is to create and bring life, but because of Angra Mainyu’s antagonizing purpose, he sought to destroy. He created demons and opposing species to all of the benevolent creatures Ahura Mazda had created. Angra Mainyu created animals such as spiders, snakes, ants, and flies. Angra Mainyu also brought suffering and death upon all living creatures, including man and the bull. However, when the man and bull died, seeds arose from their bodies. The bull created all living plants and animals while the man’s seeds sprouted the first man and woman.