ed one community, having the same
general religious system: the material of spirits is substantially the
same in the two and they have certain important names in common--to the
Indian Asura, Soma, Mitra, the Persian Ahura, Haoma, Mithra correspond
in form exactly. But in the way in which this material was modified and
organized the two communities differ widely.

+738+. The peculiarity of the Persian system is that it practically
disregards all the old gods except Mithra and Anahita, substituting for
them beings designated by names of qualities, and organizes all
extrahuman Powers in two classes--one under the Good Spirit (Spenta
Mainyu), the other under the Bad Spirit (Angro Mainyu). The former is
attended by six great beings, Immortal Spirits (Amesha-spentas): Good
Mind, Best Order or Law, Holy Harmony or Wisdom, Piety, Well-being,
Immortality.[1289] In the Gathas, which are commonly held to be the most
ancient Zoroastrian documents, these attendants of the supreme god are
often nothing but qualities, but on the other hand are often personified
and worshiped. The rival of the Good Spirit is surrounded similarly by
lying spirits (_drujas_), among whom one, Aeshma, holds a prominent
place. The two divine chiefs stand side by side in the earliest
literature almost as coequal powers; but it is explained that the
wicked one is to be destroyed with all his followers.

+739+. In some of the early hymns (Yacnas) Mithra is closely attached to
Ahura Mazda--the two are called "the lofty and imperishable ones." The
goddess Anahita, first mentioned in an inscription of Artaxerxes II, and
described only in the late Fifth Yasht, appears to have been originally
a deity of water. It was, doubtless, her popularity that led to her
official recognition by Artaxerxes; possibly her formal recognition by
the Mazdean leaders was a slow process, since she does not appear in the
older Avesta. In the Yasht she receives worship (being in the form of a
beautiful young woman) as the dispenser of all blessings that come from
pure water; she is said to have been created by Ahura Mazda, and is
wholly subordinated to him. Besides these two a great number of lesser
gods are mentioned; the latter, apparently the old local gods and
spirits here subordinated to the supreme god, are unimportant in the
official cult. The souls of the departed also become objects of worship.

+740+. It thus appears that Zoroastrianism was a reform of the old
polytheism. Th