Bactra, Babylon, Damascus,
and Sardis. Anaitis was the Babylonian Venus; and her rites at Babylon
were undoubtedly of a revolting character. It is to be feared that they
were introduced in all their grossness into Persia, and that this was
the cause of Anahitis great popularity. Her cult "was provided with
priests and hieroduli, and connected with mysteries, feasts, and
unchaste ways."

The Persian system was further tainted with idolatry in respect of the
worship of Mithra, and possibly of Vohu-mano (Batman), and of Amerdat;
but on the whole, and especially as compared with other Oriental cults,
the religion, even of the later Zoroastrians, must be regarded as
retaining a non-materialistic and anti-idolatrous character, which
elevated it above other neighboring religions, above Brahminism on the
one hand and Syro-Chaldaean nature-worship on the other.

In the kingdom of Darkness, the principal powers, besides Ahriman,
were Ako-mano, Indra, Qaurva, Naonhaitya, Taric, and Zaric. These six
together formed the Council of the Evil One, as the six Amshashpands
formed the council of Ormazd. Ako-mano, "the bad mind," or (literally)
"the naught mind," was set over against Vohu-mano, "the good mind,"
and was Ahriman's Grand Vizier. His special sphere was the mind of man,
where he suggested evil thoughts, and prompted to bad words and wicked
deeds. Indra, identical with the Vedic deity, but made a demon by the
Zoroastrians, presided over storm and tempest, and governed the issues
of war and battle. Qaurva and Naonhaitya were also Vedic deities turned
into devils. It is difficult to assign them any distinct sphere.
Taric and Zaric, "Darkness" and "Poison," had no doubt occupations
corresponding with their names. Besides these chief demons, a countless
host of evil genii (_divs_) and fairies (_pairicas_) awaited the orders
and executed the behests of Ahriman.

Placed between the two contending worlds of good and evil, man's
position was one of extreme danger and difficulty. Originally set upon
the earth by Ormazd in order to maintain the good creation, he was
liable to the continual temptations and seductions of the divs or devas,
who were "wicked, bad, false, untrue, the originators of mischief, most
baneful, destructive, the basest of all things." A single act of sin
gave them a hold upon him, and each subsequent act increased their
power, until ultimately he became their mere tool and slave. It was
however possible to resist