ORMUZD (AHURA MAZDA, OR-
MAZD, ORMUZ, OROMAZDEZ)
Zoroastrian wise creator of all
good things. Supreme being, deity of light, guardian of mankind.
Opposed to Ahriman, the evil or
dark principle. With Ahriman
he sprang from eternity. In another version Ahriman was the
offspring of a moment of doubt
on the part of Ormuzd, in whom
coexisted the polar opposite
principles, Spenta Mainyu (positive good) and Ahriman (nega-
tive evil). Ormuzd presided
over the world for 6,000 years
and Ahriman for 6, 000 years alternately in the manner of Castor
and Pollux. Represented as a
bearded man attended by angels;
enclosed in a circle. Sacred to
him were the bull, cock, dog,
and number seven.
Jobes, 1962:1216