The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A–Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic

AZI DAHAKA

The name of a great cosmic serpent or dragon in the Zoroastrian mythology of ancient Persia. Originally, its name was translated as ‘snake’; however, the modern translation in the Farsi language is ‘dragon’. Ultimately, the Azi Dahaka seems to combine something of each of these beings, being portrayed as a winged dragon-snake with three heads, said to represent pain, anguish and death respectively. Each head has six eyes and three pairs of fangs, and the wings of the Azi Dahaka are so huge that when spread they blot out the sun. The great Zoroastrian mystical text Shanamah describes the Azi Dahaka as roughly human in shape save for the two serpents growing out of its neck. Zoroastrian mythology describes the creature as the son of a female demon or as the descendant of Angra Mainu, the original spirit of evil. The myths also say that Azu Dahaka began by eating only cattle, but soon acquired a taste for human flesh. He conspired to overthrow the first human being, Yima, and as a punishment for this, was chained under Mount Demavand by the hero Atta. This is not the end of the story, however, as it is said that at the end of time Azu Dahaka will break free and destroy the greater part of humanity, until itself being defeated by the god Keresaspa. Azu Dahaka is a kind of destroying monster, not unlike the Norse wolf Fenris.

AZ-I-WU-GUM-KI-MUKH-TI

A bizarre and frightening monster from the traditions of the Inuit people of Greenland. It resembled a giant walrus with the head of a dog, dog’s legs, gleaming black scales, and a huge fish’s tail. One blow from this tail could dispatch a human being, and the Az-I-Wu-Gum-Ki-Mukh-Ti was much feared among the Inuit. The 19th-century explorer E.W. Nelson heard much of this creature from the native people and dubbed it the ‘Walrus-Dog’; however, he does not appear to have seen one himself.

AZIZA

Small nature spirits in the folklore of the Dahomey people of West Africa, the Aziza live in the depths of the forest and are very shy, but the Dahomey have encountered them many times and learned from them. They are considered as luck-bringers and as such are frequently invoked by the native people.

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