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Ᾱz, also referred to as Azi and Hyle, is a demon of greed and avarice found in Persian Mythology. She is mentioned in Zoroastrian myths, and in the Manichaean faith. In the Shahnameh by the Persian poet Ferdowsi, the term Ᾱz is used to describe the influence of greed and desire. Ᾱz is shown to oppose the gods Zurvan, Atar, and Xvarsandih.

Powers and Abilities
Ᾱz is considered the instinctual side of human nature. She controls sexual desire, the “wanting of what is good”, and hunger. In the Zoroastrian faith she embodies a lack of self-control, and opposes the ethical principle of moderation. Because of this, Ᾱz is considered one of the most dangerous demons as she threatens piety. The Manichaean faith believes that her influence makes people forget their divine origin and thus prevents them from reaching salvation. Her power is also described as causing someone, who is “not content with” their spouse or lover, to commit adultery.

Ᾱz is a gluttonous being. She is always described as eating something, and when there is nothing else for her to consume she will begin to eat herself. In Zurvanism, an offshoot of Zoroastrianism, Ᾱz is said to consume everything if the god Zurvan does not fulfill his threat to destroy time.

Appearances and Importance
In the Zoroastrian and Zurvanite theologies, Ᾱz is the mother of all demons and sin, as well as a commander of the demonic horde. She is the “principle of disorder that has invaded the natural order”. Ᾱz is one of the last demons to be killed by Ohrmazd in the Zoroastrian eschatology.

In Manichean works, Ᾱz created the human body to imprison the soul. Ᾱz attempts to make humans forget about their divine origins, so that they may not receive salvation. Because of this Ᾱz is often described as a great menace.

In the Shahnameh, Ᾱz is mentioned numerous times, some researchers have recorded over 100 uses of the term Ᾱz in the epic poem. In the Shahnameh, the term Ᾱz does not describe the demon physically in the story, but rather it is used to talk about the influence of greed and desire in the epic, which leads to several tragedies.

The expression “the doors of Ᾱz” (dar-e Ᾱz) implies that Ᾱz was at one point thought of as a demon of death.