ARIMANIUS, or AHRIMAN, in the Persian theologi cal system, denotes the principle of evil, supposed per petually to counteract the principle or author of all good. According to the ancient Persian magi, there arc two great powers ol- principles in nature; one, which is the author of all good, which they called Yezad, Ornzozd, or lIormizda, converted by the Greeks into Oronzasdes ; the other, the author of all evil, called Arimanius, or Ahri man. The latter was not called a god, but an evil dx mon ; and the Persians always wrote his name inverted. These principles seem to have been held as existing from all eternity by the ancient magians; but Zerduslit, or Zoroaster, taught their inferiority to the first author of all things; or, at any rate, that the evil principle was not eternal, but produced. (See MAGI and ZOROASTER.) According to the magian traditions, Oromasdes consist ed, or was absorbed, in the purest light, and Arimanius was buried in the deepest darkness. The benevolent Oromasdes formed man capable of virtue, and amply provided him with the means of happiness. By his wise providence, the revolution of the planets, the order of the seasons, and the adjustment of the elements, are preserved. He created various orders of deities, or benevolent genii; and, in particular, twenty-four, whom he inclosed in an egg. But Ahriman having also made
an equal number, contrived, by their malignant influence, to pierce Oromasdes's egg ; or, in other words, to vio late the harmony of his works. Since that fatal period, good and evil are blended in the world ; the rankest poisons spring up amidst the most salutary plants; de luges, earthquakes, and conflagrations, attest the con flict of nature, and the mind, as well as the abode of man, is perpetually agitated by malevolent principles. The power of Ahriman, however, is subject to restraint, and will ultimately yield to the superior influence of Ormusd; by which his rival shall be driven into his na tive darkness, and peace and virtue shall reign undis turbed in the universe. In the system of the modern Persces, Ormusd is the first omnipotent cause, and Ahriman an inferior rebellious spirit ; a doctrine more conformable to the modern Mahometan or Christian systenis, than that of the ancient magians. See Plu tarch, de Isid: et Osir. Hyde, de rel. vet. Pers. e. 11; and M. D'Anquetil du Peron's Zendevesta, vol. iii. See .ANGU INV M OVUM. (in)