![]() ![]() In Chinese mythology, a carving of a tree of life depicts a phoenix and a dragon the dragon often represents immortality. This myth can be considered as a prototype for the creation myth where living beings are created by Gods (who have a human form).Ĭhinese mythology Bronze Tree with birds, flowers, and ornaments from Sanxingdui Īnother related issue in ancient mythology of Iran is the myth of Mashyа and Mashyane, two trees who were the ancestors of all living beings. The near identity of the two in ritual significance is considered by scholars to point to a salient feature of an Indo-Iranian religion antedating Zoroastrianism. Haoma is the Avestan form of the Sanskrit soma. Sprigs of this white haoma were brought to earth by divine birds. The source of the earthly haoma plant is a shining white tree that grows on a paradisiacal mountain. It bestows essential vital qualities-health, fertility, husbands for maidens, even immortality. The preparation of the drink from the plant by pounding and the drinking of it are central features of Zoroastrian ritual. Haoma is another sacred plant due to the drink made from it. Because Ahriman is responsible for all evil including death, while Ahura Mazda is responsible for all good (including life). The two fish are always staring at the frog and stay ready to react to it. As a reaction, Ahura Mazda created two kar fish staring at the frog to guard the tree. Ahriman (Ahreman, Angremainyu) created a frog to invade the tree and destroy it, aiming to prevent all trees from growing on the earth. Gaokerena is a large, sacred Haoma planted by Ahura Mazda. In the Avestan literature and Iranian mythology, there are several sacred vegetal icons related to life, eternality and cure, like: Amesha Spenta Amordad (guardian of plants, goddess of trees and immortality), Gaokerena (or white Haoma) a tree that its vivacity would certify continuance of life in universe, Bas tokhmak (a tree with remedial attribute, retentive of all herbal seeds, and destroyer of sorrow), Mashyа and Mashyane (parents of the human race in Iranian myths), Barsom (copped offshoots of pomegranate, gaz or Haoma that Zoroastrians use in their rituals), Haoma (a plant, unknown today, that was source of sacred potable), etc. Servants stood on each side of the tree with one of their hands up as if they are taking care of the tree.Īncient Iran Tree of life on a rhyton from Marlik, Iran, currently at the National Museum of Iran. The branches of the tree were equally divided on the right and left sides of the stem, with each branch having one leaf, and one leaf on the apex of the tree. ![]() In ancient Urartu, the tree of life was a religious symbol and was drawn on walls of fortresses and carved on the armor of warriors. This has a solid provenance of antiquity, being found in cylinder seals from Akkad (2390–2249 BCE). In Mesopotamian mythology, Etana searches for a 'plant of birth' to provide him with a son. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a similar quest for immortality. In fact, no textual evidence pertaining to the symbol is known to exist. The name "Tree of Life" has been attributed to it by modern scholarship it is not used in the Assyrian sources. Assyriologists have not reached consensus as to the meaning of this symbol. It was apparently an important religious symbol, often attended to in Assyrian palace reliefs by human or eagle-headed winged genies, or the King, and blessed or fertilized with bucket and cone. The Assyrian tree of life was represented by a series of nodes and crisscrossing lines. Ancient Mesopotamia Assyrian tree of life, from Nimrud panels. ![]() The two characters may variously represent rulers, gods, and even a deity and a human follower. According to professor Elvyra Usačiovaitė, a "typical" imagery preserved in ancient iconography is that of two symmetrical figures facing each other, with a tree standing in the middle. They had their origin in religious symbolism. Various trees of life are recounted in folklore, culture and fiction, often relating to immortality or fertility. ![]()
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