Zahhak

Zahhāk or Zahāk, also called "Zahhak the Snake Shoulder" in Persian tradition, represents a powerful evil figure in Persian mythology. His origins can be traced to ancient Persian folklore where he appears as Azhi Dahāka, the same name used in the sacred Avesta texts.

In Middle Persian literature, he is known as Dahāg or Bēvar Asp, with the latter title meaning "possessor of 10,000 horses." Zoroastrian religious tradition considers Zahhāk (under the name Aži Dahāka) to be the offspring of Ahriman, the primary adversary of Ahura Mazda.

The epic Shāhnāmeh by Ferdowsi presents a somewhat different lineage, depicting Zahhāk as the son of a ruler named Merdās.