THE YAZATAS

The Yazatas or Persian gods are a mysterious race of superhumanly powerful humanoid beings who were worshipped by the ancient Persian and Median races of the Middle East from about 1000 BC to the 7th Century when they were overwhelmed by Islamic religion. In ancient times, the Yazatas once dwelled at Naqsh-e Rustam in modern Iran with their mortal descendants, but they later moved to the other-dimensional realm of Elysium, a plane of existence identified in later Abrahamic texts as the afterlife where all human souls subsequently arrive after death. It is linked to Earth by means of a dimensional access point somewhere near Mount Demavend in the Elburz mountain range of Iran.

The Yazatas are a separate branch of the Devas or Hindu gods with whom they are opposed. They share their ancestry with Aditi, the ancient earth-mother, who was loved by Purusha, a great sky god known as Zurvan to the Persians, and gave birth to the Adityas, the first generation of the Vedic gods. It is believed that Aditi was actually Gaea, the primordial earth-mother who had survived the destruction of the Elder Gods of Earth by infusing her life into the life-giving essence of the Earth. Many of the Elder Gods had degenerated into demonic status and were destroyed by Atum the God-Slayer or had fled Earth for other planes of existence. Aditi was loved by Purusha, the great sky-spirit and they sired the Adityas or Vedic gods. Purusha granted dominion of the Vedic gods to Varuna, who was overthrown by Ravanna, leader of the Rakshasas, a race of gods with demonic characteristics. The ancient Persians knew Ravanna by the name Ahriman, the king of the demons, a model for the Biblical "Satan," a Hebrew word meaning "adversary." Ravanna was subsequently overthrown by the gods Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva, rulers of the ascendant Hindu religion, who displaced Varuna as ruler of the Devas.

In the Seventh Century BC, Varuna appeared to the prophet Zarathrusta and whispered to him the the beliefs that became known as the Avestas, the books of the religion of Zoroasterism. Under Zoroasteriam, Varuna became known as Ormazd, followed by his progeny as the Amesha Spentas, the highest gods among the Yazatas. On Earth, they served in a battle of good and evil against Ahriman and the evil gods known as the Asura. The Yazatas were joined in their battle against the Asuras by a number of Vedic gods who had lost their worshippers under Hinduism, but were worshipped by  other names by the Persians. These gods included Anahita (Ganga), Atar (Agni), Vata (Vayu), Mitra (Mithras), Verethragna (Kartikeya), Haoma (Soma), Rashnu (Dharma), Tishtrya (Rudra) and Sraosha (Aryaman), and were usually counted as Yazatas or Persian gods, but they were not as important as the Amesha Spentas. Under the religion of Zoroasterism, the Yazatas were the dominant gods of Persia until the invasions of the Arabs who converted the country to Islam. Although the Yazatas don't have as many worshippers as they once had, Zoroasterism is still practiced in parts of modern Iran.  

The Yazatas possess certain superhuman physical attributes akin to the other known gods of Earth. They are extremely long-lived, aging at an extremely slow rate since reaching adulthood, and they cannot die by any conventional means. They are immune to all Earthly diseases and are resistant to conventional injury. If one of the Yazatas were somehow wounded, their godly life force would enable them to recover with superhuman speed. It would take an injury of such magnitude that it dispersed a major portion of their bodily molecules to cause him a physical death. Even then, it might be possible for a god of significant power, such as Ormazd, or for a number of Persian gods of equal power working together to revive them. They also possess superhuman strength; the typical Persian god can lift (press) about 30 tons. Yazata metabolism provides them with far greater than human endurance in all physical activities. (Yazata flesh and bone is about three times as dense as similar human tissue, contributing to the superhuman strength and weight of the Persian gods.)

Several of the Yazatas resemble the Angels of Abrahamic religion and can fly by means of wings which grow from their backs. They also have affinities toward magic and can cast spells, usually centered in an area or sphere of influence they were associated with on Earth.

First Appearance: (historical) Giant-Size Conan #1, (modern) Pantheons of the Megaverse by C. J. Carella

Real Name: Ameretat
Occupation: Goddess of immortality
Legal Status: Citizen of Celestial Elysium
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Ameretet except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Amurdad
Place of Birth: Unrevealed
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Varuna (father, alias Ormazd), Gaea (mother, alias Aditi), Armaiti, Haurvatat (sisters), Asha, Sharevar, Vohu Manah (brothers), Mithras (uncle), Indra, Vayu, Agni (nephews) 
Group Affiliation: The Gods of Persia
Base of Operations: Celestial Elysium
History: Ameretat was the goddess of immortality among the Yazatas, but she was also revered as a protector of plants

Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 375 lbs.
Eyes: Brown 
Hair: Black

Strength Level: Ameretat possesses superhuman strength enabling her to lift (press) 25 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Ameretat possesses the conventional powers of the Persian gods including the ability to fly and conceive spells in herbs and plants to insure health and long life..

Real Name: Spenta Armaiti
Occupation: Goddess of love and devotion
Legal Status: Citizen of Celestial Elysium
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Armaiti except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: None
Place of Birth: Unrevealed
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Varuna (father, alias Ormazd), Gaea (mother, alias Aditi), Ameretet, Haurvatat (sisters), Asha, Sharevar, Vohu Manah (brothers), Mithras (uncle), Indra, Vayu, Agni (nephews) 
Group Affiliation: The Gods of Persia
Base of Operations: Celestial Elysium
History: Armaiti is the goddess of love among the Yazatas and the eldest daughter of Ormazd. She stands at his left hand as his second-in-command against the Asuras.

Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 375 lbs.
Eyes: Brown 
Hair: Black

Strength Level: Armaiti possesses superhuman strength enabling her to lift (press) 25 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Armaiti possesses the conventional powers of the Persian gods including a ability to tap into and manipulate mystical energies on a level above any other Persian god except for Ormazd. 

Real Name: Asha-vahishta
Occupation: God of truth
Legal Status: Citizen of Celestial Elysium
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Asha except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Ardavanishtra, Ardabhihstra,
Place of Birth: Unrevealed
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Varuna (father, alias Ormazd), Gaea (mother, alias Aditi), Ameretet, Armaiti, Haurvatat (sisters), Sharevar, Vohu Manah (brothers), Mithras, Aryman (uncles), Indra, Vayu, Agni (nephews) 
Group Affiliation: The Gods of Persia
Base of Operations: Celestial Elysium
History: Asha is the god of truth among the Yazatas. In modern years, he has appeared on Earth alongside Global Guardians and later with Justice League Europe as the Iranian counterpart of Thor from the Avengers.

Height: 6' 10"
Weight: 425 lbs.
Eyes: Brown 
Hair: Black

Strength Level: Asha possesses superhuman strength enabling him to lift (press) 85 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Asha possesses the conventional powers of the Persian gods including the ability to conjure sunlight and purify objects tainted by evil. 

Real Name: Haurvatat
Occupation: Goddess of health and wholeness
Legal Status: Citizen of Celestial Elysium
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Haurvatat except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Ahurani, Hordad, Khurdad
Place of Birth: Unrevealed
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Varuna (father, alias Ormazd), Gaea (mother, alias Aditi), Ameretet, Armaiti, (sisters), Asha, Sharevar, Vohu Manah (brothers), Mithras (uncle), Indra, Vayu, Agni (nephews) 
Group Affiliation: The Gods of Persia
Base of Operations: Celestial Elysium
History: Haurvatat is the goddess of wholeness among the Yazatas, but she is also a water-goddess.

Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 375 lbs.
Eyes: Brown 
Hair: Black

Strength Level: Haurvatat possesses superhuman strength enabling her to lift (press) 25 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Haurvatat possesses the conventional powers of the Persian gods including the ability to summon rain and manipulate water to purify individuals tainted by evil.

Real Name: Khsathra Vairya
Occupation: God of order and power
Legal Status: Citizen of Celestial Elysium
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Sharevar except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Shahrevar 
Place of Birth: Unrevealed
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Varuna (father, alias Ormazd), Gaea (mother, alias Aditi), Ameretet, Armaiti, Haurvatat (sisters), Asha, Vohu Manah (brothers), Mithras (uncle), Indra, Vayu, Agni (nephews) 
Group Affiliation: The Gods of Persia
Base of Operations: Celestial Elysium
History: Sharevar is the god of order among the Yazatas, and the god of metals called upon for casting enchantments on the weapons of his worshippers.

Height: 6' 10"
Weight: 425 lbs.
Eyes: Brown 
Hair: Black

Strength Level: Sharevar possesses superhuman strength enabling him to lift (press) 80 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Sharevar possesses the conventional powers of the Persian gods including the ability to manipulate metal and bestow enchantments on it.

Real Name: Vohu Manah
Occupation: God of good mind
Legal Status: Citizen of Celestial Elysium
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Vohu Manah except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Vahman
Place of Birth: Unrevealed
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Varuna (father, alias Ormazd), Gaea (mother, alias Aditi), Ameretet, Armaiti, Haurvatat (sisters), Asha, Sharevar (brothers), Mithras (uncle), Indra, Vayu, Agni (nephews)
Group Affiliation: The Gods of Persia
Base of Operations: Celestial Elysium
History: Vohu Manah is the eldest son of Ormazd and his first-in-command. He stands at his right hand in combat against the Asuras. He also rules over the useful animals of Earth, such as horses, cattle and pigs. According to legend, it was Vohu Manah who encouraged Zarathrusta to preach Zoroasterism.

Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 425 lbs.
Eyes: Brown 
Hair: White, Black in his youth

Strength Level: Vohu Manah possesses superhuman strength enabling him to lift (press) 50 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Vohu Manah possesses the conventional powers of the Persian gods including the ability to tap into and manipulate mystical energies. He is endowed with wisdom and has incredible mental prowess including command over farmland creatures including but not bound to cattle, horses, dogs and fowl.