338 
mutually fall and disappear; as do the guardian heavenly fire 
(Heimdallr) and the demoniac telluric fire (Loki), when they 
close in contest. But the principle of primeval heat (Surtr) 
shall, at the general conflagration, triumph over the mild 
warmth of the kosmic world (Freyr), and complete the destined 
devastation. Surtr and Yidhr, twin powers of G-od, double 
aspects of one nature, remain triumphant on opposite sides, 
and do not attempt to assail each other. 
16. Beliefs respecting the End of the World. 
That the world, understanding by that term the present 
state of things, would eventually come to an end, and that by 
the instrumentality of fire, is an ancient doctrine, both tradi- 
tional and philosophical. Thus, according to Herakleitos, of 
Ephesos, at a determined period, the world will disappear in 
fire, and then be built anew by the Deity.* * * § This is also the 
usual doctrine of the Stoics ; at the termination of a certain 
occult kosmical period the world will perish in a general con- 
flagration, f But the Magi and the archaic Iranians held a 
doctrine strikingly resembling the Norse faith, and so strong 
is the correspondence in many particulars that Waring 
observes, — “ The whole scheme of Northern mythology 
appears to be a wild travestie of that of ancient Persia, com- 
bined with local and tribal legends/'’! It might, of course, be 
said with equal truth that Latin is a travestie of G-reek, but 
the quotation illustrates the remarkable parallelism between 
the beliefs of the Teutonic and Iranian branches of the Aryan 
race. According to the philosopher Theopompos,§ B.C. 340, 
the Magi were of opinion that Oromasdes (Ahuramazda) ruled 
alone for 3,000 years, after which Areimanios (Angromainyush) 
ruled for another 3,000. At the close of this period war com- 
menced between them, and continues, but at length Areimanios 
shall perish, the dead will rise, men become immortal, will enjoy 
a blessed state of life, neither casting shadows nor requiring 
food. Hermippos, B.C. 250, the Greek most acquainted with 
Magism and Zoroastrianism generally, speaks similarly of the 
Magian belief in a grand crisis or consummation, when Arei- 
* Vide Ueberweg, History of Philosophy (translated by Morris), i. 39, 
41, and authorities cited. 
f Vide Cicero, De Naturd Deorum, ii. 46 ; Seneca, De Consolations ad 
Marciam, 26. And the belief is echoed by the poets (vide Lucan, vii. 810 ; 
Ovid, Metam. i. 253). 
£ Ceramic Art in Remote Ages , 19, note. 
§ Apud Plutarch, Peri Isidis Tcai Osiridos , 47 ; Diogenes Laertios, Peri 
Bion , Introduction, 6 : “ Theopompos tells us that, according to the Magi, 
men will have a resurrection and be immortal, and Eudemos, of Rhodes, 
coincides in this statement.” 
