War in Heaven (myth)

The War in Heaven was a cosmic battle in which the loyal heavenly hosts defeated the rebel angel Lucifer (Satan) and his followers, leading to their expulsion from heaven and the establishment of divine order. According to tradition, this event took place before the creation of the world, existing outside of human time and marking the beginning of Satan’s fall. Some interpretations suggest it occurred in a prehistorical era, while others view it as an ongoing spiritual struggle that continues to manifest throughout history.

Writing in the 15th century BC, the prophet Zoroaster stumbled upon evidence of the war's occurrence, discovering that the universe had been created by two opposing yet complementary forces, each acting as a demiurge. Zoroaster described these forces in detail: Ahura Mazda, the embodiment of truth, order, justice, and light, was a new conceptualization of an ancient deity, El, the consort of the great mother goddess Ana. By the time of Zoroaster, El had already been worshipped for millennia. However, Zoroaster introduced a new figure into his teachings — Angra Mainyu, or Ahriman — who represented falsehood, deceit, malevolence, and darkness. This duality formed the foundation of Zoroastrianism.