You are not from these times, so I will explain Rustem’s terror.
The magi had strange and fantastic beliefs. One was that when a woman
menstruated, she was actually possessed by a demon. The blood was the
indication of that possession. This story came from the fables of the Magi.
I will retell the story as far as I can remember:
It says in the Tradition that, in the
beginning of time, the God Ahura Mazda and the Evil Spirit Ahriman had to fight
for dominion. Ahura Mazda created man, who could help and support the god. When the Foul Spirit saw that both he
and the demons would be undone by the Righteous Man (the first man created by
the god), he was stunned. For 3000 years he lay stunned.
During
that stupor, the animal-headed demons one by one lied, speaking into his ear:
“Rise up, our father, for we will fight such a battle that Ahura Mazda, the God,
will be in dire straits!”
One
by one they enumerated their evil deeds in detail.
It
did not pacify the wicked Foul Spirit, Ahriman, and he did not rise from his
stupor for fear of the Righteous Man until the wicked Whore came at the
completion of the 3000 years and lied: “Rise up, our father, for in that battle
I shall let loose so much harm upon the Righteous Man and the toiling Bull that
their lives will not be worth living. I shall steal their Fortune, I shall harm
the water, the earth, the fire, the plant, and the entire creation established
by Ahura Mazda!”
She
enumerated her evil-doings in such detail that the Foul Spirit was pacified. He
jumped out of his stupor and placed a kiss on the Whore’s head. The pollution now
called “menses” appeared on the Whore then.
The
Foul Spirit lied to the Whore: “Ask for whatever you want, and I will give it
to you!”
Then
Ahura Mazda knew in his omniscience that, at that time, the Foul Spirit was
able to give the Whore what she wanted and that she would acquire much profit
thereby.
The
Foul Spirit’s body was like a frog to look at, but he showed a man like a
15-year-old youth to the Whore and bound the Whore’s mind to him.
The
Whore lied to the Foul Spirit: “Give me the desire for man, so that I can sit
down as his ward in his house!”
The Foul Spirit lied to her: “I shall not
tell you to ask for anything again, for you only know how to ask for
profitless, bad things.” But the time had passed, and if she had asked for it,
he would not have been able to give it to her.
In the minds of the magi, this story
means that human women, because of having the curse of menstruation placed upon
them, will take on the qualities of the demonic Whore. Indeed, they are
possessed by foul demons during this time. The men force them out of the house,
even if it is freezing outside, and make them stay in the “Bleeding Hut,” as
they call it. The woman is not given warmth, and they receive little food,
which is passed through a hole in the wall as if the woman were a prisoner. She
is not allowed to leave for five days. It is a cruel and senseless act against
women. I find the magi to be hypocrites. They call me evil, but they are even
more evil. At least I admit my evil and embrace it.
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