Editing Mah (section)

==Avesta==
[[File:Deities of Earth and Moon Scene (MIK III 6278).jpg|left|thumb|Painting of the Earth and Moon God in Manichaeism]]
Although there are two Avestan hymns dedicated to the Moon, he is not a prominent divinity. 
In both the third ''Nyaish'' as well as in the seventh ''[[Yasht]]'', the 'moon' more commonly spoken of is the physical moon. In these hymns, the phases of the moon are described at length. [[Ahura Mazda]] is described to be the cause of the moon's waxing and waning, and the [[Amesha Spenta]]s evenly distribute the light of the moon over the earth.<ref>''Yasht''&nbsp;7.3, ''Nyaish''&nbsp;3.5</ref> The [[Fravashi]]s are said to be responsible for keeping the moon and stars on its appointed course.<ref>''Yasht''&nbsp;13.14-16</ref> The sun, moon, and stars revolve around the peak of [[Hara Berezaiti]].<ref>''Yasht''&nbsp;12.25</ref>

The Moon<!-- caps --> is however also "bestower, radiant, glorious, possessed of water, possessed of warmth, possessed of knowledge, wealth, riches, discernment, weal, verdure, good, and the healing one".<ref>Dhalla (1938) p.&nbsp;214; ''Yasht''&nbsp;7.5, ''Nyaish''&nbsp;3.7</ref> "During the spring, the Moon causes plants to grow up out of the earth".<ref>''Yasht''&nbsp;7.4, ''Nyaish''&nbsp;3.6</ref>

<!-- [[Image:Persia.jpg|thumb|left|300px|the same tableau at [[Apadana]] Hall.]] -->
The Moon is repeatedly spoken of as possessing the ''{{lang|ae|cithra}}''{{efn|name="cithra"|The precise meaning of the word ''cithra'' in this context is unknown. It is traditionally translated as "seed", which in the sense of "prototype" carries the connotation of a particular physical form or appearance. It can also mean "seed" in the sense of "race", "stock", or progeny.}} of the primeval bull. This is an allusion to a cosmological drama that is however only properly attested in the texts of Zoroastrian tradition (see below).