Editing Tree of life (section)

===Ancient Iran===
[[File:Detail of a rhyton from Marlik, Iran, 1000 BC.jpg|thumb|Tree of life on a rhyton from [[Marlik]], Iran, currently at the [[National Museum of Iran]]]]

In the [[Avestan]] literature and [[Persian mythology|Iranian mythology]], there are several sacred vegetal icons related to life, eternality and cure, such as [[Amesha Spenta]]; [[Ameretat]], the guardian of plants and goddess of trees and immortality; [[Gaokerena]] or white [[haoma]], a tree that its vivacity would certify continuance of life in the universe; the bas tokhmak, a tree with remedial attribute, retentive of all herbal seeds, and destroyer of sorrow; [[Mashya and Mashyana]], the parents of the human race; [[barsom]], copped offshoots of [[pomegranate]], gaz (''[[Tamarix gallica]]''), or haoma that Zoroastrians use in their rituals; and [[haoma]], a plant, unknown today, that was the source of sacred [[potable]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Plant of life, in Ancient Iran, Mesopotamia & Egypt |journal = نشریه هنرهای زیبا- هنرهای تجسمی |volume = 18 |issue = 2 |date = 2013|publisher = Tehran: Honarhay-e Ziba Journal, Vol. 18, No. 2, p. 15. |last = Taheri|first = Sadreddin|doi = 10.22059/jfava.2013.36319 }}</ref>

The Gaokerena is a large, sacred haoma planted by [[Ahura Mazda]]. [[Ahriman]] created a frog to invade and destroy the tree, aiming to prevent all trees from growing on the earth. As a reaction, Ahura Mazda created two kar-fish staring at the frog to guard the tree. The two fish always stare at the frog and stay ready to react to it. Ahriman is responsible for all evil, including death; Ahura Mazda is responsible for all good (including life).

Haoma is another sacred plant because of the drink made from it. Preparing the drink by pounding and drinking it is a central feature of Zoroastrian ritual. Haoma is also personified as a divinity. It bestows essential qualities—health, fertility, husbands for maidens, and even immortality. The source of the earthly haoma plant is a shining white tree that grows on a [[Paradise|paradisiacal mountain]]. Sprigs of this white haoma were brought to earth by divine birds. The tree is considerably diverse.

Haoma is the Avestan form of the Sanskrit [[soma (drink)|soma]]. The identity of the two in ritual significance is considered by scholars to point to a salient feature of an [[Indo-Iranian religion]] antedating Zoroastrianism.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=haoma (Zoroastrianism) – Encyclopædia Britannica |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/254670/haoma |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/haoma-i |title=HAOMA i. BOTANY – Encyclopaedia Iranica |publisher=Iranicaonline.org |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref>

Another related issue in [[Persian mythology]] is [[Mashya and Mashyana]], two trees that were the ancestors of all living beings. This myth is a prototype for the [[creation myth]], in which gods create living beings.