Unleashing the Beast

110 / U NLEASHING THE B EAST

Shiite Muslims of Iran, especially a cult known as the Assassins. Led by Hasan-i-Sabbah, the group flourished from about 1090 A.D. until 1256 A.D. Their headquarters was in the rugged Elburz Mountains, in the stronghold of Alamut. Known as Nizari Isamailis, the group believed that Ali was the true heir to Mohammed, along with two of his descendants, Ismail and Nizar. The Isamailis were terrorist; in the truest form, willing to die for their leader, Hasan-i-Sabba. The first written information about the Ismailis was reported by Marco Polo. This famous traveler first called the group the hashishin , meaning "an eater of hashish." This error in the name may have originated from the concept that Sabbah used to mix a special potion with the drug hashish prior to a follower enacting a murderous assignment against his enemy. The sad part, according to Polo, was that Sabbah's armies of assassins were young boys from the ages of 12 to 20. Most were the sons of poor simple-minded people who were seduced by the high-profile charismatic leader. Sabbah would expound on the wonderful life that awaited in paradise for those who accepted martyrdom. Their leader would use the drugs to bring his future assassins into a drug-induced state, thus convincing them of the wonderful feelings they would have in paradise. According to Polo, Sabbah would say: Go thou and slay so and so; and when thou returnest my angels shall bear thee into Paradise. And should'st thou