King Zohak, ruler of the land of Mesopotamia, is tricked by the evil demon Ahriman and cursed with two large black snakes, which grow from his shoulders. Zohak is wracked with terrible pain, a pain that will only go away if the snakes are fed the brains of children. As children are snatched from the surrounding towns and villages to feed the snakes' hunger, the sun refuses to shine and the land becomes cold and desolate.