and it is related of him, that while he was in the intermediate state of
death, he was instructed by the [981]Gods. Some speak of his retiring to a
mountain of Armenia, where he had an intercourse with the [982]Deity: and
when the mountain burned with fire, he was preserved unhurt. The place to
which he retired, according to the Persic writers, was in the region called
[983]Adarbain; where in aftertimes was the greatest Puratheion in Asia.
This region was in Armenia: and some make him to have been born in the same
country, upon one of the Gordiaean [984]mountains. Here it was, that he
first instituted sacrifices, and gave laws to his followers; which laws are
supposed to be contained in the sacred book named Zandavasta. To him has
been attributed the invention of Magic; which notion has arisen from a
misapplication of terms. The Magi Were priests, and they called religion in
general Magia. They, and their rites, grew into disrepute; in consequence
of which they were by the Greeks called [Greek: apateones, pharmakeutai]:
_jugglers, and conjurers_. But the Persians of old esteemed them very
highly. [985][Greek: Magon, ton theosebe, kai theologon, kai hierea, hoi
Persai houtos legousin.] _By a Magus, the Persians understand a sacred
person, a professor of theology, and a Priest._ [Greek: Para Persais]
[986][Greek: Magoi hoi philosophoi, kai theophiloi.] _Among the Persians,
the Magi are persons addicted to philosophy, and to the worship of the
Deity._ [987]Dion. Chrysostom, and Porphyry speak to the same purpose. By
Zoroaster being the author of Magia, is meant, that he was the first
promoter of religious rites, and the instructor of men in their duty to
God. The war of Ninus with Zoroaster of Bactria relates probably to some
hostilities carried on between the Ninevites of Assyria, and the Bactrians,
who had embraced the Zoroastrian rites. Their priest, or prince, for they
were of old the same, was named [988]Oxuartes; but from his office had the
title of Zoroaster; which was properly the name of the Sun, whom he adored.
This religion began in Chaldea; and it is expressly said of this Bactrian
king, that he borrowed the knowledge of it from that country, and added to
it largely. [989]Cujus scientiae saeculis priscis multa ex Chaldaeorum arcanis
Bactrianus addidit Zoroastres. When the Persians gained the empire in Asia,
they renewed these rites, and doctrines. [990]Multa deinde (addidit)
Hystaspes Rex prudentissimus, Darii pa