[Footnote12:Herodotus，l。i。c。131。ButDr。Prideauxthinks，withreason，thattheuseoftempleswasafterwardspermittedintheMagianreligion。
Note:ThePyraea，orfiretemplesoftheZoroastrians，observesKleuker，Persica，p。16，wereonlytobefoundinMediaorAderbidjan，provincesintowhichHerodotusdidnotpenetrate。—M。]
[Footnote!:AmongthePersiansMithraisnottheSun:Anquetilhascontestedandtriumphantlyrefutedtheopinionofthosewhoconfoundthem，anditisevidentlycontrarytothetextoftheZendavesta。Mithraisthefirstofthegenii，orjzeds，createdbyOrmuzd；itishewhowatchesoverallnature。HencearosethemisapprehensionofsomeoftheGreeks，whohavesaidthatMithrawasthesummusdeusofthePersians:hehasathousandearsandtenthousandeyes。TheChaldeansappeartohaveassignedhimahigherrankthanthePersians。Itishewhobestowsupontheearththelightofthesun。Thesun。namedKhor，brightness，
isthusaninferiorgenius，who，withmanyothergenii，bearsapartinthefunctionsofMithra。Theseassistantgeniitoanothergeniusarecalledhiskamkars；butintheZendavestatheyareneverconfounded。Onthedayssacredtoaparticulargenius，thePersianoughttorecite，notonlytheprayersaddressedtohim，butthosealsowhichareaddressedtohiskamkars；thusthehymnorieschtofMithraisrecitedonthedayofthesun，Khor，andviceversa。Itisprobablythiswhichhassometimescausedthemtobeconfounded；butAnquetilhadhimselfexposedthiserror，whichKleuker，andallwhohavestudiedtheZendavesta，havenoticed。Seeviii。Diss。ofAnquetil。Kleuker\'sAnhang，partiii。p。132。—G。
M。Guizotisunquestionablyright，accordingtothepureandoriginaldoctrineoftheZend。TheMithriacworship，whichwassoextensivelypropagatedintheWest，andinwhichMithraandthesunwereperpetuallyconfounded，seemstohavebeenformedfromafusionofZoroastrianismandChaldaism，ortheSyrianworshipofthesun。Anexcellentabstractofthequestion，withreferencestotheworksofthechiefmodernwritersonhiscurioussubject，DeSacy，Kleuker，VonHammer，&c。，maybefoundinDeGuigniaut\'stranslationofKreuzer。Relig。d\'Antiquite，notesviii。ix。tobookii。vol。i。2dpart，page728。—M。]
[Footnote13:HydedeRelig。Pers。c。8。Notwithstandingalltheirdistinctionsandprotestations，whichseemsincereenough，theirtyrants，theMahometans，haveconstantlystigmatizedthemasidolatrousworshippersofthefire。]
Everymodeofreligion，tomakeadeepandlastingimpressiononthehumanmind，mustexerciseourobedience，byenjoiningpracticesofdevotion，forwhichwecanassignnoreason；andmustacquireouresteem，byinculcatingmoraldutiesanalogoustothedictatesofourownhearts。ThereligionofZoroasterwasabundantlyprovidedwiththeformerandpossessedasufficientportionofthelatter。Attheageofpuberty，thefaithfulPersianwasinvestedwithamysteriousgirdle，thebadgeofthedivineprotection；andfromthatmomentalltheactionsofhislife，eventhemostindifferent，orthemostnecessary，weresanctifiedbytheirpeculiarprayers，ejaculations，orgenuflections；theomissionofwhich，underanycircumstances，wasagrievoussin，notinferioringuilttotheviolationofthemoralduties。Themoralduties，however，ofjustice，mercy，liberality，&c。，wereintheirturnrequiredofthediscipleofZoroaster，whowishedtoescapethepersecutionofAhriman，andtolivewithOrmusdinablissfuleternity，wherethedegreeoffelicitywillbeexactlyproportionedtothedegreeofvirtueandpiety。^14
[Footnote14:SeetheSadder，thesmallestpartofwhichconsistsofmoralprecepts。Theceremoniesenjoinedareinfiniteandtrifling。Fifteengenuflections，prayers，&c。，wererequiredwheneverthedevoutPersiancuthisnailsormadewater；orasoftenasheputonthesacredgirdleSadder，Art。14，50，60。
Note:Zoroasterexactedmuchlessceremonialobservance，thanatalaterperiod，thepriestsofhisdoctrines。Thisistheprogressofallreligionstheworship，simpleinitsorigin，isgraduallyoverloadedwithminutesuperstitions。ThemaximoftheZendavesta，ontherelativemeritofsowingtheearthandofprayers，quotedbelowbyGibbon，provesthatZoroasterdidnotattachtoomuchimportancetotheseobservances。ThusitisnotfromtheZendavestathatGibbonderivestheproofofhisallegation，butfromtheSadder，amuchlaterwork。—G]
ButtherearesomeremarkableinstancesinwhichZoroasterlaysasidetheprophet，assumesthelegislator，anddiscoversaliberalconcernforprivateandpublichappiness，seldomtobefoundamongthegrovellingorvisionaryschemesofsuperstition。
Fastingandcelibacy，thecommonmeansofpurchasingthedivinefavor，hecondemnswithabhorrence，asacriminalrejectionofthebestgiftsofProvidence。Thesaint，intheMagianreligion，isobligedtobegetchildren，toplantusefultrees，todestroynoxiousanimals，toconveywatertothedrylandsofPersia，andtoworkouthissalvationbypursuingallthelaborsofagriculture。WemayquotefromtheZendavestaawiseandbenevolentmaxim，whichcompensatesformanyanabsurdity。\"Hewhosowsthegroundwithcareanddiligenceacquiresagreaterstockofreligiousmeritthanhecouldgainbytherepetitionoftenthousandprayers。\"^15Inthespringofeveryyearafestivalwascelebrated，destinedtorepresenttheprimitiveequality，andthepresentconnection，ofmankind。ThestatelykingsofPersia，exchangingtheirvainpompformoregenuinegreatness，freelymingledwiththehumblestbutmostusefuloftheirsubjects。Onthatdaythehusbandmenwereadmitted，withoutdistinction，tothetableofthekingandhissatraps。Themonarchacceptedtheirpetitions，inquiredintotheirgrievances，andconversedwiththemonthemostequalterms。\"Fromyourlabors，\"washeaccustomedtosay，andtosaywithtruth，ifnotwithsincerity，\"fromyourlaborswereceiveoursubsistence；youderiveyourtranquillityfromourvigilance:since，therefore，wearemutuallynecessarytoeachother，letuslivetogetherlikebrothersinconcordandlove。\"^16Suchafestivalmustindeedhavedegenerated，inawealthyanddespoticempire，intoatheatricalrepresentation；butitwasatleastacomedywellworthyofaroyalaudience，andwhichmightsometimesimprintasalutarylessononthemindofayoungprince。
[Footnote*:See，onZoroaster\'sencouragementofagriculture，theingeniousremarksofHeeren，Ideen，vol。i。p。449，&c。，andRhode，HeiligeSage，p。517—M。]
[Footnote15:Zendavesta，tom。i。p。224，andPrecisduSystemedeZoroastre，tom。iii。]
[Footnote16:HydedeReligionePersarum，c。19。]
HadZoroaster，inallhisinstitutions，invariablysupportedthisexaltedcharacter，hisnamewoulddeserveaplacewiththoseofNumaandConfucius，andhissystemwouldbejustlyentitledtoalltheapplause，whichithaspleasedsomeofourdivines，andevensomeofourphilosophers，tobestowonit。Butinthatmotleycomposition，dictatedbyreasonandpassion，byenthusiasmandbyselfishmotives，someusefulandsublimetruthsweredisgracedbyamixtureofthemostabjectanddangeroussuperstition。TheMagi，orsacerdotalorder，wereextremelynumerous，since，aswehavealreadyseen，fourscorethousandofthemwereconvenedinageneralcouncil。Theirforcesweremultipliedbydiscipline。AregularhierarchywasdiffusedthroughalltheprovincesofPersia；andtheArchimagus，whoresidedatBalch，wasrespectedasthevisibleheadofthechurch，andthelawfulsuccessorofZoroaster。^17ThepropertyoftheMagiwasveryconsiderable。BesidesthelessinvidiouspossessionofalargetractofthemostfertilelandsofMedia，^18theyleviedageneraltaxonthefortunesandtheindustryofthePersians。^19\"Thoughyourgoodworks，\"saystheinterestedprophet，\"exceedinnumbertheleavesofthetrees，thedropsofrain，thestarsintheheaven，orthesandsonthesea—shore，theywillallbeunprofitabletoyou，unlesstheyareacceptedbythedestour，orpriest。Toobtaintheacceptationofthisguidetosalvation，youmustfaithfullypayhimtithesofallyoupossess，ofyourgoods，ofyourlands，andofyourmoney。Ifthedestourbesatisfied，yoursoulwillescapehelltortures；youwillsecurepraiseinthisworldandhappinessinthenext。Forthedestoursaretheteachersofreligion；theyknowallthings，andtheydeliverallmen。\"^20
[Footnote17:HydedeReligionePersarum，c。28。BothHydeandPrideauxaffecttoapplytotheMagianthetermsconsecratedtotheChristianhierarchy。]
[Footnote18:Ammian。Marcellin。xxiii。6。Heinformsusasfaraswemaycredithimoftwocuriousparticulars:1。ThattheMagiderivedsomeoftheirmostsecretdoctrinesfromtheIndianBrachmans；and2。Thattheywereatribe，orfamily，aswellasorder。]
[Footnote19:ThedivineinstitutionoftithesexhibitsasingularinstanceofconformitybetweenthelawofZoroasterandthatofMoses。Thosewhocannototherwiseaccountforit，maysuppose，iftheypleasethattheMagiofthelattertimesinsertedsousefulaninterpolationintothewritingsoftheirprophet。]
[Footnote20:Sadder，Art。viii。]
[Footnote*:ThepassagequotedbyGibbonisnottakenfromthewritingsofZoroaster，butfromtheSadder，awork，ashasbeenbeforesaid，muchlaterthanthebookswhichformtheZendavesta。
andwrittenbyaMagusforpopularuse；whatitcontains，therefore，cannotbeattributedtoZoroaster。ItisremarkablethatGibbonshouldfallintothiserror，forHydehimselfdoesnotascribetheSaddertoZoroaster；heremarksthatitiswritteninverse，whileZoroasteralwayswroteinprose。Hyde，i。
p。27。Whatevermaybethecaseastothelatterassertion，forwhichthereappearslittlefoundation，itisunquestionablethattheSadderisofmuchlaterdate。TheAbbeFoucherdoesnotevenbelieveittobeanextractfromtheworksofZoroaster。SeehisDiss。beforequoted。Mem。del\'Acad。desIns。t。xxvii。—G。
PerhapsitisrashtospeakofanypartoftheZendavestaasthewritingofZoroaster，thoughitmaybeagenuinerepresentationofhis。AstotheSadder，HydeinPraef。considereditnotabove200yearsold。Itismanifestlypost—Mahometan。SeeArt。
xxv。onfasting。—M。]
Theseconvenientmaximsofreverenceandimplicitweredoubtlessimprintedwithcareonthetendermindsofyouth；sincetheMagiwerethemastersofeducationinPersia，andtotheirhandsthechildrenevenoftheroyalfamilywereintrusted。^21
ThePersianpriests，whowereofaspeculativegenius，preservedandinvestigatedthesecretsofOrientalphilosophy；andacquired，eitherbysuperiorknowledge，orsuperiorart，thereputationofbeingwellversedinsomeoccultsciences，whichhavederivedtheirappellationfromtheMagi。^22Thoseofmoreactivedispositionsmixedwiththeworldincourtsandcities；
anditisobserved，thattheadministrationofArtaxerxeswasinagreatmeasuredirectedbythecounselsofthesacerdotalorder，whosedignity，eitherfrompolicyordevotion，thatprincerestoredtoitsancientsplendor。^23
[Footnote21:PlatoinAlcibiad。]
[Footnote22:PlinyHist。Natur。l。xxx。c。1observes，thatmagicheldmankindbythetriplechainofreligion，ofphysic，andofastronomy。][Footnote23:Agathias，l。iv。p。134。]
ThefirstcounseloftheMagiwasagreeabletotheunsociablegeniusoftheirfaith，^24tothepracticeofancientkings，^25andeventotheexampleoftheirlegislator，whohadavictimtoareligiouswar，excitedbyhisownintolerantzeal。
^26ByanedictofArtaxerxes，theexerciseofeveryworship，exceptthatofZoroaster，wasseverelyprohibited。ThetemplesoftheParthians，andthestatuesoftheirdeifiedmonarchs，werethrowndownwithignominy。^27TheswordofAristotlesuchwasthenamegivenbytheOrientalstothepolytheismandphilosophyoftheGreekswaseasilybroken；^28theflamesofpersecutionsoonreachedthemorestubbornJewsandChristians；^29nordidtheysparethehereticsoftheirownnationandreligion。ThemajestyofOrmusd，whowasjealousofarival，wassecondedbythedespotismofArtaxerxes，whocouldnotsufferarebel；andtheschismaticswithinhisvastempireweresoonreducedtotheinconsiderablenumberofeightythousand。^30ThisspiritofpersecutionreflectsdishonoronthereligionofZoroaster；butasitwasnotproductiveofanycivilcommotion，itservedtostrengthenthenewmonarchy，byunitingallthevariousinhabitantsofPersiainthebandsofreligiouszeal。^!
[Footnote24:Mr。Hume，intheNaturalHistoryofReligion，sagaciouslyremarks，thatthemostrefinedandphilosophicsectsareconstantlythemostintolerant。
Note:Hume\'scomparisonisratherbetweentheismandpolytheism。InIndia，inGreece，andinmodernEurope，philosophicreligionhaslookeddownwithcontemptuoustolerationonthesuperstitionsofthevulgar。—M。]
[Footnote25:CicerodeLegibus，ii。10。Xerxes，bytheadviceoftheMagi，destroyedthetemplesofGreece。]
[Footnote26:HydedeRelig。Persar。c。23，24。D\'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，Zurdusht。LifeofZoroasterintom。ii。
oftheZendavesta。]
[Footnote27:CompareMosesofChorene，l。ii。c。74，withAmmian。Marcellin。xxiii。6。HereafterIshallmakeuseofthesepassages。]
[Footnote28:RabbiAbraham，intheTarikhSchickard，p。108，109。]
[Footnote29:Basnage，HistoiredesJuifs，l。viii。c。3。
Sozomen，l。ii。c。1Manes，whosufferedanignominiousdeath，maybedeemedaMagianaswellasaChristianheretic。]
[Footnote30:HydedeReligionePersar。c。21。]
[Footnote*:ItisincorrecttoattributethesepersecutionstoArtaxerxes。TheJewswereheldinhonorbyhim，andtheirschoolsflourishedduringhisreign。CompareJost，GeschichtederIsraeliter，b。xv。5，withBasnage。Saporwasforcedbythepeopletotemporaryseverities；buttheirrealpersecutiondidnotbegintillthereignsofYezdigerdandKobad。Hist。ofJews，iii。236。AccordingtoSozomen，i。viii。，SaporfirstpersecutedtheChristians。ManeswasputtodeathbyVaranestheFirst，A。D。277。Beausobre，Hist。deMan。i。209。—M。]
[Footnote!:InthetestamentofArdischerinFerdusi，thepoetassignsthesesentimentstothedyingking，asheaddresseshisson:Neverforgetthatasaking，youareatoncetheprotectorofreligionandofyourcountry。Considerthealtarandthethroneasinseparable；theymustalwayssustaineachother。
Malcolm\'sPersia。i。74—M]
II。Artaxerxes，byhisvalorandconduct，hadwrestedthesceptreoftheEastfromtheancientroyalfamilyofParthia。
Therestillremainedthemoredifficulttaskofestablishing，throughoutthevastextentofPersia，auniformandvigorousadministration。TheweakindulgenceoftheArsacideshadresignedtotheirsonsandbrotherstheprincipalprovinces，andthegreatestofficesofthekingdominthenatureofhereditarypossessions。Thevitaxoe，oreighteenmostpowerfulsatraps，werepermittedtoassumetheregaltitle；andthevainprideofthemonarchwasdelightedwithanominaldominionoversomanyvassalkings。Eventribesofbarbariansintheirmountains，andtheGreekcitiesofUpperAsia，^31withintheirwalls，scarcelyacknowledged，orseldomobeyed。anysuperior；andtheParthianempireexhibited，underothernames，alivelyimageofthefeudalsystem^32whichhassinceprevailedinEurope。Buttheactivevictor，attheheadofanumerousanddisciplinedarmy，visitedinpersoneveryprovinceofPersia。Thedefeatoftheboldestrebels，andthereductionofthestrongestfortifications，^33
diffusedtheterrorofhisarms，andpreparedthewayforthepeacefulreceptionofhisauthority。Anobstinateresistancewasfataltothechiefs；buttheirfollowersweretreatedwithlenity。^34Acheerfulsubmissionwasrewardedwithhonorsandriches，buttheprudentArtaxerxessufferingnopersonexcepthimselftoassumethetitleofking，abolishedeveryintermediatepowerbetweenthethroneandthepeople。Hiskingdom，nearlyequalinextenttomodernPersia，was，oneveryside，boundedbythesea，orbygreatrivers；bytheEuphrates，theTigris，theAraxes，theOxus，andtheIndus，bytheCaspianSea，andtheGulfofPersia。^35Thatcountrywascomputedtocontain，inthelastcentury，fivehundredandfifty—fourcities，sixtythousandvillages，andaboutfortymillionsofsouls。^36IfwecomparetheadministrationofthehouseofSassanwiththatofthehouseofSefi，thepoliticalinfluenceoftheMagianwiththatoftheMahometanreligion，weshallprobablyinfer，thatthekingdomofArtaxerxescontainedatleastasgreatanumberofcities，villages，andinhabitants。Butitmustlikewisebeconfessed，thatineveryagethewantofharborsonthesea—coast，andthescarcityoffreshwaterintheinlandprovinces，havebeenveryunfavorabletothecommerceandagricultureofthePersians；who，inthecalculationoftheirnumbers，seemtohaveindulgedoneofthenearest，thoughmostcommon，artificesofnationalvanity。
[Footnote31:Thesecolonieswereextremelynumerous。SeleucusNicatorfoundedthirty—ninecities，allnamedfromhimself，orsomeofhisrelations，seeAppianinSyriac。p。124。TheaeraofSeleucusstillinuseamongtheeasternChristiansappearsaslateastheyear508，ofChrist196，onthemedalsoftheGreekcitieswithintheParthianempire。SeeMoyle\'sworks，vol。
i。p。273，&c。，andM。Freret，Mem。del\'Academie，tom。xix。]
[Footnote32:ThemodernPersiansdistinguishthatperiodasthedynastyofthekingsofthenations。SeePlin。Hist。Nat。vi。
25。]
[Footnote33:Eutychiustom。i。p。367，371，375relatesthesiegeoftheislandofMeseneintheTigris，withsomecircumstancesnotunlikethestoryofNysusandScylla。]
[Footnote34:Agathias，ii。64，[andiv。p。260。]TheprincesofSegestandefendedtheirindependenceduringmanyyears。Asromancesgenerallytransporttoanancientperiodtheeventsoftheirowntime，itisnotimpossiblethatthefabulousexploitsofRustan，PrinceofSegestan，manyhavebeengraftedonthisrealhistory。]
[Footnote35:WecanscarcelyattributetothePersianmonarchythesea—coastofGedrosiaorMacran，whichextendsalongtheIndianOceanfromCapeJaskthepromontoryCapellatoCapeGoadel。InthetimeofAlexander，andprobablymanyagesafterwards，itwasthinlyinhabitedbyasavagepeopleofIcthyophagi，orFishermen，whoknewnoarts，whoacknowledgednomaster，andwhoweredividedbyin—hospitabledesertsfromtherestoftheworld。SeeArriandeReb。Indicis。Inthetwelfthcentury，thelittletownofTaizsupposedbyM。d\'AnvilletobetheTezaofPtolemywaspeopledandenrichedbytheresortoftheArabianmerchants。SeeGeographiaNubiens，p。58，andd\'Anville，GeographieAncienne，tom。ii。p。283。Inthelastage，thewholecountrywasdividedbetweenthreeprinces，oneMahometanandtwoIdolaters，whomaintainedtheirindependenceagainstthesuccessorsofShahAbbas。VoyagesdeTavernier，parti。l。v。p。635。]
[Footnote36:Chardin，tom。iiic12，3。]
AssoonastheambitiousmindofArtaxerxeshadtriumphedevertheresistanceofhisvassals，hebegantothreatentheneighboringstates，who，duringthelongslumberofhispredecessors，hadinsultedPersiawithimpunity。HeobtainedsomeeasyvictoriesoverthewildScythiansandtheeffeminateIndians；buttheRomanswereanenemy，who，bytheirpastinjuriesandpresentpower，deservedtheutmosteffortsofhisarms。Afortyyears\'tranquillity，thefruitofvalorandmoderation，hadsucceededthevictoriesofTrajan。DuringtheperiodthatelapsedfromtheaccessionofMarcustothereignofAlexander，theRomanandtheParthianempiresweretwiceengagedinwar；andalthoughthewholestrengthoftheArsacidescontendedwithapartonlyoftheforcesofRome，theeventwasmostcommonlyinfavorofthelatter。Macrinus，indeed，promptedbyhisprecarioussituationandpusillanimoustemper，purchasedapeaceattheexpenseofneartwomillionsofourmoney；^37butthegeneralsofMarcus，theemperorSeverus，andhisson，erectedmanytrophiesinArmenia，Mesopotamia，andAssyria。Amongtheirexploits，theimperfectrelationofwhichwouldhaveunseasonablyinterruptedthemoreimportantseriesofdomesticrevolutions，weshallonlymentiontherepeatedcalamitiesofthetwogreatcitiesofSeleuciaandCtesiphon。