[freedom44]

Herodotus Description of the Magi

Herodotus, who lived in the fifth-century before Christ, the celebrated ancient Greek father of "history-writing" (historiography), and the chronicler of the Greco-Persian wars, provides us with some very valuable historical information concerning that ancient class of people known as the Magi. Thus it is clear that by the time of the birth of Christ, Magi were an already well-established and ancient caste of people. He explains that Magi (Old Persian "Magu")*, originated from Medes (today's northern Iran), and were an elite class or caste of Medes within the Persian empire. After an unsuccessful attempt to gain political control of the empire, the Medes turned from politics to piety, becoming the teachers and illuminators of the Persians, specialising in the interpretation of dreams. Herodotus also informs us that Magi also assumed priestly functions with Persian society. This means that Magi would have been Zoroastrian priests (at that time Zoroastrianism was the dominant religion of Persia). Indeed without them no official sacrifice could be offered in Persia.

Merry Christmas!

[The Loan Arranger]

Ahura Mazda only knows.

[windchime]

Merry Christmas, freedom44!

 

[leadhead]

I've never been able to square the depiction of the Magi at the stable with Herod's order to kill all the under-two year olds.

Could they have seen the star and made it from Persia to Bethlehem while Christ was still in the stable?

If they told Herod they were looking for an infant, why did he knock off one & two year olds?

Puzzlement

[risk]

Merry Christmas, f44!

[LoudRepublicangirl]

I read on FR about a year ago that the Kurds could possibly be descendent's of the wise-men.

[maestro]

Were the Wisemen who visited Jesus in Bethleham Persians?

.......They were all Jewish/Hebrews!

..................................................The were NOT Reformed or Conservative,....but ORTHODOX!

Micah 5:2

Merry Christmas!........................Messiah-mas!

(Romans 10:17)

[editor-surveyor]

"They are thought to have been followers of Zoroaster, the Persian teacher and prophet"

This is an embellishment. Zoroaster means 'seed of Aster,' the harlot wife of Nimrod, or in other words Tammuz (or Osiris if you prefer). This is the basis of all pagan worship throughout history; The 'goddess and god' of nature worship.

No 'star' is mentioned in the word; it says that they saw his sign, which is the shekinah. No mystery, no astrology, no magic. So simple that the world hates it.