Magi

Skimmed or mage is a hiking word old Iranian origin, the BC is a general term for a Zoroastrian priest at least since the 4th century. Linguistically, it is the Indo-European root * magh - meaning " may, fortune, help," based on the word family also " ( ver) like it", " power" and "Machine" includes. The meaning of the word before the 4th century BC is not fully understood.

• 2.1 In Greek and Roman sources
• 2.2 In Iran
• 2.3 In the Arab world

Before the 4th century BC

In the Avesta

The oldest evidence of the word comes from the Avesta, the Gathas of Zarathustra from concrete, and is located in the Avestan language before. However, as a nominative, the word occurs only once, and only in a compound moghu.tbisch what "against the Moghu hostile " means. From the context is not to guess, but the 700-1800 years later Zoroastrian written comments can be seen that the theologians understood the term as " hostile to the Zoroastrian community." In adjektivierter form is the term Maghavan the suffix- van with the meaning refer to " hold off". Mary Boyce translated Maghavan 'corresponding to " full of the teachings of Zarathustra " as.

In the Behistun inscription

In the trilingual Behistun inscription of the Persian king Darius I ( 549-486 BC) bear certain insurgents, the term " lean " here in the Old Persian version as Magusch. What the term means in this context, is also not fully understood. It's probably not the name of a Mede, as the Behistun inscription should serve as a warning to potential insurgents, and the Great King would not have refrained from mentioning its nearest neighbors.

In the Greek sources

A slightly later document as the Behistun inscription provides Heraclitus ( 520-460 BC), of the lean ( μάγος Ancient Greek - Magos, plural μάγοι - magoi ) and others for their " impious " rites insulted. Here the lean are already associated with religious activities.

In the histories of Herodotus ( mid-5th century BC ) the Greek magoi has two meanings. Once it appears as the name of one of the six Median tribes. Another time, Herodotus used the word as a general term for an Iranian priest whose tribe he not mentioned. Whether Herodotus Median tribe was a priestly caste at the same time, thus remains unclear. The names of the Median tribes to be confirmed by any other witnesses. Herodotus records relate only to the Iranian merchant families who lived in Asia Minor. Herodotus himself has never set foot on Iranian soil.

Other Greek authors follow Xenophon, among other things, describes the lean of the Achaemenid court as an expert in all religious matters. In Kyropaedia, his pseudo- biography of Cyrus II, Xenophon also states that the lean are responsible for the education of the future King.

Since the 4th century BC

In Greek and Roman sources

At least in the Greek and Roman texts of the 4th century BC are magos magus and unequivocally as the name of a Zoroastrian priest. In these texts, which extend into our time, Zarathustra is even referred to as lean, and the Office may be attributed to a variety of tasks, from divination through to necromancy. The term is not rare in this time also a negative connotation; Pliny and Plutarch were particularly critical of the leaner.

The astrological interpretations of the "wise men from the east " (Matt. 2:1-12 EU), in Matthew magoi called, sometimes referred to as " Epiphany " that followed the biblical tradition upon a star to Bethlehem, are possibly the best known example considers the lean were experts in astrology. In the Europe of the 21st century, the connection with the (originally religious ) enchantments in the words ' magic ' and Mage ' is obtained.

In Iran

In Iran, even the word appears again only in the inscriptions of Kartir in frühsassanidischer time. The evidence shows that had the term magu also Zoroastrieren already a synonym for priests ' developed. The New Persian word Mobed, indicating a Zoroastrian theologians today, is a linguistic development from Middle Persian magu -pat, " chief priest ".

In the Arab world

In the Arab world of the 6th century, is also Majusi a fixed term for a Zoroastrian (and not only for a Zoroastrian priest). During the first Gulf War (1980-1988) between Iran and Iraq, the word was a propaganda term of the Iraqis and should indicate that the Iranians are not true Muslims.