History of the Magians
According to Herodotus, there were already Magians at the court of Astyages, the last leader of independent Media, who was defeated by the founder of the Achaemenid empire, Cyrus the Great (550 BCE).
There is no reason not to believe this story, especially since there are two indications that the Magians were considered to be Medes. The first is a brief remark in Herodotus' Histories that the Magians were a Median tribe (1.101). If this is correct, we may assume that this tribe was comparable to the Jewish Levites, who were also involved in religious duties.
The second indication is the special status of the Median city Rhagae (modern Tehran), which was regarded by the Zoroastrians as one of Ahuramazda's special creations and was governed by a Zoroastrian leader. The Arabian geographer Yâqût ar-Rûmî (1179-1229 CE), writes about this town and identifies the Zoroastrian leader with the first among the Magians.
Ustûnâwand [near Rhagae] is said to have been in existence for more than three thousand years, and to have been the stronghold of the Masmoghân of the land during the times of paganism. This word, which designates the high priest of the Zoroastrian religion, is composed of mas, 'great', and moghân, which means 'Magian'.
Darius and Gaumâta
These two indications, however, are not very strong and we should not put too much weight on them.
In the spring of 522 BC, a Magian with the name Gaumâta attempted a coup d'état in the Achaemenid empire. He was successful. The lawful ruler Cambyses died and for some time he was sole ruler of the empire. It is not known what caused his rebellion, and we are probably wrong to assume a religious motive behind the coup. There is simply not enough evidence to prove anything.
A relative of Cambyses, Darius (who also belonged to the Achaemenid dynasty), and six Persian noblemen killed the Magian (29 September 522). The murderer became king.
The anniversary of this day has become a red-letter day in the Persian calendar, marked by an important festival known as the Magophonia, or Killing of the Magian, during which no Magian is allowed to show himself. Every member of the caste stays indoor till the day is over.
[Herodotus, Histories 3.79;
tr. Aubrey de Sélincourt]
