Message #27826

[Bianca]

                                                   The Magians after Alexander




The conquests of Alexander did hardly improve western knowledge of eastern religion. In Greek and Latin sources, the Magians became simply the representatives of the eastern cults par excellence, and nobody was interested in the difference between a Magian, a Brahman and a Chaldaean - they were all the same, although it was known that they were from three different countries, Persia, India and Babylonia.

But their activities seemed interchangeable, at least from the first century CE onward. Therefore, the 'wise men' mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew are called Magians, although the correct term for people observing celestial omens would have been Chaldaeans, mathematicians or astrologers (Chaldaioi, mathematikoi or astrologoi).

Meanwhile, in the east, the Magians played a role of some importance in the Parthian empire (but there is hardly any information about it). In the third century, the Parthians were defeated by the Persians, who founded a second empire. The Sasanian king Ardašir conferred many privileges to the Magians, who gained great political power.

For example, they played a role in the inauguration ceremony in Ctesiphon and served as judges and tax collectors.


http://www.livius.org/maa-mam/magians/magians.html