FIRE AS AN AGENT IN HUMAN CUI.TUEE 131 



An account of Zoroastrianism and a description of ^he cult appa- 

 ratus of the Parsee has been prepared by Dr. I. M. Casanowicz, of the 

 United States National Museum." 



The Yezidis of Mesopotamia near Mosul have a well-developed 

 light and fire worship which seems to be allied to that of the Parsee. 

 Layard says: "They have more in common with the Sabaeans than 

 with any other sect * * * reverence the sun * * * have a 

 temple and oxen dedicated to the sun * * * kiss the object on 

 which its first beams fall. For fire, as symbohcal, they have nearly 

 the same reverence; they never spit into it, but frequently pass their 

 hands through the flame; kiss them and rub them over their right 

 eyebrow, or sometimes over the whole face." ^* 



He also says of the priests, who are occupants of the tomb of Sheikh 

 Adi, founder of the sect : 



"As servants of Sheikh Adi they are the guardians of his tomb, 

 keep up the holy fires and bring provisions and fuel to those who 

 dwell within its precincts and to pilgrims of distinction." " 



PRIESTS 



The fire cult as a feature of the religion of the ancient civilized 

 nations shows a detailed organization indicating a long maturity, and 

 even that at one time it may have been a major religion. 



Traces of the cult are observed in all religions, but it is another 

 question whether it represents sporadic inclusions or developments 

 from an earlier cult submerged by varied additions. 



The fire cult necessitated orders of fire priests. The Atharvans 

 were Vedic fire priests identical with the Persian soshyantes. Zoro- 

 aster was a fire priest. The prytanes of ancient Rome were also of 

 this class. They were conservers of the tribal fire, fed at public 

 expense, and became magistrates in which were combined the powers 

 of captain, priest, and king. Other fire priests are discovered in the 

 ancient civilizations of the Near East, In effect those persons in all 

 stages of culture who offer to the fire are priests. The medicine man, 

 head of the family, or other responsible person made the offering 

 (see Sacrifice). 



There are, therefore, grades of fire priests from the lowest culture 

 to the highest. 



The Hopi Indians had an order of fire priests at one time, no doubt 

 having a ritual, now lost, and when first observed by Dr. J, W. Fewkes, 

 dealing with fire magic, healing, and jugglery. The priests were 

 called Yayawympkia. Other Pueblos had similiar orders. In Mex- 

 ico the whole fabric was well defined. 



"Parsee Religeous Ceremonial Objects. Pioc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 61, 1922, pp. 1-16. 

 '* Henry Layard. Ninevah, New York, 1859, p. 191. 

 « Idem, p. 195. 



