Idolatry and Philosophy of the Zabians. 207 
god, or light;* Ahriman, the evil god, or darkness. Both these 
were supposed to be agents of the first cause, coequal,—their affinity 
to him was secondary, or subject, and between themselves they wa- 
ged an everlasting war. The legendary tales and fables of the East 
teem with descriptions of their combats and prowess. 
Bryant, in his Analysis of Ancient Mythology, shews that almost 
every deity of paganism was but a personification of the sun. 
lar worship doubtless prevailed to a great extent. Sir W. Jones has 
observed, that although the gods of any given country, may almost 
invariably be found to be the same, or similar to those of any other, 
all in general being mere personifications of the sun, yet there are 
decidedly other, and many other sources, from which some of the 
best fables have been drawn ; as Cupid and Psyche, Death, Disease. 
Time and other moral personifications, belong to the same class. 
Before the Magian dissension from the established faith, it was held 
improper to adore either Ormusd or Ahriman. The first cause was 
only to be meditated on in silence, and worshipped under one mystic 
word, an ineffable name. And as to the adoration of Ormusd or Ah- 
rman, since they were equal, and in one continued state of perpet- 
ual warfare, it would be doubtful that any prayer would be granted, 
as the opposite party to that to which the prayer was preferred, 
might chance to be the victor. But tradition derived from early 
years, and an idea natural to us all, that some being is to be worship- 
ed, and a fear of provoking beings more powerful than ourselves, 
and a hope of receiving benefit from their assistance, all concurred in 
establishing the necessity of a third existence, a mediator between 
the great principles of Light and Darkness ; one, who should save 
him from the hatred of either angel, and procure for him the kindness 
of both. The East point of the heavens, “ whence the sweet in- 
fluences of light first greet the world,” was named, the abode of 
Ormusd ;+ the west,{ the habitation of the black Abriman. That in- 
tercessor and mediator who continually preserved a balance between 
the contending powers, who alternately visited, and for an equal time 
a ear ee 
* Prid. Conn. v. 1. p. 179, Abulfeda Ebn Shabna Pocockii specim. hist. Arab, p. 
147, Hyde relig. vet. Persa. cap. 9, p- 163, and cap. 22, p. 299. 
+ Iput the more modern Persian names for the sake of convenience. It must 
t be supposed that these are thet f the old gods, 
t For this reason the Kebla of the Zabians was the meridiansun. The Magian 
Kebla was the rising sun. The Mohammedan isthetempleof Mecca. The He- 
brew was the house of the Lord. They turned their faces to the Kebla at the 
hour of prayer. 
