184 



ZKINYl. 



Thus the world is made to continue 12,000 years. 

 The twelve signs of the zodiac play a part : to each 

 is assigned a thousand yours. The number seven, as 

 presented in the seven amshaspamis, and seven 

 arch-devs, including Ormuzd and Ahriman, refers to 

 the planets. The subordinate genii of the material 

 world are the personified parts and elements of na- 

 ture. The spirits of men pass through a state of 

 happiness before they reach the body ; and, in that 

 heavenly state, contend with bad spirits, protect 

 the good upon earth, and are reverenced by them. 

 Men themselvt % s are either the servants of Ormuzd, 

 through wisdom and virtue, or the slaves of Ahri- 

 man through folly and vice. The former pass, after 

 death, over the bridge Shine vail, into the dwel- 

 ling of the happy ; the latter fall into hell. When 

 Ahriman is conquered, the resurrection of the body 

 follows, and the earth is adorned for the residence 

 of the virtuous. 



The essential doctrines of Zoroaster are found in 

 the Zend-Avesta, the most sacred record of his reli- 

 gion. The discovery of this ancient monument by 

 Anquetil du Perron, did not, at first, receive credit. 

 He left Paris in 1755, to investigate the religion of 

 all the nations of Asia not professing the Moham- 

 medan faith, particularly the inhabitants of India 

 an undertaking which he successfully executed not- 

 withstanding numerous obstacles. (See Anquetil 

 du Perron.') At Surat, he obtained, from some 

 learned Persians, a copy of the books of the Zend- 

 Avesta, in the Zend and Pehlvi languages. The 

 latter he studied himself, and translated in conjunc- 

 tion with learned natives, the Zend-Avesta into mo- 

 dern Persian. Having returned to France, he gave 

 to the library in Paris the manuscripts which he had 

 collected in India, and published a translation of 

 the Zend-Avesta into the French language, with 

 notes. The celebrated Orientalist, Sir William 

 Jones, expressed himself warmly against the extra- 

 ordinary account of Anquetil ; but Kleuker, the 

 German translator of the Zend-Avesta, has combated 

 the doubts entertained on the subject with much 

 force. Late inquiries into the religions of anti- 

 quity, particularly those which relate to India, have 

 illustrated many points in the doctrines of Zoroas- 

 ter. The literary treasures which the celebrated 

 linguist Rask, has lately brought from India, pro- 

 mise new light, and tend to confirm the genuine- 

 ness of the Zend-Avesta. (See Zend-Avesta.) But 

 the books which are known under the name of the 

 Oracles of Zoroaster, and which have stood in high 

 repute, particularly among mystics, and students of 

 the secret sciences, by which men hoped to disco- 

 ver the philosopher's stone, are, obviously, forgeries 

 of a later period. 



ZRINYI, oa ZRINI, NICHOLAS, count of, gene- 

 ral of the emperor Ferdinand I., ban of Croatia, 

 Dal mat ia, and Sclavonia, a modern Leonidas, was 

 born in 1518. When but a boy of twelve years, he dis- 

 tinguished himself so much during the siege of Vien- 

 na that Charles V. gave him a horse and gold chain. 

 He also distinguished himself in the wars against 

 John of Zapolya, and sulten Suleyman (Soliman), 

 the ally of Zapolya, and did much to improve light 

 cavalry. His noble figure, his vivacity, liberality, 

 and strict justice, gained him the love of his soldiers 

 to an uncommon degree. In 1542, at the battle of 

 Pesth, his sudden arrival struck dismay into the 

 enemy, and decided the victory. For twelve years 

 he defended Croatia, over which he presided as ban, 

 against the Turks, and'repelled them, in 1562, from 

 Szigeth. The greater part of Hungary, however. 



wns already a Turkish parhalir, and the rest \\::s 

 obliged to pay tribute. Suk-ymaii the Invincible 

 was desirous of taking Szigeth. A defeat which the 

 i vanguard of the sultan sustained, at Sziklos, from 

 j the troops of Zrinyi, exciti <1 his wrath. The famous 

 j grand vizier, Melnned Sokolowich, a renegade of 

 I Croatia, inarched with (Jo.CMtO men, to the attack 

 of Szigeth. A bridge was thrown over the swollen 

 Drave, under difficulties such as could be overcome 

 only by the iron will of the Turkish despot ; and 

 the army passed over the river between August 1 

 and 9. Zrinyi collected his soldiers, 2500 in num- 

 ber. They swore first he himself, then each sol- 

 ! dier to his captain, and then all the captains to him 

 to die for their faith, their emperor and their 

 country. Szigeth lies between two rivers, as on an 

 island. When Zrinyi mustered his troop, they 

 amounted to 3000 men. The Turks bombarded 

 day and night, the " old city," which was but 

 slightly fortified. The besieged made many daring 

 sallies ; but, after they had defended the place, 

 inch by inch, and repulsed several assaults, they 

 were obliged to burn it, and to retreat to the " new 

 city." The Turks now raised mounds of earth, 

 from which they could fire over the whole city 

 Zrinyi made every effort to prevent the Turks from 

 filling up the fosse; but they were too numerous 

 and indefatigable. He now gave up the "new city" 

 to the flames, and threw himself into the castle. 

 The fire of the Turks was incessant, and they were 

 also active in excavating mines. Zrinyi had no 

 miners. The Hungarians made a sally, repulsed 

 the Turks, spiked several of their cannons, but suf- 

 fered a considerable loss. From August 26 to Sep- 

 tember 1, seven assaults, or more, were made daily ; 

 but the Hungarians always diove back the Turks. 

 Many proposals for capitulation were made to 

 Zrinyi; but he rejected them all; and even thje 

 sultan's threat to kill his son, whom the Turks 

 pretended to have in their power, could not change 

 his purpose. Soliman, exasperated at his obstinacy, 

 offered 1000 gold guilders for Zrinyi's head, and 

 finally died of rage, September 4. The grand vizier 

 kept his death a secret. September 5, the Turks 

 succeeded in burning the outer castle. Zrinyi 

 retired to the inner works. These, however, con- 

 tained no provision nor ammunition. On the 7th 

 the Turks undertook a general assault. The cin- 

 ders fell even into the apartments of the count. 

 The castle was in flames. Zrinyi now assembled 

 his followers, and said, " Remember your oath. We 

 must go forth, or burn, or perish with hunger. Let 

 us die like men. Follow me, and do as I do." 

 Saying this, he rushed out : his men, now reduced 

 to 600, followed. He received two balls, but con- 

 tinued fighting until a third ball killed him. The 

 whole garrison shared the fate of their commander. 

 The Turks thronged into the burning castle, but 

 Zrinyi had fired trains leading to the powder cham- 

 bers. These exploded and a large number of the 

 enemy perished. Above 20,000 Turks had been 

 killed or died of sickness during the siege. The 

 Turks retained the place until 1689. The aga or 

 the janizaries fixed the head of Zrinyi before the 

 tent of the sultan ; but it was afterwards sent to 

 the imperial general count Salm. The family of 

 the Zrinyis became extinct in 1~02. 



ZUG, the smallest of the Helvetic cantons, lies 

 between the cantons of Zurich, Schweitz, Lucerne 

 and Aargau. It has a superficial area of 1 16 square 

 miles, and contains 14,710 inhabitants, of German 

 origin, and of the Roman Catholic religion. In 



