26 MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS RITES. 
Such was, in all probability, the origin of the Magan, or Medo-Persian 
religion. 
The first framer of a new law was Hom, who is also generally considered 
to have been the founder of the sect known as Magi, and who continued 
on that account to be held in high esteem. At a later period Zerdusht, or 
Zoroaster, reformed and renovated the religion of the Persians, and wrote 
for them the book which contained the law, aud which is still in existence. 
The life, and even the epoch of the birth of this famous legislator and 
reformer, are involved in the utmost obscurity. 
He inculeated the doctrine of an eternal self-existing Supreme Being, 
Zeruane Akherene, who created at first, by means of the living word 
(Honover) Ormuzd, the source of all good. In this being, equal in power 
and greatness to the Supreme Creator, are united the three original powers, 
the source of light, fire, and water; and his kingdom endures for ever and 
ever. Opposed to him is Ahriman, the prince of darkness, a morose and 
evil being, who, not created, but by divine permission having been suffered 
to come into existence, is allowed to continue, in order that the good may 
be glorified in its struggle against the evil. 
In accordance with the will of the Supreme Being, Ormuzd created, by 
the word Honover, out of the source of light and water, the whole universe, 
and completed his work in six periods. 
At first, he created his own abode, the dwelling of light, the heaven 
Sakhter, mal the pure spirits. The highest among these were the seven 
Veaoshitepiesicle of whom Ormuzd himself was the ruler and chief. Bahman 
became lord of the empire of light, king of the universe, and dispenser of 
all happiness. Ardibehesht was constituted the genius of fire; Shariver, 
lord of splendor and of metals ; Stapandomad, the source of all fruitfulness ; 
Khordad, the genius of water and of time; and Amerdad, protector of the 
vegetable world, and the prime cause of growth in all living things. 
The second class, /zeds, consisted of twenty-eight good spirits, of both 
sexes, who presided over and ruled the elements and all pure things. 
Their chief was Mithras, the sun, the vivifying and fructifying power. 
Next to him came Zashter, Serosh, and Behram, who were very much 
worshipped. 
The third class were the Feruers. They are actually only the ideas of 
the Supreme Being embodied, and constitute, as a whole, the fundamental 
idea of the perfect world, of which the visible creation is an imperfect 
imitation. 
Every being, even Ormuzd, the Amshaspands, and Izeds not excepted, 
has its Feruer, its type, which is the purest emanation from the deity; and 
every new creation or new creature is but the manifestation of a new 
Feruer. The abode of the Feruer is in the pure world of light where 
Ormuzd lives; here they sparkle even in the splendor of that light, by a 
more brilliant one of their own, and fly to the protection of the good when- 
ever invoked by them. A representation of one of these Feruers will be 
seen on pl. 7, in the upper part of jig. 4, where he appears as if descended 
to protect the chief persons of the group, to whom he bears a strong 
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