LIVES AND OPINIONS

EMINENT PHILOSOPHERS.

BOOK I.

INTRODUCTION.

I. Some say that the study of philosophy originated with the barbarians. Among the Persians, there existed the Magi,original: "The religion of the ancient Persians was the worship of fire or of the elements, in which fire was symbolical of the Deity. At a later period, in the time of the Greeks, the ancient worship was changed into the adoration of the stars (Sabæism), especially of the sun and of the morning star. This religion was distinguished by a simple and majestic character. Its priests were called Magi."—Tenneman’s Manual of the History of Philosophy, Introd. § 70. and among the Babylonians or Assyrians the Chaldæans,original: "The Chaldeans were devoted to the worship of the stars and to astrology; the nature of their climate and country disposing them to it. The worship of the stars was revived by them and widely disseminated even subsequently to the Christian era."—Ibid. § 71. among the Indians the Gymnosophists,original: "Cicero speaks of those who in India are accounted philosophers, living naked and enduring the greatest severity of winter without betraying any feeling of pain, and displaying the same insensibility when exposed to the flames."—Tusc. Quæst. v. 27. and among the Celts and Gauls men who were called Druidsoriginal: "The religion of the Britons was one of the most considerable parts of their government, and the Druids who were their priests, possessed great authority among them..." (See full text in original page annotations). and