84

Zoan the Heliopolitan nome. Both Zoan-Aster, and Zor-Aster, signified Sol Asterius. The God Menes was worshipped under the symbol of a bull; and oftentimes under the symbol of a bull and a man. Hence we read of Meno-Taur, and of Taur-Men, in Crete, Sicily, and other places. The same person was also styled simply " Taurus, from the emblem under which he was represented. This Taurus was also called Aster, and Asterius, as we learn from 4 Lycophron, and his Scholiast. Ὁ Αςηριος δυτος εσιν ὁ και Μινόταυρος. By Asterius is signified the same person as the Minotaur. This Taur-Aster is exactly analagous to " Zor-Aster above. It was the same emblem as the Mneuis, or sacred bull of Egypt; which was described with a star between his horns. Upon some of the * entablatures at Naki Rustan, supposed to have been the antient Persepolis, we find the Sun to be described under the appearance of a bright " star:

87

3 Chron. Paschale. p. 43. Servius upon Virg. Æneid. 1. 6.

v. 14.

84 Lycophron. v. 1301.

85 Zor and Taur, among the Amonians, had sometimes the same meaning.

56 See the engraving of the Mneuis, called by Herodotus the bull of Mycerinus. Herod. 1. 2. c. 150. Editio Wesseling. et Gronov.

* See the Plates annexed, which are copied from Kæmpfer's

and nothing can better explain the history there represented, than the account given of Zoroaster. He was the reputed son of Oromazes, the chief Deity; and his principal instructor was Azonaces, the same person under a different title. He is spoken of as one greatly beloved by heaven: and it is mentioned of him, that he longed very much to see the Deity, which at his importunity was granted to him. This interview, however, was not effected by his own corporeal eyes, but by the mediation of an angel. Through this medium the vision was performed: and he obtained a view of the Deity surrounded with light. The angel, through whose intervention this favour was imparted, seems to have been one of those styled Zoni, and 89 Azoni. All the vestments of

83

Amœnitates Exotice. p. 312. Le Bruyn. Plate 158. Hyde. Relig. Vet. Pers. Tab. 6. See also plate 2. and plate 4. 5. vol. 1. of this work. They were all originally taken from the noble ruins at Istachar, and Nki Rustan in Persia.

38 Huetii Prop. 4. p. 92.

Lord, in his account of the Persees, says, that Zertoost (so he expresses the name) was conveyed by an Angel, and saw the Deity in a vision, who appeared like a bright light, or flame. Account of the Persees. c. 3.

$9 See Stanley's Chaldaic Philos. p. 7. and p. 11. They were by Damascius styled Zwrot and A¿wros: both terms of the same purport, though distinguished by persons who did not know their purport.