Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, or Quadripartite: Being Four Books of the Influence of the Stars; Newly Translated From the Greek Paraphrase of Proclus, With Explanatory Notes, and an Appendix, Containing Extr

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Excerpt from Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, or QuadripartiteThe arcana of Astrology constituted a main feature in the doctrines of the Persian Magi; and it further appears, by Newton's Chronology, p. 347, that Zoroaster (although the aera of his life has been erroneously assigned to various remoter periods) lived in the reign of Darius Hystaspis, about 520 b.c., and assisted Hystaspes, the father of Darius, in reforming the Magi, of whom the said Hystaspes was Master. Newton adds, p. 352, that about the same time with Hystaspes and Zoroaster, lived also Ostanes, another eminent Magus Pliny places him under Darius Hystaspis, and Suidas makes him the follower of Zoroaster he came into Greece with Xerxes about 480 b.c., and seems to be the Otanes of Herodotus. In his book, called the Octateuchus, he taught the same doctrine of the Deity as Zoroaster....