[257] Ci-devant, p. 81. [258] Timée de Locres, ch. 3; _Edit. de Batteux_, § 8; Diod. Sicul., l. ii., p. 83; Herod., l. ii., c. 4; Hyde, _De vet. Pers. Relig._, c. 19; Plato, _In Tim._, _In Phæd._, _In Legib._, etc. [259] Bailly, _Hist. de l’Astr. anc._, l. iii., § 10. [260] Pythagoras, at an early age, was taken to Tyre by Mnesarchus, his father, in order to study there the doctrine of the Phœnicians; later he visited Egypt, Arabia, and Babylon, in which last city he remained twelve years. It was while there that he had frequent conferences concerning the principle of things with a very learned magian whom Porphyry names Zabratos; Plutarch, Zaratas; and Theodoret, Zaradas. (Porphyr., _Vitâ Pythag._) Plutarch is inclined to believe that this magian is the same as Zardusht, or Zoroaster, and the chronology is not here entirely contrary. (Plutar., _De Procreat. anim._; Hyde, _De Relig. vet. Pers._, c. 24, o. 309 et c. 31, p. 379.) [261] _Asiat. Research._, t. vi., p. 174. [262] Holwell’s, _Histor. Interest. Events_, ch. iv., § 5. [263] Beausobre, _Hist. du Manich._, t. i., p. 164. [264] Macrob., _Somn. Scip._, l. i., c. 11. [265] Böhme, _Les Six Points_, ch. 2. [266] The word קבל signifies, in Hebrew, Arabic, and Chaldean, that which is anterior, that which one receives from the ancients by tradition. [267] _Aurea Carm._, v. 48. [268] Synes, _Hymn._, iii., v. 174; _Hymn._, iv., v. 68. [269] Beausobre, _Hist. du Manich._, t. i., p. 572. [270] The word _Eon_, in Greek Αἰών, is derived from the Egyptian or Phœnician אי (_aï_), a principle of will, a central point of development, and יון (_ion_), the generative faculty. This last word has signified, in a restricted sense, a dove, and has been the symbol of Venus. It is the famous _Yoni_ of the Indians and even the _Yn_ of the Chinese: that is to say, the plastic nature of the Universe. From there, the name of _Ionia_, given to Greece. [271] Herm. Trismég., c. 11. [272] Plutar. cité par le père Petau. _Notes in Synes_, p. 42. [273] Clem. Alex., _Eclog. Theod._, § 30. [274] _Hist. du Manich._, t. i., p. 572. [275] Gods, Heroes, and Demons signify in the Greek words Θεός, Ἥρωες, Δαίμων, whence they are derived, the Principle-Beings attained to perfection; the ruling Principle-Beings; Terrestrial Existences. The word Θεός is formed from the word אוש (_aôs_), a Principle-Being, preceded by the _hemantique_ letter ת (θ, _th_), which is the sign of perfection. The word Ἥρωες is composed of the same word אוש (_aôs_), preceded by the word הרר (_herr_), expressing all that rules. The word Δαίμων comes from the ancient word Δῆμ, land, united with the word ὤν, existence. [276] Κάθαρσις καὶ τελειότης.