[136] Cf. Von Gutschmid, "Die Sage vom heiligen Georg;" Sächsische Gesellschaft d. W., 1861, s. 175. [137] "Farvardin Yasht," 131. [138] C. 20 in Justi, [c. 20; § 32 West]; cf. "Vend." 19, 15. [139] C. 30, cf. above, p. 40. [C. 29, § 14, West.] [140] Strabo, p. 515, derives it from Atropates, whom Alexander made satrap there. [141] Still less important than the Bundehesh is the gloss on "Vend." 1, 60. "Many say that Zartusht was from Rak in Atropatan." Ragha is not in Atropatene. [142] Spiegel, "Eran," 1, 684 ff. [143] Plin. "H. N." 30, 2. Diogen. Laert. prooem. The different readings of 500 years in Suidas and 600 in Diogenes, as compared with 5000 and 6000 in the other MSS., can hardly be maintained against the uniform evidence of other witnesses. [144] Plut. "De Isid." c. 47. [145] "Vend." 19, 33; Spiegel, "Avesta," 3, 9, 201, 206. [146] "Ashi Yasht," 17; "Vend." 2, 20 ff. [147] West, "Mainyo-i-Khard," p. x. [148] West, _loc. cit._ c. 8. [149] Justi, "Bundehesh," c. 1, 3, 34. [Cf. West's commentary on c. 34.] [150] Spiegel, "Eran," 1, 507. [151] Justi, "Bundehesh," c. 34. [152] If the rise of Arsaces is put in the year 250 B.C. It makes no difference in the total if we choose the year 248 B.C. for the beginning of the Arsacids. [153] Blau, "Z. D. M. G." 18, 686. Von Gutschmid, _ibid._ [154] "Farvardin Yasht," 139. [155] Aristot. "Metaph." 13, 4. Diogen. Laert. prooem. [156] Theopom. Fragm. 71, 72, ed. Müller. [157] Diogen. Laert. prooem., cf. Suidas, [Greek: Magoi]. [158] "Alcib. I." p. 121. [159] Plut. "Alex." c. 30. [160] Plut. "Artax." c. 4, 23, 29. [161] "Themistocl." c. 28. [162] Dinon, Fragm. 9, ed. Müller. [163] "Cyri Instit." 8, 1, 21. [164] Herod. 3, 16. [165] Herod. 1, 101, 131-140; 7, 40, 43, 113, 191; 3, 84. [166] Inscription of Darius at Elvend in Spiegel, "Keilinscriften," s. 45, 47. [167] Behistun, 4, 73-80; 56-61; Persop. [168] Strabo, p. 719; Nicol. Damasc. fragm. 66, ed. Müller. [169] Plin. "H. N." 30, 2; 28, 19. [170] "Vita Pythag." 12. [171] Diogen. Laert prooem. [172] Suidas, [Greek: Magoi]. [173] Herod. 1, 100, 124, 125. [174] Ezra, c. v., vi. [175] The Niça of the Vendidad is the Eastern Niça, Parthorum Nisæa, not very far from Merv; above, p. 10, _n._ 1. [176] Lepsius, "Ueber das ursprungliche Zendalphabet," Abh. B. Akad. 1862, s. 298, 306, 381. [177] "Vendid." 4, 120; Astad Yasht, 1. CHAPTER V. THE GODS OF THE ARIANS IN IRAN.