ter. These rites were idolatrous; yet
not so totally depraved, and gross, as those of other nations. They were
introduced by Chus; at least by the Cuthites: one branch of whom were the
Peresians, or Persians. The Cuthites of Chaldea were the original Magi, and
they gave to Chus the title of Zoroaster Magus, as being the first of the
order. Hence the account given by Gregorius Turonensis is in a great degree
true. [991]Primogeniti Cham filii Noe fuit Chus. Hic ad Persas transiit,
quem Persae vocitavere Zoroastrem. Chus, we find, was called by this title;
and from him the religion styled Magia passed to the Persians. But titles,
as I have shewn, were not always determinately appropriated: nor was Chus
the original person, who was called Zoroaster. There was another beyond
him, who was the first deified mortal, and the prototype in this worship.
To whom I allude, may, I think, be known from the history given above. It
will not fail of being rendered very clear in the course of my procedure.

The purport of the term Zoroaster is said, by [992]the author of the
Recognitions, and by others, to be _the living star_: and they speak of it
as if it were of Grecian etymology, and from the words [Greek: zoon] and
[Greek: aster]. It is certainly compounded of Aster, which, among many
nations, signified a star. But, in respect to the former term, as the
object of the Persic and Chaldaic worship was the Sun, and most of their
titles were derived from thence; we may be pretty certain, that by
Zoro-Aster was meant Sol Asterius. Zor, Sor, Sur, Sehor, among the
Amonians, always related to the Sun. Eusebius says, that Osiris was
esteemed the same as Dionusus, and the Sun: and that he was called
[993]Surius. The region of Syria was hence denominated [Greek: Suria]; and
is at this day called Souria, from Sur, and Sehor, the Sun. The Dea Syria
at Hierapolis was properly Dea Solaris. In consequence of the Sun's being
called Sor, and Sur, we find that his temple is often mentioned under the
name of [994]Beth-Sur, and [995]Beth-Sura, which Josephus renders
[996][Greek: Beth-Sour]. It was also called Beth-Sor, and Beth-Soron, as we
learn from [997]Eusebius, and [998]Jerome. That Suria was not merely a
provincial title is plain, from the Suria Dea being worshipped at Erix in
[999]Sicily; and from an inscription to her at [1000]Rome. She was
worshipped under the same title in Britain, as we may infer from an
Inscription at Sir Robert Cotton's, of Con