ion of the state. Its chief was
a personage holding a rank but very little inferior to the king. He bore
the title of Tenpet, "Head of the Religion," or _Movpetan Movpet_, "Head
of the Chief Magi." In times of difficulty and danger he was sometimes
called upon to conduct a revolution; and in the ordinary course of
things he was always reckoned among the monarch's chief counsellors.
Next in rank to him were a number of _Movpets_, or "Chief Magi," called
also _destoors_ or "rulers," who scarcely perhaps constituted an order,
but still held an exalted position. Under these were, finally, a large
body of ordinary Magi, dispersed throughout the empire, but especially
congregated in the chief towns.

The Magi officiated in a peculiar dress. This consisted of a tall peaked
cap of felt or some similar material, having deep lappets at the side,
which concealed the jaw and even the lips, and a long white robe, or
cloak, descending to the ankles. They assembled often in large numbers,
and marched in stately processions, impressing the multitude by a grand
and striking ceremonial. Besides the offerings which were lavished upon
them by the faithful, they possessed considerable endowments in land,
which furnished them with an assured subsistence. They were allowed by
Chosroes the First a certain administrative power in civil matters; the
collection of the revenue was to take place under their supervision;
they were empowered to interfere in cases of oppression, and protect the
subject against the tax-gatherer.

The Zoroastrian worship was intimately connected with fire-temples
and fire-altars. A fire-temple was maintained in every important city
throughout the empire; and in these a sacred flame, believed to have
been lighted from heaven, was kept up perpetually, by the care of the
priests, and was spoken of as "unextinguishable." Fire-altars probably
also existed, independently of temples; and an erection of this kind
maintained from first to last an honorable position on the Sassanian
coins, being the main impress upon the reverse. It was represented with
the flame rising from it, and sometimes with a head in the flame; its
stem was ornamented with garlands or fillets; and on either side, as
protectors or as worshippers, were represented two figures, sometimes
watching the flame, sometimes turned from it, guarding it apparently
from external enemies.

Besides the sacerdotal, the Magi claimed to exercise the prophetical
office. F