that the religious system of both took its rise from the famous prophet and philosopher of the Persians, and the after history of the Yezeedees, their admixture with Christians, and subjection to Moslem rule, will fully account for any variations in their present opinions and rites, from those which they originally professed and practised.[1]
- ↑ Mr. Layard, in his "Nineveh and its Remains," (Vol. II. p. 462,) gives the annexed sketch of a bird from one of the slabs dug up at Nimrood:
to which he subjoins the following note: "The Iynges, or sacred birds, belonged to the Babylonian and probably to the Assyrian religion. They were a kind of demons, who exercised a peculiar influence over mankind, resembling the ferouher of the Zoroastrian system. The oracles attributed to Zoroaster describe them as powers animated by God.
'Νοούμεναι ἴϋγγες πατρόθεν νοέουσι καὶ αὐταί.
Βουλαῖς ἀφθέγκτοις κινούμεναι ὥστε νοῆσαι.'(Zoroaster, Oracul. Magn. ad Calcem Oracul. Sybill. ed. Gall. p. 80; and Gary's Fragments, p. 250.) Their images made of gold were in the palace of the King of Babylon, according to Philostratus. (Lib. i. c. 25, and lib. vi. c. 2.) They were connected with magic. (Selden, de Diis Syriis, p. 39.) It is possible that the bird borne by warriors, in a bas-relief from the centre palace, may represent the lynges."
There can be little doubt, but that the Melek Taoos is in substance the ferouher of Zoroastrianism; and I think it very probable, that this image is used for purposes of divination in the secret assemblies of the modern Yezeedees. The worship of a bird appears to have been a most ancient species of idolatry; it is condemned expressly in Deut. iv. 16, 17: "Lest ye corrupt yourselves and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure … the likeness of any fowl that flieth in the air."
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