c585 ANAXIMANDER (c611-c547BCE) Greek scientist and Ionian philosopher, born at Miletus and successor of Thales. He is credited as the author of the first geometric model of the universe and was possibly the first person to attempt to draw a map of the inhabited earth. Anaximander taught that there was a form of matter which had not yet taken on the properties of water, fire, earth or air. This first ‘matter’ is a single universal principle and primary source of life, which he termed ‘archae’ as the starting point and origin of the cosmic process. It was something more abstract than the ‘water’ of Thales, and had the qualities of being infinite and undifferentiated, and termed ‘Apeiron’ or boundless. Within this ‘Apeiron’ arose two opposites or polarities of energy whose constant struggle with each other produced the phenomenal world. Anaximander also had a theory of evolution and this was stated as being that fish were primeval and all animals issued from them, that is, life originated in the sea. (19. 114)
c584 ASTYAGES (r.584-549) Iranian-Aryan and last King of Media. Astyages dreams of his daughter Mandane, as lord over the whole land. The Magi confirmed this, saying that the princess was destined to achieve some great work. In response and with the intention of preventing this event occurring, the King married his daughter to what he thought to be an inconsequential Persian by the name of Cambyses I, with the purpose of creating a union of the Medes and Persians. Whilst Mandane was pregnant, Astyages dreamt of a vine growing out of the princess and covering the whole of Asia. This child will become Cyrus the Great [Cyrus II] who will inherit the Median Empire after defeating Astyages, and thereby establish the Achaemenid Empire. (73)
582 Estimated total eclipse over Sais in ancient Egypt during the Third Intermediate Period. (240. 241)
c580 ZARATHUSTRA or Zoroaster (c628-551 BCE) possibly a second Zoroaster (see 2000 BCE) born in Medea (northern Iran/Persia). A pagan priest and prophet who reformed and gave new dimensions to the ancient polytheistic religion of Persians, a descendant branch of the Aryan Race. Known in Babylon as Zaratas, the great initiate who inaugurated the spiritual tradition of star wisdom. His new religion was based on one supreme creative principle called Ahura Mazda (wise Lord) which came out of the earlier Aryan religion of Mitra the spirit of Light. Zoroaster called Mitra the Eye of Mazda.
An initiate of Zarathustra passed through 3 major grades 1. Apprenticeship. 2. Mastership. 3. Perfect Mastership. The Parsis of India are the modern descendants of Zoroastrianism. The Magi’s organisation into a graded system is reflected in the development of later occult groups (1. 102. 50a).
Persian Magi
[photo Nickmard Khoey]
THE MAGI: this is a title for priests and wise men of the past. The term will become corrupted during Greco-Roman times when the magi are referred to as charlatan magicians. The original priests or magi (wise men) formulated Zarathustra’s teachings into principles of good and evil called Ohrmazd and Ahriman. Associated entities became angels or devils and eventually took on characteristics of the old gods.
As a major religious authority during the Persian Empire, Zarathustra’s doctrine laid the basis for Christian and Islamic doctrines, and propagated the belief that any alternative religion was the worship of the devil. The concept of good and evil turned life after death into the familiar Hell of Christianity.
c570 JINA (599-527) Mahavira the 24th Indian teacher, who re-establishes the religion and philosophy of Jainism. This is the restoration of an ancient faith that has the severe doctrine of non-injury to all living things due to the belief that they carry soul and therefore destruction is of karmic consequence. [226. 330]
Birth of Mahavira
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