Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 September 2009
There are not many people who can be said to have donesomething first. To Xanthus of Lydia belongs thedistinction of being the first person on record towrite in Greek about Zoroaster and aspects ofIranian religion. Not a Greek but writing in Greek,and living in the country that still joins Asia andEurope, he was to play an exemplary role inpresenting details of an eastern religion directlyto a western audience.
An explanation of abbreviations used in thefootnotes is given at the end of the paper. Mythanks to all who have helped in various ways withcomments and advice, especially to Mary Boyce,Christopher Walker and Martin West; and to theHarold Hyam Wingate Foundation, in London, forpractical assistance.