Page:Herodotus and the Empires of the East.djvu/104

98 which the sacred fire is burning, while above is a disk, probably the representation of the sun, of which the fire blazing at the shrine is the symbol. Over all is the image of the supreme god Auramazda.

Again Herodotus erroneously confused Mitra with Aphrodite. Mitra, or Mithra, was the personification of the sun, while Anaitis corresponds to the Greek Aphrodite. Both names occur in the inscription of Artaxerxes Mnemon at Susa: " Let Auramazda, Anahita, and Mithra protect me." ([A(h)uramazda] Anah[i]ta ut[a Mijthra [mam patuv].) The following selection from the Mihir Yasht of the Avesta will serve as a specimen of the praise of Mithra, the all -beholding sun: " Mithra, of far courses, we worship with sacrifice, a god, truth-speaking, eloquent, of a thousand ears, well-shapened, of ten thousand eyes, tall, with broad windows—i. e., as in a fortress, where one may have a broad view—strong, sleepless, ever watchful, giving instruction as a reward, lord of hosts, possessor of a thousand spies, ruler, master, all-knowing."

It is to Auramazda that Darius owes his throne and his victories. He repeatedly states in his inscriptions:

"By the grace of Auramazda I am king" (e. g., Bh., I., 5); "Auramazda gave me the kingdom" (e.g., Bh., I., 5 and 9); "By the grace of Auramazda (these countries) became subject to me" (e. g., Bh., I., 7); "Auramazda bore me aid, by the grace of Auramazda my army smote that rebellious army utterly" (e. g., Bh., L, 8).