DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5179#0370
ASYLUM OF THE TEMPLE, ETC. 331
name, Megabyzus, who was employed as a general
in the time of Xerxes.1 But the general of this name
who is best known was contemporary, if not identi-
cal, with Megabyzus the confederate against Smerdis
Magus.3 Again, it is possible that a priest of this
name happened once to be appointed, and the Ephe-
sians, in order to please the Persian monarchs, caused
the name to be hereditary, in the same manner that
titles of kings were often so. Xenophon,3 and Pliny,4
and Diogenes Laertius, refer to the priests under this
name.
The common priesthood was divided into three
classes. " As in Rome Avith the vestal virgins, their
periods of service were distinguished ; so that the
first were engaged in learning the duties of their
sacred office, the second in performing them, and the
third in teaching those that were to succeed them ;
so that the priestesses in the Temple of Diana at
Ephesus were at first future priestesses, then priest-
esses, and lastly past priestesses." 5 In Rome each
of these periods embraced ten years.0 It seems pro-
bable that there was a high priestess as there was a
high priest, and that the priestesses were generally
selected from the most beautiful virgins. It is
1 Herod, iii. ICO ; vii. 82 ; Thucyd. i. 109.
2 Herod, iv. 143, 4 ; v. 1, 2, 12. 14-17. The manner in which
his name is introduced in iv. 143, would lead us to suppose he was
not identical.
3 See page 314. * See page 311.
ft Plut. an Seiii sit ger. llcspuh. fi Id. Numa, 10.
name, Megabyzus, who was employed as a general
in the time of Xerxes.1 But the general of this name
who is best known was contemporary, if not identi-
cal, with Megabyzus the confederate against Smerdis
Magus.3 Again, it is possible that a priest of this
name happened once to be appointed, and the Ephe-
sians, in order to please the Persian monarchs, caused
the name to be hereditary, in the same manner that
titles of kings were often so. Xenophon,3 and Pliny,4
and Diogenes Laertius, refer to the priests under this
name.
The common priesthood was divided into three
classes. " As in Rome Avith the vestal virgins, their
periods of service were distinguished ; so that the
first were engaged in learning the duties of their
sacred office, the second in performing them, and the
third in teaching those that were to succeed them ;
so that the priestesses in the Temple of Diana at
Ephesus were at first future priestesses, then priest-
esses, and lastly past priestesses." 5 In Rome each
of these periods embraced ten years.0 It seems pro-
bable that there was a high priestess as there was a
high priest, and that the priestesses were generally
selected from the most beautiful virgins. It is
1 Herod, iii. ICO ; vii. 82 ; Thucyd. i. 109.
2 Herod, iv. 143, 4 ; v. 1, 2, 12. 14-17. The manner in which
his name is introduced in iv. 143, would lead us to suppose he was
not identical.
3 See page 314. * See page 311.
ft Plut. an Seiii sit ger. llcspuh. fi Id. Numa, 10.