BABYLON AND PERSIA

Il6MEDIA, BABYLON, AND PERSIA.his breath may not sully the supremely holy ele¬ment. Such a cloth is worn to this day by everyParsi while tending the sacred fire of his own hornealtar,or even saying his prayers.3. Every thing in the Vendidad, as well as in thelater purely liturgical portions of the Yasna, and thelitany known as the "Vispered " (see p. 30), betraysthe authority of a long-established and all-powerfulpriesthood. This would be obvious enough, even8. " ATESH-GAII " OR " FIRE-ALTAR " OF MODERN PARSIS.without the evidence of a passage {Fargard e.," chapter" IX.) where Zarathushtra is made to com¬plain to Ahura-Mazda of the harm that is done by anyperson layman or heretic who, " not knowing therites of purification according to the law of Mazda,"presumes to perform the ceremony for any of thefaithful who have incurred uncleanness. Ahura-Mazda expressly states that "sickness and death,