A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Mithra; Healing 65
ears well-shapen, with ten thousand eyes, high, with full
knowledge, strong, sleepless, and ever awake.
To whom the chiefs of nations offer up sacrifices, as
they go to the field against havocking hosts, against enemies
coming in battle array, in the strife of conflicting
nations.
On whichever side he has been worshipped first in the He turns the
scale of batfulness
of faith of a devoted heart, to that side turns tie.
Mithra, lord of wide pastures, with the fiend-smiting wind,
with the cursing thought of the wise.
VII.
Healing
One may heal with Holiness, one may heal with the Spiritual as
Law, one may heal with the knife, one may heal with herbs, inal healing.
one may heal with the Holy Word. Amongst all remedies
this one is the healing one that heals with the Holy Word; Avesta.
this one it is that will best drive away sickness from the
body of the faithful; for this one is the best-healing of all
remedies.
STUDIES
1. Describe the ]Median kingship. What were the products of the
countrj'?
2. What was the extent of the Persian empire? W^hat idea of
duty to the empire had Darius? Can we find anything similar in the
tpse of other Oriental kings?
3. Give an account of the accession of Dasius.
4. What were the chief features of the religion of the Persians as
described by Herodotus? What were their customs at meals? How
What does he tell us of their family?
did they regard other nations?
5. Describe their burial customs and beliefs.
6. What was the character of Mithra?
7. What means of healing does the Avesta prescribe. What idea
of the Persian religion do you derive from these selections from the
Avesta?