ABSTRACT
The earliest references to Zoroaster come down to us from the first Greek historians of Asia. Zoroaster had to be turned into a prophet of Christianity and made a precursor of the new faith. This metamorphosis of the founder of Mazdaism was brought about by Matthew's narrative of the Magi who having 'seen his star in the East', came to worship the divine child in Bethlehem. This very favourable conception that the Christian authors had of Zoroaster is contrasted by another. In closely examining Zoroastrian thought, Beausobre not only rehabilitates Zoroaster, he also helps define the image of the real Legislator and philosopher of the Persians which had been outlined in Hyde's work. The philosophers of the Enlightenment recognized this 'Magus' as a defender of their own ideas: through his doctrine, he represented the most ancient response to the problem of Evil and the purity of his morality makes him one of the pillars of civilization.
