But the Magi who were the priest class of Zoroastrianism are totally different from the original Magi who were dualistic.
You're absolutely right to make that distinction — and it's a really important one that often gets glossed over.
The term "Magi" has a layered and evolving history. While later they were incorporated into Zoroastrianism as a priestly caste, the original Magi—especially those from the Median tradition—had distinct beliefs, possibly pre-Zoroastrian and dualistic in nature. Let’s break it down a bit:
1. Original Magi (Pre-Zoroastrian/Median tradition):
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The earliest Magi were likely part of an Indo-Iranian religious system that was polytheistic or dualistic, focused on the tension between cosmic opposites.
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Their worldview may have been more shamanistic or mystical, possibly involving fire rituals, astrological knowledge, and esoteric teachings.
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According to some classical sources like Herodotus, the Magi practiced rites distinct from mainstream Zoroastrianism — including funerary exposure, incantations, and possibly sacrifice, though we have to take Greek accounts with caution.
2. Zoroastrianism's Reformation:
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Zarathustra is often considered a reformer who challenged older priestly traditions — possibly those of the original Magi.
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His teachings were more ethical-monotheistic, centering on Ahura Mazda as the sole creator, and framed the dualism as moral, not cosmological.
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Over time, the Zoroastrian priesthood absorbed the Magi, blending older practices with Zoroastrian theology — which led to the more formalized Zoroastrian Magi class we see in the Achaemenid and later empires.
3. Later Interpretations & Confusion:
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By the time of the Hellenistic period, the term “Magi” had become broadly associated with mystics, astrologers, and wise men, leading to the confusion between different traditions.
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In Christian tradition (like the Magi in the Gospel of Matthew), they’re seen as eastern sages, which may draw more from the mythic reputation than strict historical or religious continuity.
So yes — the original Magi had a more complex and possibly pre-Zoroastrian dualistic system, and over time, that identity was reshaped within the Zoroastrian framework.
Would you be interested in digging into the dualism of the original Magi? Or perhaps the influence they may have had on later Gnostic or esoteric traditions?