Many of the Grecian and Roman demi-gods and heroes were either fostered by or worshiped by shepherds. Amongst these may be mentioned _Bacchus_, who was educated among shepherds,[153:2] and _Romulus_, who was found on the banks of the Tiber, and educated by shepherds.[153:3] _Paris_, son of Priam, was educated among shepherds,[153:4] and _Ægisthus_ was exposed, like Æsculapius, by his mother, found by shepherds and educated among them.[153:5]
Viscount Amberly has well said that: "Prognostications of greatness in infancy are, indeed, among the stock incidents in the mythical or semi-mythical lives of eminent persons."
We have seen that the _Matthew_ narrator speaks of the infant Jesus, and Mary, his mother, being in a "_house_"--implying that he had been born there; and that the _Luke_ narrator speaks of the infant "lying in a manger"--implying that he was born in a stable. We will now show that there is still _another_ story related of the _place_ in which he was born.
[150:1] "The original word here is '_Magoi_,' from which comes our word '_Magician_.' . . . The persons _here_ denoted were philosophers, priests, or _astronomers_. They dwelt chiefly in Persia and Arabia. They were the learned men of the Eastern nations, devoted to _astronomy_, to religion, and to medicine. They were held in high esteem by the Persian court; were admitted as councilors, and followed the camps in war to give advice." (Barnes's Notes, vol. i. p. 25.)
[151:1] Higgins: Anacalypsis, vol. i. pp. 129, 130, and Maurice: Hist. Hindostan, vol. ii. pp. 256, 257 and 317. Also, The Vishnu Purana.
[151:2] Oriental Religions, pp. 500, 501. See also, Ancient Faiths, vol. ii. p. 353.
[151:4] Amberly's Analysis, p. 177. See also, Bunsen's Angel-Messiah, p. 36.
[151:5] Lillie: Buddha and Early Buddhism, p. 76.
[151:6] Bunsen's Angel-Messiah, p. 6, and Beal: Hist. Buddha, pp. 58, 60.
[152:2] See Amberly's Analysis p. 231, and Bunsen's Angel Messiah, p. 36.
[152:5] See Prog. Relig. Ideas, vol. i. p. 200.
[152:6] See Amberly's Analysis of Religious Belief, p. 226.
[152:7] See Thornton's Hist. China, vol. i. p. 152.
[152:8] King: The Gnostics and their Remains, pp. 134 and 149.
[152:9] Inman: Ancient Faiths, vol. ii. p. 353.