A Magus (Hebrew: מָגּוּס, magus; Persian: مگوس, magus; Latin: Magus) is a term used in antiquity to denote a member of a priestly caste among the ancient Medes and Persians. The term is often associated with the Three Wise Men or Magi from the Christian Gospel of Matthew, who are said to have visited the infant Jesus. In a broader sense, the term has come to refer to a sorcerer, magician, or astrologer in various contexts. The Magi were known for their expertise in interpreting dreams, omens, and celestial events, and they played a significant role in the religious and political life of the Achaemenid Empire. The term Magus is derived from the Old Persian word magush, which means "priest" or "wise man." In modern usage, the term is often used in fantasy literature and role-playing games to denote a powerful magic user or sorcerer.
Priests in Zoroastrianism
Magi, or magus, is the term for priests in Zoroastrianism and earlier Iranian religions. The earliest known use of the word magi is in the trilingual inscription written by Darius the Great, known as the Behistun Inscription. Old Persian texts, predating the Hellenistic period, refer to a magus as a Zurvanic, and presumably Zoroastrian, priest.