The Egyptian priests make it a point of religion not to kill any live animals except those which they offer in sacrifice.
The Magi, on the contrary, kill animals of all kinds with their own hands, excepting dogs and men.
They even seem to take a delight in the employment, and kill, as readily as they do other animals, ants and snakes, and such like flying or creeping things".
[3] However, it is noteworthy that Greek sources on Persian culture were often biased and slanderous, led by strong Greco-Persian rivalry.
Herodotus in particular has gained a reputation for being untrustworthy by scholars, with ancient historian Paul Cartledge going so far as to declare his work "the very denial of official history.