𐎶𐎦𐎢𐏁

Old Persian

Generally assumed to be borrowed from Old Median (only found as a title? of persons that are also identified as Mede). Cognate of Avestan 𐬨𐬊𐬖𐬎 (moγu) but probably not of Avestan 𐬨𐬀𐬔𐬀 (maga) (cognate with Sanskrit मघ (magha, “gift”)).

𐎶𐎦𐎢𐏁 (m-gu-u-š /Maguš/) m

The meaning of this term is uncertain. (magūš) It is a hapax legomenon known only from the Behistun inscription where it is used as a title (?) of persons. Sometimes said to be the term for a Zoroastrian priest, or for a magician, or for a sub-tribe of the Medes; these interpretations are formed by Greek Μάγος and μάγος.
- 522 – 486 BCE, Behistun inscription 36–39:
  𐏑 𐎥𐎢𐎶𐎠𐎫 𐏐 𐎴𐎠𐎶 𐏐 𐎶𐎦𐎢𐏁 𐏐 𐎠𐏃 𐏐 𐏃𐎢𐎺 𐏐 𐎠𐎯𐎢𐎽𐎢𐎪𐎹 𐏐 𐎠𐎺𐎰𐎠 𐏐 𐎠𐎰𐏃 𐏐 𐎠𐎭𐎶 𐏐 𐎲𐎼𐎮𐎡𐎹 𐏐 𐎠𐎷𐎡𐎹 𐏐 𐏃𐎹 𐏐 𐎤𐎢𐎼𐎢𐏁 𐏐 𐎱𐎢𐏂 𐏐 𐏃𐎢𐎺 𐏐 𐎱𐎠𐎼𐎿𐎶 𐏐 𐏃𐎷𐎡𐏂𐎡𐎹𐎶 𐏐 𐎠𐎤𐎢𐎴𐎢𐏁 𐏐
  I Gaumāta nāma maguš [hauv] adurujiya avaθā aθaha adam Bạrdiya amiy [haya] Kurauš puça hauv Pārsam hamiçiyam akunauš
  One was a Magus, Gaumâta by name. He lied; thus he said, "I am Smerdis, the son of Cyrus." He made Persia rebellious.