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Ancient authors: Xanthos of Lydia, Magian Matters / Magika = FGrHist 765 as cited by Clement of Alexandria and Diogenes of Laertes (link to FGrHist).

Comments: Writing in the fifth century BCE, Xanthos of Lydia is among the first Greek authors to write a work about Magians from Persia. His work is now lost, but two passages are cited by others. The passage dealing with Magians’ supposed incestuous sexual practices suggests that Xanthos’ work highlighted negative or paradoxical customs. More inocuous is the claim that Zoroaster was very early.

Source of the translation: Translations by Harland.

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[Supposed incestuous sexual practices]

F31 = Clement of Alexandria, Tapestries / Stromateis 3.2.11

In his book entitled Magian Matters (Magika), Xanthos says: “The Magians (Magoi / Magi) have sex with their mothers, and he says that for them it is also right to have sex with their daughters and sisters. He also says that the women were held in common by agreement, not forcibly or secretly, whenever one man wanted to marry someone else’s wife.”

Ξάνθος (δὲ) ἐν τοῖς ἐπιγραφομένοις Μαγικοῖς, Μίγνυνται δὲ, φησὶν, οἱ μάγοι μητράσι καὶ θυγατράσι· καὶ ἀδελφαῖς μίγνυσθαι θεμιτὸν εἶναι· κοινάς τε εἶναι τὰς γυναῖκας, οὐ βίᾳ καὶ λάθρα, ἀλλὰ συναινούντων ἀμφοτέρων, ὅταν θέλῃ γῆμαι ὁ ἕτερος τὴν τοῦ ἑτέρου.

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[Date of Zoroaster and the succession of Magian leaders]

F32 = Diogenes of Laertes, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 1.2 (link to full passage refuting the notion of  barbarian wisdom):

But Xanthos the Lydian calculates six thousand years from Zoroaster to the expedition of Xerxes [ca. 480 BCE]. After that, there were a long line of Magians in succession, bearing the names of Ostanas, Astrampsychos, Gobryas, and Pazatas until the conquest of Persia by Alexander.

Ξάνθος δὲ ὁ Λυδὸς, εἰς τὴν Ξέρξου διάβασιν ἀπὸ τοῦ Ζωροάστρου, ἑξακόσια φησί· καὶ μετ ̓ αὐτὸν γεγονέναι πολλούς τινας Μάγους κατὰ διαδοχὴν, Ὀστάνας καὶ Ἀστραψύχους, καὶ Γωβρίας καὶ Παζάτας, μέχρι τῆς Περσῶν ὑπ ̓ Ἀλεξάνδρου καταλύσεως.