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| Chapter XXXIV
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Chapter
XXXIV.
But, that we may not pass without notice what
Celsus has said between these and the preceding paragraphs, let us
quote his words: “We might adduce Herodotus as a witness on
this point, for he expresses himself as follows: ‘For the
people of the cities Marea and Apis, who inhabit those parts of Egypt
that are adjacent to Libya, and who look upon themselves as Libyans,
and not as Egyptians, finding their sacrificial worship oppressive, and
wishing not to be excluded from the use of cows’ flesh, sent to
the oracle of Jupiter Ammon, saying that there was no relationship
between them and the Egyptians, that they dwelt outside the Delta, that
there was no community of sentiment between them and the Egyptians, and
that they wished to be allowed to partake of all kinds of food.
But the god would not allow them to do as they desired, saying that
that country was a part of Egypt, which was watered by the inundation
of the Nile, and that those were Egyptians who dwell to the south of
the city of Elephantine, and drink of the river Nile.’4202
| 4202 Cf. Herodot., ii.
18. | Such is the narrative of
Herodotus. But,” continues Celsus, “Ammon in divine
things would not make a worse ambassador than the angels of the
Jews,4203
| 4203 ὁ δὲ
῎Αμμων οὐδέν
τι κακίων
διαπρεσβεῦσαι
τὰ δαιμόνια,
ἢ οἱ
᾽Ιουδαίων
ἄγγελοι. | so that there is nothing wrong in each
nation observing its established method of worship. Of a truth,
we shall find very great differences prevailing among the nations, and
yet each seems to deem its own by far the best. Those inhabitants
of Ethiopia who dwell in Meroe worship Jupiter and Bacchus alone; the
Arabians, Urania and Bacchus only; all the Egyptians, Osiris and Isis;
the Saïtes, Minerva; while the Naucratites have recently classed
Serapis among their deities, and the rest according to their respective
laws. And some abstain from the flesh of sheep, and others from
that of crocodiles; others, again, from that of cows, while they regard
swine’s flesh with loathing. The Scythians, indeed, regard
it as a noble act to banquet upon human beings. Among the
Indians, too, there are some who deem themselves discharging a holy
duty in eating their fathers, and this is mentioned in a certain
passage by Herodotus. For the sake of credibility, I shall again
quote his very words, for he writes as follows: ‘For if any
one were to make this proposal to all men, viz., to bid him select out
of all existing laws the best, each would choose, after examination,
those of his own country. Men each consider their own laws much
the best, and therefore it is not likely than any other than a madman
would make these things a subject of ridicule. But that such are
the conclusions of all men regarding the laws, may be determined by
many other evidences, and especially by the following
illustration. Darius, during his reign, having summoned before
him those Greeks who happened to be present at the time, inquired of
them for how much they would be willing to eat their deceased fathers?
their answer was, that for no consideration would they do such a
thing. After this, Darius summoned those Indians who are called
Callatians, who are in the habit of eating their parents, and asked of
them in the presence of these Greeks, who learned what passed through
an interpreter, for what amount of money they would undertake to burn
their deceased fathers with fire? on which they raised a loud shout,
and bade the king say no more.’4204
| 4204 εὐφημεῖν
μιν
ἐκέλευον. | Such is the way, then, in which these matters are
regarded. And Pindar appears to me to be right in saying that
‘law’ is the king of all things.”4205
| 4205 Cf. Herodot., iii.
38. | E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
