XXXII. 1.^ The above [data] then afford [us] such

and such suggestions. But from another start let us consider the simplest of those who seem to give a more philosophical explanation.
2. These are those who say that, just as the Greeks allegorise time as Kronos, and air as Hera, and the changes of air into fire as the generation of Hephsestus, 80, with the Egyptians, Osiris uniting with Isis (earth) is Neilos, and l^hon is the sea, into which Neilos falling vanishes and is dispersed, except such part [of him] as the earth takes up and receives, and so becomes endowed with productiveness by him.
3. And there is a sacred dirge made on Kronos ^ — and it laments *' him who is born in the left-hand and died in the right-hand parta"
» Cf. xi. 4.
* Miiller, ii 95. Deinon was a contemporary of Alexander the Great, and wrote a history of Persia.
* This item of ancient scandal would almost seem to have come from the pen of an Apion ; it is an interesting specimen of theo- logical controversy in story -form.
« This paragraph and the next is quoted by Eusebius, PriBp. Ev^ III. iii. 11. » That is Nile.
308 THRICB-QREATB8T
4 For Egyptians think that the eastern [parti] of cosmos are "* face," the northern " ri^t hand," and the southern
5. The Nile, accordingly, sinoe it flows from the southern [parts] and is consumed by the sea in the northern, is naturally said to have its birth in the loft hand and its death in the right hand.
6. Wherefore the priests both pronoanoe the sea expiate and call salt " Typhon's foam " ; and one of the chief prohibitions they have is: "Not to set salt on table." And they do not give greeting to sailon»^ because they use the sea, and get their living from it And for this cause chiefly they accuse fish of being a cause of offence, and write up : ** Hate fish ! "
7. At anyrate at Sais, in the entrance of the temple of Athena, there used to be chiselled up ** babe,* ''old man," and after that " hawk," then ** fish," and last of all " hippopotamu&"
8. This meant in symbols: ''O ye who are being bom and are dying, Qod hates shamelessnesa."
9. For "babe" is the symbol of birth, and "old man" of death, and by ** hawk " they mean God, and by "fish" hatred — as has been said on account of the sea — and by " hippopotamus" shamelessness, for it is fabled that after it has killed its sire it violates its dam.
10. Moreover, what is said by the Fythagoiics^ namely, that the sea is the tears of Kronos, would serai to riddle the fact of its not being pure and cognate with itself.
11. Let these things then be stated from outside sources as matters of common information.