han the Chaldeans, alleging the
existence of many gods, some male, others female, creators of all
passions and sins of every kind. Wherefore the Greeks, O king,
introduced an absurd, foolish and ungodly fashion of talk, calling them
gods that were not, according to their own evil passions; that, having
these gods for advocates of their wickedness, they might commit
adultery, theft, murder and all manner of iniquity. For if their gods
did so, how should they not themselves do the like? Therefore from
these practices of error it came to pass that men suffered frequent
wars and slaughters and cruel captivities. But if now we choose to
pass in review each one of these gods, what a strange sight shalt thou
see!

"First and foremost they introduce the god whom they call Kronos, and
to him they sacrifice their own children, to him who had many sons by
Rhea, and in a fit of madness ate his own children. And they say that
Zeus cut off his privy parts, and cast them into the sea, whence, as
fable telleth, was born Aphrodite. So Zeus bound his own father, and
cast him into Tartarus. Dost thou mark the delusion and lasciviousness
that they allege against their gods? Is it possible then that one who
was prisoner and mutilated should be a god? What folly? What man in
his senses could admit it?

"Next they introduce Zeus, who, they say, became king of the gods, and
would take the shape of animals, that he might defile mortal women.
They show him transformed into a bull, for Europa; into gold, for
Danae; into a swan, for Leda; into a satyr, for Antiope; and into a
thunder-bolt, for Semele. Then of these were born many children,
Dionysus, Zethus, Amphion, Herakles, Apollo, Artemis, Perseus, Castor,
Helen, Polydeukes, Minos, Rhadamanthos, Sarpedon, and the nine
daughters whom they call the Muses.

"In like manner they introduce the story of Ganymede. And so befel it,
O king, that men imitated all these things, and became adulterers, and
defilers of themselves with mankind, and doers of other monstrous
deeds, in imitation of their god. How then can an adulterer, one that
defileth himself by unnatural lust, a slayer of his father be a god?

"With Zeus also they represent one Hephaestus as a god, and him lame,
holding hammer and fire-tongs, and working as a coppersmith for hire.
So it appeareth that he is needy. But it is impossible for one who is
lame and wanteth men's aid to be a God.

"After him, they represent as a go