e sinks and jakes of the temple with the blood of their victims. The
principal ancient divinities of Egypt were Apis, called also Osiris,
once a great king and benefactor of that country, who was worshipped
under the figure of a bull, and the wife of Apis, named Isis, who is
said to have taught or improved agriculture.[1]

The temple of Serapis, in Alexandria, was most stately and rich, built
on an eminence raised by art, in a beautiful spacious square, with an
ascent of one hundred steps, surrounded with lofty edifices for the
priests and officers. The temple was built of marble, supported with
precious pillars, and the walls on the inside were covered with plates
of brass, silver, and gold. The idol was of so enormous a size, that its
arms being extended, they reached to the opposite walls of the temple:
its figure was that of a venerable old man, with a beard and long hair;
but with it was joined a monstrous figure of an animal, with three
heads: the biggest, in the middle, was that of a lion; that of a dog
fawning came out on the right side, and that of ravenous wolf on the
left: a serpent was represented twining round these three animals, and
laying its head on the right hand of Serapis: on the idol's head was
placed a bushel, an emblem of the fertility of the earth. The statue was
made of precious stones, wood, and all sorts of metal together; its
color was at first blue, but the steams or moisture of the place had
turned it black. A hole in the temple was contrived, to admit the sun's
rays upon its mouth at the hour when the idol of the sun was brought in
to visit it. Many other artifices were employed to deceive the people
into an opinion of its miracles. No idol was so much respected in Egypt;
and on its account Alexandria was looked upon as a holy city.

The emperor, being informed of the sedition, called those happy who
{605} had received by it the crown of martyrdom: and not to dishonor
their triumph, he pardoned their murderers, but sent an order to
demolish the temples in Egypt. When this letter was read at Alexandria,
the pagans raised hideous cries; many left the city, and all withdrew
from the temple of Serapis. The idol was cast down by pieces, and thrown
into a fire. The heathens were persuaded, that if any one should touch
it the heavens would fall, and the world return into the state of its
primitive chaos. Seeing no such judgment threaten, they began themselves
to deride a senseless trunk reduced t