[a. harvby] aerolites AND RELIGION 73 



T. 20, that "the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.'' Prof. 

 McCurdy, of Toronto, is of opinion that stones from heaven mean hail, 

 and says the word " hailstones" in the latter part of the verse is simply 

 a plainer term for "stones from heaven," and the ordinary word for hail 

 xis well as for stones is employed, viz., hârâd. 



The cult of aerolites at Eome was of Eastern origin, and we will 

 accompany two of them on their westward travels to that city. 



In the year 204 b. c. aerolites fell oftener tlvan usual. The decem- 

 virs therefore consulted the Sybilline books, and found "that a foreign 

 " enemy landed on Italian soil could be driven off by bringing the Idff'an 

 ^' mother from Pessinus to Eome." At this time Hanni1)ars terrible 

 grip was loosening, and the consuls were preparing to carry the war 

 into Africa. Great events were in the air. The crisis of an intense 

 struggle was reached. The men at the helm of state felt the turning of 

 the tide ; but wishing to leave nothing undone that would command 

 success, desired to fan religious fervour while levies were being raised. 

 Eevivalism (repens religio) and drill were, as in the time of Cromwell, 

 conjoined. The senate had recently made good friends of the Oracle of 

 Delphi, and had been assured that a crowning victory was in store for 

 them, so the embassy they sent to Attains of Phrygia, their only Asiatic 

 ally, in charge of a squadron of five line-of-battle ships, visited Delphi 

 en route. The priests told the ambassadors that Attains would grant 

 their requests, and that on obtaining the goddess mother they were to 

 select the best of their citizens to receive her and welcome her to Eome- 

 Attalus accordingly met the envoys with all kindness at Pergamus, his 

 capital, took them to Pessinus, and gave them a sacred stone which the 

 residents said was the mother of the gods. Sending one of their number 

 forward to announce success, they followed at leisure. Meantime, more 

 prodigies at home. Two suns were seen. (Parhelia, so common here, 

 are rare in Italy.) It grew light at night-time. (Query — An aurora ?) 

 A liolide like a torch flew from east to west across the sky. Lightning 

 struck several important places, and a great crash, without apparent 

 cause, was heard in one of Juno's temples. When, finally, another 

 shower of stones occurred, they had a day of general supplication and 

 nine days of religious exercises and consultations how to receive the 

 ancestral goddess. She was coming — the vessels were at Terracina — 

 then at Ostia, the mouth of Tiber. They chose Pul)lius Cornelius Scipio. 

 (Livy will neither tell nor guess at the exact reason why he was thought 

 the worthiest of the Eomans.) With him all the matrons of the city 

 streamed out to Ostia. He put out from shore to receive the goddess in 

 the roadstead, and, on returning, he delivered her to the matrons, who 

 received her with enthusiasm, and, passing her along the ladies'-chain 

 from hand to hand, in that strange way they carried her to Eome, 

 There were censers at the gates from which clouds of the smoke of spices 



