CHAP. XII. RIDICULE OF THE GREEKS. 



161 



view to promote the morality and happiness of those 

 whose duty it was to observe tliem." 



Tlie Greeks frequently delighted in deridinp- 

 the religious notions of the Egyptians : and, in- 

 deed, considering the strange animals, the fish, and 

 even vegetables, admitted to a participation of di- 

 vine honours, and the lamentations they uttered 

 when death or any accident befell them, we may 

 readily conceive that the lively wit of a Greek, who 

 looked upon this superstitious custom in a literal 

 point of view, would not fail to seize the points 

 most open to ridicule. Antiphanes *, in his Lycon, 

 speaking jestingly of the Egyptians, says, " Be- 

 sides, clever as they are reputed in other things, 

 they sliow tliemselves doubly so in thinking the eel 

 equal to the Gods ; for surely it is more worthy of 

 honour than any Deity, since we have only to give 

 prayers to the Gods ; but we must spend upon the 

 eel at least 12 drachmas or more, merely to smell 

 it, — so perfectly holy is this animal!" Anaxan- 

 dridest, in his play of the Cities, addressing the 

 same people, observes, — *' I cannot agree with you ; 

 our customs and laws differ so widely: you adore 

 tlie ox ; I sacrifice it to the Gods : you think the 

 eel a very great Deity ; we look upon it as the 

 most delicious dainty: you abstain from the flesh 

 of swine ; I delight in it above all things : you 

 adore the dog ; I give him a good beating whenever 

 I catch him stealing any meat. Here a priest 



* Athen. Dcipn. vii. p. -BOO. eel. Cas. 

 f Athen. loc. cit. 

 VOL. I. — Second Seuies. M 



