ALEXANDRIA. 



431 



" At that time," writes the eloquent historian of the Decline and Fall of the 

 Roman Empire, "the archiépiscopal throne of Alexandria was filled by Theophilus, 

 the perpetual enemy of peace and virtue ; a bold, bad man, whose hands were 

 alternately polluted with gold and witb blood. His pious indignation was excited 

 by the honours of Serapis ; and the insults which he offered to an ancient chapel 

 of Bacchus convinced the pagans that he meditated a more important and 

 dangerous enterprise. In the tumultuous capital of Egypt the slightest provoca- 

 tion was sufficient to inflame a civil war. The votaries of Serapis rose in arms at 

 the instigation of the philosopher Olympius, who exhorted them to die in the 



Fig. 134. — Alexandria. 

 Scale 1 : 75,000. 



.of. Greenwich ?9'5' 



29° 54' 



Depths. 



to 32 Feftt. 



32 Feet and upwards. 



— - 2,200 Yards. 



defence of the altars of the gods. These pagan fanatics fortified themselves in the 

 temple of Serapis, repelled the besiegers by daring sallies and a resolute defence, 

 and by the inhuman cruelties which they exercised on their Christian prisoners 

 obtained the last consolation of despair. The efforts of the prudent magistrate 

 were usefully exerted for the establishment of a truce till the answer of Theodosius 

 should determine the fate of Serapis. But when a sentence of destruction against 

 the idols of Alexandria was pronounced, the Christians set up a shout of joy and 

 exultation, whilst the unfortunate pagans retired with hasty and silent steps, and 

 eluded by flight or obscurity the resentment of their enemies. Theophilus 



