15. Does any man at all
possessed of judgment, believe that hairs and down grow on the bodies
of the gods? that among them age is distinguished? and that they go
about clad in dresses and garments of various shapes, and shield
themselves from heat and cold? But if any one believes that, he
must receive this also as true, that some gods are fullers, some
barbers; the former to cleanse the sacred garments, the latter to thin
their locks when matted with a thick growth of hair. Is not this
really degrading, most impious, and insulting, to attribute to the gods
the features of a frail and perishing animal? to furnish them with
those members which no modest person would dare to recount, and
describe, or represent in his own imagination, without shuddering at
the excessive indecency? Is this the contempt you
entertain,—this the proud wisdom with which you spurn us as
ignorant, and think that all knowledge of religion is yours? You
mock the mysteries of the Egyptians, because they ingrafted the forms
of dumb animals upon their divine causes, and because they worship
these very images with much incense, and whatever else is used in such
rites: you yourselves adore images of men, as though they were
powerful gods, and are not ashamed to give to these the countenance of
an earthly creature, to blame others for their mistaken folly, and to
be detected in a similarly vicious error.