Then all mankind and the nations
have been deceived in believing in the gods and
celebrating their feasts?
It is a good thing, Timokles, that you
reminded me of the religious opinions among the
nations, the very things which best show that
there is no certainty about gods. For there is
much confusion, and different races have different
faiths. The Scythians worship a sword; the
Thracians, Zamolxis, a fugitive who came to them
from Samos; the Phrygians, Mena; the Ethiopians,
Day; the Assyrians, a dove; the Persians, fire; the
Egyptians, water. Moreover, while this waterworship is common to all the Egyptians, the peculiar god of the people of Memphis is the bull,
and that of the Pelusians is the onion; and others
worship the ibis or the crocodile, and others a
dog-headed creature or a cat or an ape. And,
again, the rural communities differ from one another, so that some men hold the right shoulder
to be a god, but those that dwell opposite to them
the left. And some worship one side of the head,
and others an earthen wine-cup or a bowl. Are
not these things absurd, friend Timokles?
Did I not tell you, deities, that all
these things would come to light and be rigorously
investigated?
You did, Momos, and your censure was
just; and if we escape this present danger, I for
one will try to straighten out these matters.