THEOPHILIIS, patriarch of Alexandria, obtained a rescript of the emperor
Theodosius, to convert an old deserted temple of Bacchus into a
Christian church. In clearing this place, in the subterraneous secret
caverns, called by the Greeks Adyta, and held by the pagans as sacred,
were found infamous and ridiculous figures, which Theophilus caused to
be exposed in public, to show the extravagant superstitions of the
idolaters. The heathens in tumults raised a sedition, killed many
Christians in the streets, and then retired into the great temple of
Serapis as their fortress. In sallies they seized many Christians, and
upon their refusing to sacrifice to Serapis, put them to death by cruel
torments, crucifying them, breaking their legs, and throwing them into
the sinks and jakes of the temple with the blood of their victims. The
principal ancient divinities of Egypt were Apis, called also Osiris,
once a great king and benefactor of that country, who was worshipped
under the figure of a bull, and the wife of Apis, named Isis, who is
said to have taught or improved agriculture.[1]
The temple of Serapis, in Alexandria, was most stately and rich, built
on an eminence raised by art, in a beautiful spacious square, with an
ascent of one hundred steps, surrounded with lofty edifices for the
priests and officers. The temple was built of marble, supported with
precious pillars, and the walls on the inside were covered with plates
of brass, silver, and gold. The idol was of so enormous a size, that its
arms being extended, they reached to the opposite walls of the temple:
its figure was that of a venerable old man, with a beard and long hair;
but with it was joined a monstrous figure of an animal, with three
heads: the biggest, in the middle, was that of a lion; that of a dog
fawning came out on the right side, and that of ravenous wolf on the
left: a serpent was represented twining round these three animals, and
laying its head on the right hand of Serapis: on the idol's head was
placed a bushel, an emblem of the fertility of the earth. The statue was
made of precious stones, wood, and all sorts of metal together; its
color was at first blue, but the steams or moisture of the place had
turned it black. A hole in the temple was contrived, to admit the sun's
rays upon its mouth at the hour when the idol of the sun was brought in
to visit it. Many other artifices were employed to deceive the people
into an opinion of its miracles. No idol was so much respected in Egypt;
and on its account Alexandria was looked upon as a holy city.
The emperor, being informed of the sedition, called those happy who
{605} had received by it the crown of martyrdom: and not to dishonor
their triumph, he pardoned their murderers, but sent an order to
demolish the temples in Egypt. When this letter was read at Alexandria,
the pagans raised hideous cries; many left the city, and all withdrew
from the temple of Serapis. The idol was cast down by pieces, and thrown
into a fire. The heathens were persuaded, that if any one should touch
it the heavens would fall, and the world return into the state of its
primitive chaos. Seeing no such judgment threaten, they began themselves
to deride a senseless trunk reduced to ashes. The standard of the Nile's
increase was kept in this temple, but it was on this occasion removed
into the cathedral. The idolaters expected the river would swell no
more: but finding the succeeding years very fertile, they condemned the
vanity of their superstitions, and embraced the faith. Two churches were
built on the place where this temple stood, and its metal was converted
to the use of churches. The busts of Serapis on the walls, doors, and
windows of the houses, were broken and taken away. The temples all over
Egypt were demolished, during the two following years. In pulling down
those of Alexandria, the cruel mysteries of Mithra were discovered, and
in the secret Adyta were found the heads of many infants cut off,
cruelly mangled, and superstitiously painted. The artifices of the
priests of the idols were likewise detected: there were hollow idols of
wood and brass, placed against a wall, with subterraneous passages,
through which the priests entered the hollow trunks of the idols, and
gave answers as oracles, as is related by Theodoret,[2] and Rufinus.[3]
Where the idols were cast down, figures of the cross were set up in
their places. These martyrs suffered in the year 392. See Theodoret,
Rufinus, Socrates, Sozomen, Fleury, b. 19. Tillemont in the history of
Theodosius, art. 52-55.
Footnotes:
1. Those mistake the truth, who confound Serapis with Osiris, or who
imagine him to have been the patriarch Joseph. Serapis was a modern
divinity, raised by the Ptolemies. See Celmet, Banier on Mythology,
&c.
2. B. 5, c. 22.
3. Ib. 2, c. 25.