PREFACE.

I did not hesitate to title this work On the Syrian Gods, since they are most widely known by that name, having been worshipped in Syria or by the Syrians. And, just as the Holy Prophets are the oldest witnesses to the polytheistic error original: τῆς πολυθέου Syrorum πλάνης (tēs polytheou Syrorum planēs)—or rather, the multitude of gods—among the Syrians, they are also the most brilliant witnesses, and indeed almost the only ones. Thus, the subject matter itself invited the Title. Should it perhaps displease you at first glance, I would wish you to consult the first chapter of the Prolegomena the preliminary discourse or introduction to a scholarly work, where more is said concerning the rationale of the entire work.

However, while we have primarily investigated the Syrians, it was impossible not to encounter repeatedly that abundant harvest of deities which flourished among other nations as well. From this source, light—neither infrequent nor doubtful—is shed upon the ancient Theology of the Persians, the Egyptians, and the Arabs, as well as the Africans, and even the Europeans. For the gods of the Europeans depend so heavily upon the Syrians that they are like an offspring growing from its origin. The Syrians, in turn, receive a mutual brilliance from them, like a nearly extinguished fire taking light from a torch that it had previously ignited. For just as our first parents were formed in our Syria In the 17th century, "Syria" was often used broadly to include the Levant and the lands of the Bible, so too did men first fall away there from the worship of the true God, the Best and Greatest original: "Dei Opt. Max." (Optimi Maximi), a title used for Jupiter in Roman religion but adopted by Christian scholars to refer to the Almighty, and [began to fashion] new—