On Isis and Osiris

...healthful water being drunk. They do not wish Apis to be like that, nor themselves, but to have bodies that are light and nimble for their souls, and not to be weighed down or oppressed 6 by mortal force, which burdens the divine part.

5. Regarding wine, those who serve the god in Heliopolis do not bring it into the temple at all, 1 as it is not appropriate to drink during the day while the master and

"king is looking on; the others use it, but sparingly." Note: The Latin text provides a commentary on the preceding Greek. It translates the sentiment: "Apis is fat and heavy with much flesh, not as they wish their own souls to be, for they want their bodies to be surrounded by light and slender forms, so that the divine part is not oppressed and afflicted by a powerful mortal one." The author notes that Aelian (On the Nature of Animals, book 11, ch. 10) shares this same history of Apis, adding the same reason why he abstains from the Nile: "For the current of this river is sweet, and it is good for the thickening of flesh." Concerning the abstinence of Egyptian priests and its reason, what we read here is similar to what is brought forward by Clement of Alexandria (Stromata 7, p. 850): "Therefore, the Egyptians in their own purifications do not permit the priests to eat meat, and they use poultry as the lightest food; and they do not touch fish; according to some myths, this is because such food makes the flesh flaccid."

1 as it is not appropriate to drink during the day

However sincere this reading may seem at first glance, those who consider it more carefully will find another meaning. The author says, "Those who worship the sun (ton theon the god) at Heliopolis bring no wine at all into the temple, because it does not befit... while the master and king is looking on; the others use wine, but in moderation." What then? Did the Heliopolitan priests use wine at night? Not at all; for if that were the case, Plutarch would not have first said "they do not bring wine at all," nor would he have established a contrast between them and other priests of the same nation who used moderate amounts of wine. What if, therefore, instead of "during the day" (hēmeras), which is a word of no consequence in this place, we substitute "priests" (hiereusi)? Because it is certain that from this correction all things will fit and agree with each other most appropriately: namely, "The Heliopolitans do not use wine, because it is not appropriate for priests to drink while their master and king is looking on, etc." Nor should it be said that "during the day" must be retained because of what follows...