the season, and assuming a shape according to the Signs of the Zodiac? For it is said that this is seen during the Autopsias A term in the Mysteries referring to the "seeing for oneself" or the direct vision of the divine.; and they unwittingly attribute to the divinity a peculiar incident of their own imagination. If, however, these expressions are uttered figuratively, and are symbolic representations of his forces, let them explain the interpretation of the symbols. It is clear that if they denoted the actual condition of the Sun, such as occurs in eclipses, they would be seen by everyone who looked toward it intently.

Why, also, are unintelligible terms preferred? And among those that are unintelligible, why are foreign words preferred over those of our own language? If the one who hears pays attention to the meaning, it is enough that the concept remains the same, whatever the term may be. The divinity that is invoked is possibly not Egyptian in race; and if he is Egyptian, he is far from using Egyptian speech, or indeed any human language at all. Either these are all artful contrivances of jugglers and disguises—originating in the passive conditions induced within us and mistakenly attributed to divine agency—or we have failed to notice conceptions of the divine nature that are contrary to what it truly is.

VIII

THE FIRST CAUSE

I desire you further to declare plainly to me what the Egyptian Theosophers believe the First Cause to be: whether it is Mind, or something above mind; whether it is one alone, or exists with another or with several others; whether it is incorporeal or embodied; and whether it is the same as the Creator of the Universe (Demiurgos) or prior to the Creator. Also, do they have knowledge respecting Primal Matter original: "ὑλή hulé"? And of what nature were the first bodies? Furthermore, was Primal Matter unoriginated, or was it generated? For Chairemon and the others