Philo Judaeus, was a resident of the Greek colony of Alexandria. He was a man of learning, and especially versed in the religious doctrines and rites of the Gentiles, as well as of Moses, of which he wrote largely. We have seen that, in contrasting the purifying rites of other nations with those of Israel, he says that “nearly all other people are sprinkled with unmixed water, mostly drawing it from _the sea_, some from rivers and others again from vessels replenished from fountains.”[53] This preference of the water of the sea, probably originated in a desire to differentiate the Gentile imitations from the divine originals as observed by Israel. Of it an illustration appears in Euripides. Iphigenia speaks of Orestes and his companions, defiled with dreadful crimes,—“First would I (_nipsai_) _imbue_ them with holy purifyings.” Footnote 52: Rees’s Encyclopedia, article, “Lustration.” Footnote 53: Above, p. 175. KING THOAS. “From springs of waters? Or, from spray of the sea?” IPHIGENIA. “The sea spray (_kluzei_[54]) washes away all the crimes of men.”[55] Footnote 54: Κλυζω (klyzō) to besprinkle, to water, to rinse, to dash over. “The sea, besprinkling, washes away all the crimes of men.” Footnote 55: Iphigenia in Taur. 1192-1194. The rites used in the Greek _mysteries_ illustrate the same subject. “The benefits which the initiated hoped to obtain were security against the vicissitudes of fortune and protection from dangers both in this life and in the life to come. The principal part of the initiation, and that which was thought to be most efficacious in producing the desired effects, were the lustrations and purifications, whence the mysteries themselves are sometimes called _katharsia_ or _katharmoi_.”[56] Footnote 56: Smith’s Dictionary, _article_ “Mysteria.”