CHAPTER IV THE MAGIC OF PUBLIC WORSHIP Magnificence of the true Cultus—Orthodox traditions—Dissent of the profane—Their calumnies against initiates—An allegory concerning Bacchus—Tyresias and Calchas—The priesthood according to Homer—Oracles of sibyls—Origin of geomancy and cartomancy 145 CHAPTER V MYSTERIES OF VIRGINITY Of Hellenism at Rome—Institution of Vestals—Traditional virtue of virgin blood—Symbolism of Sacred Fire—Religious aspect of the history of Lucretia—Honour among Roman women—Mysteries of the _Bona Dea_—Numa as a hierophant—Ingenious notions of Voltaire on divination—Prophetic instinct of the masses—Erroneous opinions of Fontenelle and Kircher on oracles—Religious Calendar of Numa 152 CHAPTER VI SUPERSTITIONS Their origin and persistence—Beautiful thought of the Roman pontiff, St. Gregory—Observation of numbers and of days—Abstinence of the magi—Opinions of Porphyry—Greek and Roman superstitions—Mythological data on the secret properties of animals—A passage from Euripides—Reasons of Pythagorean abstinence—Singular excerpt from Homer—Presages, dreams, enchantments and fascinations—Magical whirlpools—Modern phenomena—Olympius and Plotinus 158 CHAPTER VII MAGICAL MONUMENTS The Seven Wonders of the world and the seven magical planets—The Pyramids—Thebes and its seven gates—The pantacle of the sun—The pantacle of the moon—The pantacle of the conjugal Venus—The pantacles of Mercury, Jupiter and Mars—The Temple of Solomon—Philosophical summary of ancient wisdom 166 BOOK III _DIVINE SYNTHESIS AND REALISATION OF MAGIA BY THE CHRISTIAN REVELATION_ CHAPTER I CHRIST ACCUSED OF MAGIC BY THE JEWS The beginning of the Gospel according to St. John and its profound meaning—Ezekiel a Kabalist—Special character of Christianity—Accusations of the Jews against the Saviour—The _Sepher Toldos Jeshu_—A beautiful legend from the apocryphal gospels—The Johannites—Burning of magical books at Ephesus—Cessation of oracles—The great Pan is dead—Transfiguration of natural prodigy into miracle and of divination into prophecy 171 CHAPTER II THE WITNESS OF MAGIC TO CHRISTIANITY