29. Cf. Robertson Smith, _passim_; Lagrange, pp. 158-216; Vincent, _op. cit._, pp. 102-123; 144 f.--The power of this Semitic litholatry equaled its persistence. Philo of Byblus defined the bethels as [Greek: lithoi empsuchoi] (2, Sec. 20, FHG, III, p. 563): Hippolytus also tells us (V, 1, p. 145, Cruice), that in the Syrian mysteries ([Greek: Assurion teletai]) it was taught that the stones were animated ([Greek: hoi lithoi eisin empsuchoi; echousi gar to auxetikon]), and the same doctrine perpetuated itself in Manicheism. (Titus of Bostra, II, 60, p. 60, 25, de Lagarde ed.: [Greek: Ouk aischunetai de kai tous lithous epsuchosthai legon kai ta panta empsucha eisegoumenos]). During the last years of paganism the neo-Platonists developed a superstitious worship of the bethels; see Conybeare, _Transactions of the Congress of Hist. of Rel._, Oxford, 1908, p. 177. 30. Luc., _De dea Syria_, c. 41. Cf. the inscription of Narnaka with the note of Clermont-Ganneau, _Etudes d'arch. orient._, II, p. 163.--For bull worship in Syria cf. Ronzevalle, _Melanges fac. orient. Beyrouth_, I, 1906, pp. 225, 238; Vincent, _op. cit._, p. 169. 31. Philo Alex., _De provid._, II, c. 107 (II, 646 M.); cf. Lucian, _De dea Syria_, 54. 32. For instance on Mount Eryx in Sicily (Ael., _Nat. Anim._, {245} IV, 2).--Cf. Pauly-Wissowa, _Realenc._, s. v. "Dea Syria," col. 2242. 33. Tibullus, I, 7, 17. 34. Lucian, _De dea Syria_, 14; 54. Cf. Diodorus, II, 4, 2; Ovid, _Met._, IV, 46; V, 331. 35. Pauly-Wissowa, _loc. cit._, col. 2241; W. Robertson Smith, p. 175.