25. The variations of this doctrine are set forth in detail by Macrobius, _In Somn. Scip._, I, 11, Sec. 5 ff. According to some, the soul lived above the sphere of the moon, where the immutable realm of eternity began; according to others, in the spheres of the fixed stars where they placed the Elysian Fields (_supra_, ch. V, n. 65; see Martian, _Capella_, II, 209). The Milky Way in particular was assigned to them as their residence {287} (Macr., _ib._, c. 12; cf. Favon. Eulog., _Disput. de somn. Scipionis_, p. 1, 20 [Holder ed.]: "Bene meritis ... lactei circuli lucida ac candens habitatio deberetur"; St. Jerome, _Ep._, 23, Sec. 3 [Migne, _P. L._, XXII, col. 426), in conformity with an old Pythagorean doctrine (Gundel, _De stellarum appellatione et relig. Romana_, 1907, p. 153 [245]), as well as an Egyptian doctrine (Maspero, _Hist. des peuples de l'Orient_, I, p. 181).--According to others, finally, the soul was freed from all connection with the body and lived in the highest region of heaven, descending first through the gates of Cancer and Capricorn, at the intersection of the zodiac and the Milky Way, then through the spheres of the planets. This theory, which was that of the mysteries (_supra_, pp. 126, 152) obtained the approbation of Macrobius ("quorum sectae amicior est ratio") who explains it in detail (I, 12, Sec. 13 ff.). Arnobius, who got his inspiration from Cornelius Labeo (_supra_, ch. V, n. 64), opposed it, as a widespread error (II, 16): "Dum ad corpora labimur et properamus humana ex mundanis circulis, sequuntur causae quibus mali simus et pessimi." Cf. also, II, 33: "Vos, cum primum soluti membrorum abieretis e nodis, alas vobis adfuturas putatis quibus ad caelum pergere atque ad sidera volare possitis," etc.). It had become so popular that the comedy by Querolus, written in Gaul during the first years of the fifth century, alluded to it in a mocking way, in connection with the planets (V, 38): "Mortales vero addere animas sive inferis nullus labor sive superis." It was still taught, at least in part, by the Priscillianists (Aug., _De haeres._, 70; Priscillianus, ed. Schepss., p. 153, 15; cf. Herzog-Hauck, _Realencycl._, 3d ed., s. v. "Priscillian," p. 63.--We have mentioned (_supra_, ch. VI, n. 54) the origin of the belief and of its diffusion under the empire. 26. Cf. _supra_, p. 152, and pp. 189 ff.; _Mon. myst. Mithra_, I, p. 296. 27. This idea was spread by the Stoics ([Greek: ekpurosis]) and by astrology (_supra_, p. 177); also by the Oriental religions, see Lactantius, _Inst._, VII, 18, and _Mon. myst. Mithra_, I, p. 310. 28. Gruppe (_Griech. Mythol._, pp. 1488 ff.) has tried to indicate the different elements that entered into this doctrine.