29. Cf. supra, pp. 134 f., p. 160 and _passim_. The similarity {288} of the pagan theology to Christianity was strongly brought out by Arnobius, II, 13-14.--Likewise in regard to the Orient, de Wilamowitz has recently pointed out the close affinity uniting the theology of Synesius with that of Proclus (_Sitzungsb. Akad. Berlin_, XIV, 1907, pp. 280 ff.) he has also indicated how philosophy then led to Christianity. 30. M. Pichon (_Les derniers ecrivains profanes_, Paris, 1906) has recently shown how the eloquence of the panegyrists unconsciously changed from paganism to monotheism. See also Maurice, _Comptes Rendus Acad. Inscriptions_, 1909, p. 165.--The vague deism of Constantine strove to reconcile the opposition of heliolatry and Christianity (Burckhardt, _Die Zeit Constantins_, pp. 353 ff.) and the emperor's letters addressed to Arius and the community of Nicomedia (Migne, _P. G._, LXXXV, col. 1343 ff.) are, as shown by Loeschke (_Das Syntagma des Gelasius_ [Rhein. Mus., LXI], 1906, p. 44), "ein merkwuerdiges Produkt theologischen Dilettantismus, aufgebaut auf im wesentlichen pantheistischer Grundlage mit Hilfe weniger christlicher Termini und fast noch weniger christlicher Gedanken." I shall cite a passage in which the influence of the astrological religion is particularly noticeable (col. 1552 D): [Greek: Idou gar ho kosmos morphe eitoun schema tunchanei hon; kai hoi asteres ge charakteras probeblentai; kai holos to pneuma tou sphairoeidous toutou kuklou, eidos ton onton tunchanei hon, kai hosper morphoma; kai homos ho Theos pantachou paresti.] * * * * * {289} INDEX.