The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism [1911] - Get a Free Blog

SYRIA. 127
the depths of the earth, were transferred into the ether
bathing the fixed stars, 6 s and the underworld was
thereafter reserved for the wicked who had not been
allowed to pass through the celestial gates.
The sublime regions occupied by the purified souls
were also the abode of the supreme god. 66 When it
transformed the ideas on the destiny of man, astrology
also modified those relating to the nature of the divin
ity. In this matter the Syrian religions were especially
original ; for even if the Alexandrian mysteries offered
man just as comforting prospects of immortality as
the eschatology of their rivals, they were backward in
building up a commensurate theology. To the Semitic v
races belongs the honor of having reformed the ancient
fetichism most thoroughly. Their base and narrow
conceptions of early
times to which we can trace their
existence, broaden and rise
monotheism.
until they form a kind of
As we have seen, the Syrian tribes worshiped a god
of 6 ?
lightning, like all primitive races. That god
the reservoirs of the firmament to let the rain
opened
fall and split the giant trees of the woods with the
double ax that always remained his emblem. 68 When
the progress of astronomy removed the constellations
to incommensurable distances, the "Baal of the Heav
ens" (Ba al samm) had to grow in majesty. Un
doubtedly at the time of the Achemenides, he was
connected with the Ahura-Mazda of the Persians, the
ancient god of the vault of heaven, who had become
the highest physical and moral power, and this con
nection helped to transform the old genius of thunder. 6?
People continued to worship
the material heaven in
him ; under the Romans he was still simply called