1 Earliest Rome

and goddesses. I, who control at my will the luminous points of the sky, the salubrious
breezes of the sea and the lamented silences of the underworld. My unparalleled divine
12.4 his
power is worshipped by the whole world in varied forms, with different rites and diverse
names. 1
The first-born Phrygians call me Mother of the Gods at Pessinus; the indigenous
Athenians, Minerva, daughter of Cecrops; the wave-washed Cypriots, Venus of Paphos;
the archers of Crete, Dictvnna Diana; the trilingual Sicilians, Stygian Proserpina; the
Eleusinians, the most ancient goddess Ceres; different peoples call me Juno, or Bellona, or
Hecate, or Rhamnusia; those warmed by the first rays of the rising god of the sun, the
Ethiopians, Arians and Egyptians, steeped in their ancient learning, worship me with my
own rites and call me by my real name: Queen Isis. I am at hand from pity for your
situation, I am at hand to favour and aid you. Cease your tears and weeping now, dispel
your sorrow; now by my benevolence the day of well-being dawns on you . . .
(6) 'You shall live a blessed life, you shall live under my protection a life of glory, and
when you have reached the end of your time and go down to the underworld, there too
you will often worship me (who will be favourable to you) in the semicircular space
beneath the earth, seeing me shining in the darkness of Acheron and ruling in the Stygian
depths, when you yourself are living in the Elysian fields. But if by diligent attention,
devout service and continuing purity you will be worthy of our divine power, you will
know that I alone can extend your life beyond the span laid down by fate.'
(23) ... In due course, as the priest said, he escorted me in the company of a group of
devotees to the adjacent baths. Once I had been washed in the usual manner, he cleansed
me with a sprinkling of purest water, praying for the gods' forgiveness. He led me back to
the temple, now that two parts of the day were over, set me before the very feet of the
goddess, gave me in sectet certain instructions which could not be spoken out loud, and
ordered me openly in the presence of all the witnesses to abstain for the next ten days
from dietary pleasures, in particular to avoid eating any meat or drinking wine. Once I
had duly observed the sacred fasting, there now arrived the day selected for my divine
appointment, and the sun passed through the sky and led on rhe evening. Then hordes of
devotees gathered from all quarters, each person presenting me with different gifts
according to an ancient custom. Then, once all the uninitiated were sent away, the priest
clad me in a new linen garment and took me by the hand and led me to the heart of the
actual sanctuary.
You may perhaps, attentive reader, ask anxiously what was then said and done. I would
tell you, if I could; you would find out, if you could be told. But your ears and my
tongue would be equally punished for such rash curiosity. However, I will not any longer
keep you on tenterhooks if you are inspired by religious longing. So listen, but believe, it
is the truth. Having reached rhe boundary of death and having stood on the threshold of
Proserpina, 1 was borne through all the elements and returned. In the middle of the night
I saw the sun shining with a brilliant light. I approached the gods below and the gods
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