The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 4 (of 6) The French Revolution, Volume 3 (of 3)

Excerpt

"In Egypt," says Clement of Alexandria, 1101 "the sanctuaries of the temples are shaded by curtains of golden tissue. But on going further into the interior in quest of the statue, a priest of grave aspect, advancing to meet you and chanting a hymn in the Egyptian tongue, slightly raises a veil to show you the god. And what do you behold? A crocodile, or some indigenous serpent, or other dangerous animal, the Egyptian god being a beast sprawling on a purple carpet."