and defend it。 Once in every year the chief priests of each
separate subordinate State confess their sins in the presence
of Hoh。 Thus he is not ignorant of the wrongdoings of the
provinces； and forthwith he removes them with all human and
heavenly remedies。
Sacrifice is conducted after the following manner： Hoh
asks the people which one among them wishes to give himself
as a sacrifice to God for the sake of his fellows。 He is then
placed upon the fourth table； with ceremonies and the offering
up of prayers： the table is hung up in a wonderful manner by
means of four ropes passing through four cords attached to
firm pulley…blocks in the small dome of the temple。 This done
they cry to the God of mercy； that he may accept the offering；
not of a beast as among the heathen； but of a human being。
Then Hoh orders the ropes to be drawn and the sacrifice is
pulled up above to the centre of the small dome； and there it
dedicates itself with the most fervent supplications。 Food is
given to it through a window by the priests； who live around
the dome； but it is allowed a very little to eat； until it has atoned
for the sins of the State。 There with prayer and fasting he
cries to the God of heaven that he might accept its willing offer…
ing。 And after twenty or thirty days； the anger of God being
appeased； the sacrifice becomes a priest； or sometimes； though
rarely； returns below by means of the outer way for the priests。
Ever after； this man is treated with great benevolence and much
honor； for the reason that he offered himself unto death for the
sake of his country。 But God does not require death。
The priests above twenty…four years of age offer praises from
their places in the top of the temple。 This they do in the mid…
dle of the night； at noon； in the morning and in the evening； to
wit； four times a day they sing their chants in the presence of
God。 It is also their work to observe the stars and to note with
the astrolabe their motions and influences upon human things；
and to find out their powers。 Thus they know in what part of
the earth any change has been or will be； and at what time it has
taken place； and they send to find whether the matter be as they
have it。 They make a note of predictions； true and false； so
that they may be able from experience to predict most correctly。
The priests； moreover； determine the hours for breeding and
the days for sowing； reaping； and gathering the vintage； and
are； as it were； the ambassadors and intercessors and connection
between God and man。 And it is from among them mostly that
Hoh is elected。 They write very learned treatises and search
into the sciences。 Below they never descend； unless for their
dinner and supper； so that the essence of their heads do not
descend to the stomachs and liver。 Only very seldom； and that
as a cure for the ills of solitude； do they have converse with
women。 On certain days Hoh goes up to them and deliberates
with them concerning the matters which he has lately investi…
gated for the benefit of the State and all the nations of the
world。
In the temple beneath； one priest always stands near the altar
praying for the people； and at the end of every hour another
succeeds him； just as we are accustomed in solemn prayer to
change every fourth hour。 And this method of supplication
they call perpetual prayer。 After a meal they return thanks
to God。 Then they sing the deeds of the Christian； Jewish；
and Gentile heroes； and of those of all other nations； and this
is very delightful to them。 Forsooth； no one is envious of an…
other。 They sing a hymn to Love； one to Wisdom； and one
each to all the other virtues； and this they do under the direc…
tion of the ruler of each virtue。 Each one takes the woman he
loves most； and they dance for exercise with propriety and
stateliness under the peristyles。 The women wear their long
hair all twisted together and collected into one knot on the
crown of the head； but in rolling it they leave one curl。 The
men； however； have one curl only and the rest of their hair
around the head is shaven off。 Further； they wear a slight
covering； and above this a round hat a little larger than the size
of their head。 In the fields they use caps； but at home each one
wears a biretta； white； red； or another color according to his
trade or occupation。 Moreover； the magistrates use grander
and more imposing…looking coverings for the head。
They hold great festivities when the sun enters the four car…
dinal points of the heavens； that is； when he enters Cancer； Li…
bra； Capricorn； and Aries。 On these occasions they have very
learned； splendid； and； as it were； comic performances。 They
celebrate also every full and every new moon with a festival；
as also they do the anniversaries of the founding of the city；
and of the days when they have won victories or done any other
great achievement。 The celebrations take place with the music
of female voices； with the noise of trumpets and drums； and the
firing of salutations。 The poets sing the praises of the most
renowned leaders and the victories。 Nevertheless； if any of
them should deceive even by disparaging a foreign hero； he is
punished。 No one can exercise the function of a poet who in…
vents that which is not true； and a license like this they think
to be a pest of our world； for the reason that it puts a premium
upon virtue and often assigns it to unworthy persons； either
from fear of flattery； or ambition； or avarice。
For the praise of no one is a statue erected until after his
death； but while he is alive； who has found out new arts and very
useful secrets； or who has rendered great service to the State
either at home or on the battle…field； his name is written in the
book of heroes。 They do not bury dead bodies； but burn them； so
that a plague may not arise from them； and so that they may be
converted into fire； a very noble and powerful thing； which has
its coming from the sun and returns to it。 And for the above
reasons no chance is given for idolatry。 The statues and pict…
ures of the heroes； however； are there； and the splendid women
set apart to become mothers often look at them。 Prayers are
made from the State to the four horizontal corners of the
world in the morning to the rising sun； then to the setting
sun； then to the south； and lastly to the north； and in the con…
trary order in the evening； first to the setting sun； to the rising
sun； to the north； and at length to the south。 They repeat but
one prayer； which asks for health of body and of mind； and
happiness for themselves and all people； and they conclude it
with the petition 〃As it seems best to God。〃 The public prayer
for all is long； and it is poured forth to heaven。 For this rea…
son the altar is round and is divided crosswise by ways at right
angles to one another。 By these ways Hoh enters after he has
repeated the four prayers； and he prays looking up to heaven。
And then a great mystery is seen by them。 The priestly vest…
ments are of a beauty and meaning like to those of Aaron。
They resemble nature and they surpass Art。
They divide the seasons according to the revolution of the
sun； and not of the stars； and they observe yearly by how much
time the one precedes the other。 They hold that the sun ap…
proaches nearer and nearer； and therefore by ever…lessening cir…
cles reaches the tropics and the equator every year a little
sooner。 They measure months by the course of the moon；
years by that of the sun。 They praise Ptolemy； admire Coper…
nicus； but place Aristarchus and Philolaus before him。 They
take great pains in endeavoring to understand the construction
of the world； and whether or not it will perish； and at what time。
They believe that the true oracle of Jesus Christ is by the signs
in the sun； in the moon； and in the stars； which signs do not thus
appear to many of us foolish ones。 Therefore they wait for
the renewing of the age； and perchance for its end。
They say that it is very doubtful whether the world was made
from nothing； or from the ruins of other worlds； or from chaos；
but they certainly think that it was made； and did not exist
from eternity。 Therefore they disbelieve in Aristotle； whom
they consider a logican and not a philosopher。 From analo…
gies； they can draw many arguments against the eternity of the
world。 The sun and the stars they； so to speak； regard as the
living representatives and signs of God； as the temples and holy
living altars； and they honor but do not worship them。 Be…
yond all other things they venerate the sun； but they consider
no created thing worthy the adoration of worship。 This they
give to God alone； and thus they serve Him； that they may not
come into the power of a tyrant and fall into misery by undergo…
ing punishment by creatures of revenge。 They contemplate and
know God under the image of the Sun； and they call it the sign
of God； His face and living image； by means of which light；
heat； life； and the making of all things good and bad proceed。
Therefore they have built an altar like to the sun in shape； and
the priests praise God in the sun and in the stars； as