ThecolossalstatueofSerapis^49wasinvolvedintheruinofhistempleandreligion。Agreatnumberofplatesofdifferentmetals，artificiallyjoinedtogether，composedthemajesticfigureofthedeity，whotouchedoneithersidethewallsofthesanctuary。TheaspectofSerapis，hissittingposture，andthesceptre，whichheboreinhislefthand，wereextremelysimilartotheordinaryrepresentationsofJupiter。HewasdistinguishedfromJupiterbythebasket，orbushel，whichwasplacedonhishead；andbytheemblematicmonsterwhichheheldinhisrighthand；theheadandbodyofaserpentbranchingintothreetails，whichwereagainterminatedbythetripleheadsofadog，alion，andawolf。Itwasconfidentlyaffirmed，thatifanyimpioushandshoulddaretoviolatethemajestyofthegod，theheavensandtheearthwouldinstantlyreturntotheiroriginalchaos。Anintrepidsoldier，animatedbyzeal，andarmedwithaweightybattle—axe，ascendedtheladder；andeventheChristianmultitudeexpected，withsomeanxiety，theeventofthecombat。^50HeaimedavigorousstrokeagainstthecheekofSerapis；thecheekfelltotheground；thethunderwasstillsilent，andboththeheavensandtheearthcontinuedtopreservetheiraccustomedorderandtranquillity。Thevictorioussoldierrepeatedhisblows:thehugeidolwasoverthrown，andbrokeninpieces；andthelimbsofSerapiswereignominiouslydraggedthroughthestreetsofAlexandria。HismangledcarcasswasburntintheAmphitheatre，amidsttheshoutsofthepopulace；andmanypersonsattributedtheirconversiontothisdiscoveryoftheimpotenceoftheirtutelardeity。Thepopularmodesofreligion，thatproposeanyvisibleandmaterialobjectsofworship，havetheadvantageofadaptingandfamiliarizingthemselvestothesensesofmankind:butthisadvantageiscounterbalancedbythevariousandinevitableaccidentstowhichthefaithoftheidolaterisexposed。Itisscarcelypossible，that，ineverydispositionofmind，heshouldpreservehisimplicitreverencefortheidols，ortherelics，whichthenakedeye，andtheprofanehand，areunabletodistinguishfromthemostcommonproductionsofartornature；
andif，inthehourofdanger，theirsecretandmiraculousvirtuedoesnotoperatefortheirownpreservation，hescornsthevainapologiesofhispriests，andjustlyderidestheobject，andthefolly，ofhissuperstitiousattachment。^51AfterthefallofSerapis，somehopeswerestillentertainedbythePagans，thattheNilewouldrefusehisannualsupplytotheimpiousmastersofEgypt；andtheextraordinarydelayoftheinundationseemedtoannouncethedispleasureoftheriver—god。Butthisdelaywassooncompensatedbytherapidswellofthewaters。Theysuddenlyrosetosuchanunusualheight，astocomfortthediscontentedpartywiththepleasingexpectationofadeluge；tillthepeacefulriveragainsubsidedtothewell—knownandfertilizinglevelofsixteencubits，oraboutthirtyEnglishfeet。^52
[Footnote43:WemaychoosebetweenthedateofMarcellinusA。D。
389orthatofProsper，A。D。391。TillemontHist。desEmp。
tom。v。p。310，756preferstheformer，andPagithelatter。]