At a great distance appeared with the same pomp the sheep…
““At a great distance appeared with the same pomp the sheep of Thebes, the dog of Bubastis, the cat of Phoebe, the crocodile of Arsinoe, the goat of Mendes, and all the inferior gods of Egypt, who came to pay homage to the great ox, to the mighty Apis, as powerful as Isis, Osiris, and Horus, united together. In the midst of the demi-gods, forty priests carried an enormous basket, filled with sacred onions. These were, it is true, gods, but they resembled onions very much. ("The White Bull")””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Satirically lists Egyptian deities and absurdities, mocking religious pomp and highlighting human tendency to revere the trivial.
In simple terms: Mocks religious pomp and trivial worship.
Key Takeaway
Question the seriousness of ritual.
Themes
satire
religion
absurdity
culture
Mood
witty
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic lectures
- theatre productions
- cultural critiques
- educational seminars
Key Concepts
theatre
philosophy
history
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do societies elevate trivial symbols?
- How does satire reveal truth?
A Different Perspective
Satire may be misunderstood as disrespect.