XIV. From this cause some have made a god of the
Sun, others of the Moon, others of the host of Stars, others of heaven
itself with all its hosts, to which they have attributed the guiding of
the Universe, according to the quality or quantity of their
movement. Others again of the Elements, earth, air, water, fire,
because of their useful nature, since without them human life cannot
possibly exist. Others again have worshipped any chance visible
objects, setting up the most beautiful of what they saw as their
gods. And there are those who worship pictures and images, at
first indeed of their own ancestors—at least, this is the case
with the more affectionate and sensual—and honour the departed
with memorials; and afterwards even those of strangers are worshipped
by men of a later generation separated from them by a long interval;
through ignorance of the First Nature, and following the traditional
honour as lawful and necessary; for usage when confirmed by time was
held to be Law. And I think that some who were courtiers of
arbitrary power and extolled bodily strength and admired beauty, made a
god in time out of him whom they honoured, perhaps getting hold of some
fable to help on their imposture.