Chapter LXIV.—Further misrepresentations of the truth.
185
From what has been already said, you can understand how the devils, in imitation of
what was said by Moses, asserted that Proserpine was the daughter of Jupiter, and instigated
the people to set up an image of her under the name of Kore [Cora, i.e., the maiden or
daughter] at the spring-heads. For, as we wrote above,142 Moses said, “In the beginning
God made the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and unfurnished: and
the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” In imitation, therefore, of what is here
said of the Spirit of God moving on the waters, they said that Proserpine [or Cora] was the
daughter of Jupiter.143 And in like manner also they craftily feigned that Minerva was the
daughter of Jupiter, not by sexual union, but, knowing that God conceived and made the
world by the Word, they say that Minerva is the first conception [ἔννοια]; which we consider
to be very absurd, bringing forward the form of the conception in a female shape. And in
like manner the actions of those others who are called sons of Jupiter sufficiently condemn
them.
142 Chap. lix.
143 And therefore caused her to preside over the waters, as above.
Chapter LXIV.—Further misrepresentations of the truth.
493
Chapter LXIV.—Further misrepresentations of the truth.