On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians

the Barbarian says, the inhabitant of the continent, and he who dwells near the sea, the wise and the unwise. And if you proceed as far as to the utmost shores of the ocean, there also there are Gods, rising very near to some, and setting very near to others.” original: "You will see one law and assertion in all the earth, that there is one God, king and father of all things, and many Gods, sons of God, ruling together with God. This the Greek says, and the Barbarian says, and the inhabitant of the continent, and he who dwells by the sea, and the wise and the unwise. And if you go as far as the shores of the ocean, there also there are Gods, rising very near to some, and setting very near to others." (Maximus Tyrius, Dissert. i.)

The deification, however, of dead men, and the worshiping of men as Gods, formed no part of this theology, when it is considered according to its genuine purity. Numerous instances of the truth of this might be adduced, but I shall mention for this purpose, as unexceptionable witnesses, the writings of Plato, the Golden Pythagorean Verses,Diogenes Laertius says of Pythagoras, that he charged his disciples not to give equal degrees of honor to the Gods and heroes. Herodotus (in Euterpe) says of the Greeks: That they worshiped Hercules in two ways, one as an immortal deity, and so they sacrificed to him; and another as a Hero, and so they celebrated his memory. and the Treatise of Plutarch