termed decani, i.e. lords of ten degrees of the zodiacal circle:—
Julii Firmici Materni, Matheseos; recens Car. Sittl. ed. Teubner, 1894, lib. iv. 21:—
§ 2. Singula signa in libro institutionis ternos habere decanos diximus; sunt autem decani ipsi magni numinis ac potestatis, et per ipsos omnia prospera et omnia infortunia decernuntur. Sic et Nechipso, iustissimus Aegypti imperator et astronomus valde bonus, [et] per ipsos decanos omnia vitia valetudinesque collegit ostendens, quam valetudinem qui decanus efficeret et, quia natura alia natura vincitur et quia deum frequenter alius deus vincit, ex contrariis naturis et ex contrariis potestatibus omnium aegritudinum medelas divinae rationis magisteriis invenit. § 3. Triginta sex itaque decani omnem zodiaci possident circulum et per xii signorum numerus id est decanorum dividitur.
The following is the passage of Celsus above referred to. He is defending the worship of demons, which Christianity imperilled:—
That among these demons, even down to the least ones, there exists some one or another to whom authority (ἐχουσία) has been given, may be learned by any one from what the Egyptians say, namely, that thirty-six demons, or ethereal gods of a kind, have distributed among themselves man's body, which is apportioned into a corresponding number of parts. Some say the number of these demons is much greater. One demon then is appointed to take care of one part and another of another. Of these demons they know the names in the local speech (i. e. Coptic), as, for example, Khnoumên, and Khnakoumen, and Knat, and Sikat, and Bion, and Eron, and Erebion, and Ramanor, and Reianoor, and the rest of the names used in their tongue. And, of course, by invoking these demons, they cure the sufferings of the several parts.
Celsus draws the moral that if we desire health we ought to propitiate these thirty-six unseen powers. Origen replies that, since "in the name of Jesus every knee shall bend, of those in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth," Christians have no need to consult this mob of demons, but only to trust in the living God. The course indicated by the Testament of Solomon is rather different. We are to know the name of the particular angel who can rout each
