All were skilled in religious discipline, expert in strategy, pitiless and rich.

They looked wearied of prolonged cares.
Their flaming eyes expressed distrust, and their habits of travelling and lying, trafficking and commanding, gave an appearance of cunning and violence, a sort of discreet and convulsive brutality to their whole demeanour.

Further, the influence of the god cast a gloom upon them.
They first passed through a vaulted hall which was shaped like an egg.
Seven doors, corresponding to the seven planets, displayed seven squares of different colours against the wall.

After traversing a long room they entered another similar hall.
A candelabrum completely covered with chiselled flowers was burning at the far end, and each of its eight golden branches bore a wick of byssus in a diamond chalice.

It was placed upon the last of the long steps leading to a great altar, the corners of which terminated in horns of brass.