Heliopolis by the Greeks--would rise from its ashes and ascend to its
source. According to the civil laws of Egypt, manhood was not attained
until the age of thirty years. Hence the earthly mission of incarnate
Saviours was made to begin at that age; and for the reason that,
relating to the apparent transit of the sun through the twelve signs of
the Zodiac, it was completed during the period of one year.

To impress the ignorant masses with the belief that the scriptures were
literal histories, and the incarnate Saviours real personages, the
ancient Astrologers caused tombs to be erected in which it was claimed
they were buried. Such sepulchres were erected to Hercules at Cadiz, to
Apollo at Delphi, and to other Saviours at many other places, to which
their respective votaries were induced to perform pilgrimages. In Egypt
the pyramids were built, partly for astronomical purposes, and partly
as tombs for Saviours, claimed to have been kings, who had once ruled
over the country; and why should we not recognize that magnificent
structure known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, at Jerusalem, as
but another of those tombs of Saviours in which no Saviour was ever
entombed?

Thus we have shown that it was God Sol, the only begotten of the
Father, or second person in the sacred Triad, to whom supreme adoration
was inculcated in all forms of the ancient Astrolatry; and that its
cultured votaries, understanding that the doctrines pertaining to the
fall and redemption of man were evolved from the figurative death and
resurrection of the solar divinity, recognized the doctrine of
incarnation as a priestly invention intended only for the ignorant
masses.