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what was needed in those strange times； and he went straight to the thing
which he saw。 It was his wisdom which perceived that the huge
amorphous empire of Alexander could not be kept together； and advised
its partition among the generals； taking care to obtain himself the lion's
share； not in size； indeed； but in capability。 He saw； too （what every man
does not see）； that the only way to keep what he had got was to make it
better； and not worse； than he found it。 His first Egyptian act was to put
to death Cleomenes； Alexander's lieutenant； who had amassed vast
treasures by extortion； and who was； moreover； （for Ptolemy was a
prudent man） a dangerous partisan of his great enemy； Perdiccas。 We do
not read that he refunded the treasures： but the Egyptians surnamed him
Soter； the Saviour； and on the whole he deserved the title。 Instead of the
wretched misrule and slavery of the conquering Persian dynasty； they had
at least law and order； reviving commerce； and a system of administration；
we are told （I confess to speaking here quite at second…hand）； especially
adapted to the peculiar caste…society； and the religious prejudices of Egypt。
But Ptolemy's political genius went beyond such merely material and
Warburtonian care for the conservation of body and goods of his subjects。
He effected with complete success a feat which has been attempted； before
and since； by very many princes and potentates； but has always； except in
Ptolemy's case； proved somewhat of a failure； namely； the making a new
deity。 Mythology in general was in a rusty state。 The old Egyptian
gods had grown in his dominions very unfashionable； under the summary
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iconoclasm to which they had been subjected by the Monotheist Persians
the Puritans of the old world； as they have been well called。 Indeed； all
the dolls； and the treasure of the dolls' temples too； had been carried off by
Cambyses to Babylon。 And as for the Greek gods； philosophers had
sublimed them away sadly during the last century： not to mention that
Alexander's Macedonians； during their wanderings over the world； had
probably become rather remiss in their religious exercises； and had
possibly given up mentioning the Unseen world； except for those hortatory
purposes for which it used to be employed by Nelson's veterans。 But； as
Ptolemy felt； people （women especially） must have something wherein to
believe。 The 〃Religious Sentiment〃 in man must be satisfied。 But； how
to do it？ How to find a deity who would meet the aspirations of
conquerors as well as conqueredof his most irreligious Macedonians； as
well as of his most religious Egyptians？ It was a great problem： but
Ptolemy solved it。 He seems to have taken the same method which
Brindley the engineer used in his perplexities； for he went to bed。 And
there he had a dream： How the foreign god Serapis； of Pontus （somewhere
near this present hapless Sinope）； appeared to him； and expressed his wish
to come to Alexandria； and there try his influence on the Religious
Sentiment。 So Serapis was sent for； and cameat least the idol of him；
and accommodating personage！he actually fitted。 After he had been
there awhile； he was found to be quite an old acquaintanceto be； in fact；
the Greek Jove； and two or three other Greek gods； and also two or three
Egyptian gods besideindeed； to be no other than the bull Apis； after his
death and deification。 I can tell you no more。 I never could find that
anything more was known。 You may see him among Greek and Roman
statues as a young man； with a sort of high basket…shaped Persian turban
on his head。 But； at least； he was found so pleasant and accommodating
a conscience…keeper； that he spread； with Isis； his newly…found mother； or
wife； over the whole East； and even to Rome。 The Consuls there50
years B。C。found the pair not too respectable； and pulled down their
temples。 But； so popular were they； in spite of their bad fame； that seven
years after； the Triumvirs had to build the temples up again elsewhere； and
from that time forth； Isis and Serapis； in spite； poor things； of much
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persecution； were the fashionable deities of the Roman world。 Surely
this Ptolemy was a man of genius！
But Ptolemy had even more important work to do than making gods。
He had to make men； for he had few or none ready made among his old
veterans from Issus and Arbela。 He had no hereditary aristocracy： and
he wanted none。 No aristocracy of wealth； that might grow of itself； only
too fast for his despotic power。 But as a despot； he must have a knot of
men round him who would do his work。 And here came out his deep
insight into fact。 It had not escaped that man； what was the secret of
Greek supremacy。 How had he come there？ How had his great master
conquered half the world？ How had the little semi…barbarous mountain
tribe up there in Pella； risen under Philip to be the master…race of the globe？
How； indeed； had Xenophon and his Ten Thousand； how had the handfuls
of Salamis and Marathon； held out triumphantly century after century；
against the vast weight of the barbarian？ The simple answer was：
Because the Greek has mind； the barbarian mere brute force。 Because
mind is the lord of matter； because the Greek being the cultivated man； is
the only true man； the rest are ＇Greek text： barbaroi＇； mere things； clods；
tools for the wise Greeks' use； in spite of all their material phantom…
strength of elephants； and treasures； and tributaries by the million。 Mind
was the secret of Greek power； and for that Ptolemy would work。 He
would have an aristocracy of intellect； he would gather round him the wise
men of the world （glad enough most of them to leave that miserable
Greece； where every man's life was in his hand from hour to hour）； and he
would develop to its highest the conception of Phil