ABSTRACT

[111/1] All these four peoples and many of their neighbours are pagans. They belong to various sects about which different opinions are given in their books. Some allege that there are twelve sects, some twenty-four, others thirty-six. 1 [111/2] But all agree that salvation can be attained through any of them. Those who support the theory of twelve sects say that they were instituted in connexion with the twelve months of the year, so that each month their false gods can be worshipped by one of the sects. The other two views follow similar lines, differing only in the number of the sects, those supporting the second theory assigning the worship of the gods to two sects each month, and those adhering to the view of thirty-six, three to each month.