ABSTRACT
NOR is the very farthest part of the North, which most men think uninhabitable because of the intense cold, free from sacrilegious rites and devotion to evil spirits, which must be offered at set times. For those savage peoples, like other nations in the world which seem more civilized than they, have good reasons for seeking and maintaining a common delusion and seeing a false godhead even in paltry objects. 1 They worship the sun, which shines upon them during the whole course of the summer, giving thanks to him for bringing light to oppose the darkness which they have endured, and warmth to dispel the immeasurable cold; and however unbearable darkness and cold seem to be, they never reproach or curse them as certain Indians do, but say only: ‘These cold spells are silly and foolish, and the darkness is excessive, etc.’ 2 For a similar reason they worship the moon, because in winter when the sun has withdrawn they make constant use of her light; and when, at the time of the new moon, this light is absent, they carry on whatever business they may have, even their daytime activities, under the bright stars, which 150glitter more brilliantly owing to the whiteness of the snow; this topic I shall consider later in Bk IV, Ch. 6. 3
Men beneath the Pole worship the sun
Cold is not cursed Winter silly
Moon
