NEUOFFENBARUNGDeutscher Text · Volume contents
[01] In another area between mountains where there were many rich naphtha fountains, also a large temple was built.
[02] The temple was completely without windows and thus entirely closed, and one could only get in through an underground winding passage with a spiral staircase at the end.
[03] The temple was very spacious and on its galleries and its level space could hold comfortably about twenty thousand people, without causing any crowding.
[04] The roofing which consisted of many round domes were supported by many massive pillars, and in each dome was a slanted opening to allow the generated vapors in the temple to escape.
[05] In the elongated niche-like back-ground on an equated, ovoid frame an immensely colossal naked man statue was erected. This statue was sitting on a tremendously large stone cube which had a diameter of four fathoms, thus had a surface area of sixteen square fathoms, and a volume of sixty-four cubic fathoms. The statue, however, was made only of copper sheet, was therefore hollow and could hold in its inner space about five hundred people, who performed all kinds of spectacles at the festivals, which occurred only two times per year.
[06] Around the enormous scaffolding of the statue, at a distance of three fathoms, namely forming an ovoid circle, two-hundred one fathom high and two shoes in diameter round altars were set up, under which a rich naphtha fountain was routed.
[07] The altars were copper cylinders which were filled with crushed pumice to the top. The oil now flowed upwards according to the laws of attraction through the pumice pores in the whole cylinder abundantly, and one could only swipe a little light on the oily surface of the altar, and at once it burned brightly with a very white flame, which equaled the so-called Bengal light.
[08] These burning altars illuminated the interior of the temple to such an extent that it was more brightly lit than daylight. These altars were burning day and night continuously and were never extinguished.
[09] But there were still a lot of copper tubes installed on the piers and all along the galleries. Wherever the tube had an opening, one only needed a small light, and at once the very ethereal oil of the earth started to burn.
[10] Whenever there was a festival designated to this 'fire god' and its servants, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims came from all parts and brought this idol many and rich sacrifices.
[11] The priests of this idol produced all sorts of fire spectacles; one firework outdid the other in size, splendor and manifold magnificence. Especially at nighttime the whole mountainous area was so enlightened that one did not know when the day began.
[12] In the temple the idol spoke to the people like a thousand voices of his power and boasted of himself beyond all proportions, and on the outside the priests preached.
[13] What an effect this had on the stupid people, need not be described in greater detail; only this can still be added that the highest aristocracy always attended these festivals because of all the main spectacles.
[14] Even Gurat and his general and their entourage never missed these occasions. Nothing more is needed to recognize the highest level of idolatry that was performed here.
[15] Following even some more of the sketches!