Page:Modern Greek folklore and ancient Greek religion - a study in survivals.djvu/302

 division of it is more clearly defined and has a generally acknowledged province of activity. These particular aërial genii are known as Telonia ([Greek: telônia] or, more rarely, [Greek: telôneia]). They cannot claim equal antiquity with some of their fellows, for they are, it would seem, a by-product of Christianity, with a certain accretion however of pagan superstition.

The origin of the name Telonia is not in dispute. It means frankly and plainly 'custom-houses.' Such is the bizarre materialism of the Greek imagination that the soul in its journeys no less than the body is believed to encounter the embarrassment of custom-houses. An institution which of all things mundane commands least sentiment and sympathy has actually found a place in popular theology. Many of the people indeed at the present day, as I know from enquiry, have ceased to connect their two usages of the word; but others accept as reasonable the belief that the soul in its voyage after death up from the earth to the presence of God must bear the scrutiny of aërial customs-officers.

But, apart from modern belief, the apotheosis of the douane is amply proved by passages cited by Du Cange from early Christian authors. 'Some spirits,' says one, 'have been set on the earth, and some in the water, and others have been set in the air, even those that are called "aërial customs-officers" ([Greek: enaeria Telônia]).' Another speaks of 'the Judge and the prosecutions by the toll-collecting spirits.' Yet another explains the belief in fuller detail: 'as men ascend, they find custom-houses guarding the way with great care and obstructing the soaring souls, each custom-house examining for one particular sin, one for deceit, another for envy, another for slander, and so on in order, each passion having its own inspectors and assessors .' Again a prayer for the use of the dying contains the same idea: 'Have mercy on me, all-holy angels of God Almighty, and save me from all evil Telonia, for I have no works to weigh against my wrong-doings .' Appeal in support of this belief was made.](for which I read [Greek: dikologous] with Bern. Schmidt, das Volksleben, p. 172).]