
Non tibi, sed religioni.
Not for you but for religion
EMBLEMA VII.
Isidis effigiem tardus gestabat asellus,
Pando verenda dorso habens mysteria.
Obvius ergo Deam quisquis reverenter adorat,
Piasque genibus concipit flexis preces.
Ast asinus tantum praestari credit honorem
Sibi, & intumescit, admodum superbiens:
Donec eum flagris compescens, dixit agaso,
Non es Deus tu, aselle, sed Deum vehis.[1]
An ass with dragging feet was carrying an image of Isis, bearing reverend mysteries on its sagging back. So all who met him reverently offered worship to the goddess and recited pious prayers on bended knee. The ass however took it that all this honour was offered to himself, and began to swagger along swollen with pride - until his driver, reducing him with blows, said, ‘You are not god, my little ass, you are carrying god’.
1. See Aesop, Fables 266; Erasmus, Adagia 1104, Asinus portans mysteria.
Related Emblems

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Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- worship and devotion (in general) ~ Egyptian religion [12C21] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Egyptian religion [12CC132(ISIS)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- statues, paintings, etc. ~ objects of worship (Egyptian religion) - CC - in the open air [12CC63] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sprig, twig «« KEY (221) TO 25G plants; vegetation [25G(+221)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- city-gate [25I1461] Search | Browse Iconclass
- kneeling figure [31A233] Search | Browse Iconclass
- kneeling on both knees (+ saluting, showing reverence) [31A2331(+911)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm raised upward (+ holding something) [31A2511(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward (+ holding something) [31A2512(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- looking downwards [31B6212] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man (+ four persons) [31D14(+74)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult woman [31D15] Search | Browse Iconclass
- baring the head, lifting one's hat [33A11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown (+ men's clothes) [41D211(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown (+ women's clothes) [41D211(+82)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear (+ men's clothes) [41D221(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ass, donkey [46C13142] Search | Browse Iconclass
- saddle [46C131614] Search | Browse Iconclass
- leading a horse by the reins; rider beside his horse (+ variant) [46C13187(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- prick, goad [46C1461] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- allegorical representations ~ religion; 'Religione', 'Religione de SS. Mauritio e Lazaro', 'Religione vera christiana' (Ripa) [11P12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Misuse, Misemployment (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54BB11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Arrogance; 'Arroganza' (Ripa) [57AA644] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Honour, Glory; 'Ampiezza della Gloria', 'Gloria', 'Gloria de prencipi', 'Gloria & Honore', 'Honore', 'Sublimat� della Gloria' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [59B31(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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