THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
These thoughts can be aligned with our previous discussion. The region of Egypt, abundant in water, was caused by the Almighty God to become dry, thereby enabling those who wished to traverse its lakes and rivers to do so more easily. The land itself found a division; some inhabited the fertile fields, cultivating extensive vineyards, while others dwelled by the lakes, gathering whatever resources they could—fishing, harvesting papyrus for paper, and producing fine linen. Those residing beside the lakes are referred to as shepherds, for they tend large herds of cattle, yet they suffer from a significant scarcity of bread, wine, and other essentials.
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When the waters recede, they will seek drinking water by digging along the shorelines, as rivers and canals will run dry, and every body of water will experience desiccation. The vegetation in these waters will perish, leading the fishermen and those who craft flax and brew beer to face profound distress. In times of dwindling water supplies, they will feel the sting of deprivation in all that once brought them joy and fulfilled their needs.
This scenario serves as a vivid historical lesson. Should one desire to delve deeper into alternative interpretations regarding the absence of water, they could equate these waters with the empty and futile reasoning of certain Greek philosophers. The fish, papyrus, and reeds symbolize the masses, while the fishermen represent those who skillfully lure the unsuspecting crowd away, leading them astray. When the waters dry up, those who rely on this flow will lament and suffer, for if the source of their nourishment is exhausted, all that depends on it will also wither.
Rather than offering the wine that brings joy to the heart, they produce a false and hollow doctrine resembling beer. They may feel satisfied that their teachings consist of airy and insubstantial rhetoric. This connects to the notion of fine linen and well-prepared flax, suggesting that trivial matters often become the focus of their clever discussions, yet these remain ultimately fruitless and filled with damaging fables. Their brew is cold, akin to the Egyptians' murky drink—such is their discourse, which provides no real satisfaction, stoking an insatiable thirst and causing ailments that linger long after consumption.