THERAPEIT'VE, a pious "Jewish" sect, mentioned in a book ascribed to Philo, as living chiefly on the lake Mareotis, near Alexandria, but as having also numerous colonies in other parts of the world. They are described as in many respects like the Essenes (q.v.). Like them, they lived unmarried in a kind of monastery, were very moderate with regard to food and dress, the latter consisting in a white garment; prayed at sunrise, their face turned to the sun; studied much in the Scriptures—which they explained allegorically—and in other "ancient books," and were principally opposed to slavery. The chief differences between these two " sects," as they are described to us, consisted in the Therapeutic simply living a life of contemplatkm, while the Essenes fol lowed many occupations, such as agriculture, arts, etc.; the latter lived together, while the Therapeutic lived separately in their cells; the Essenes not only took an interest in other human beings, but actively assisted them; while the Therapeutm, who also, before they entered the brotherhood, divided their property among their relatives, contrary to the " common treasure" of the Essenes, kept in utter ignorance of the outer world. Again, the Therapeutic knew none of the divisions which marked the degrees of initiation among the Essenes, but they held the temple at Jerusalem in much higher veneration than the latter; the Therapeutic brought up boys to the brotherhood, while the Essenes only recruited themselves from grown-up people. One of the chief characteristics
of the Therapeutic was also the religious meals they used to hold in common on every seventh Sabbath; the Essenes having two such sacred meals daily. Many and striking are also the analogies offered by their mode of life and their doctrines to those of the Pytha goreans. Neither partook, e.g., of animal food or wine, and both admitted women to their assemblies, which were mostly concluded with hymns; and they both held the num ber seven sacred. Many theories have been broached in regard to this mysterious sect. One of the most plausible notions is the one—latterly much discussed—of the whole book De Vita Contemplativa, which treats of this sect, being falsely attributed to Philo. It is rather believed to be the work of an early Christian, intended to idealize the life of Christian monasticism and asceticism of the first centuries. See ESSENES.