Avodah Zarah

The Master said [above]: 'When it is certain that they dropped from the idol, all agree that they are prohibited.' Against this statement I cite the following: When stones dropped from a Mercurius, if they are seen to be connected with it they are prohibited, and if they do not appear to be connected with it they are permitted; and R. Ishmael says: Three stones are prohibited but two are permitted! — Raba explained: Do not read in this extract 'dropped' but 'were found'.  But is R. Ishmael's opinion that [if they are within four cubits] two stones are permitted? Behold it has been taught: R. Ishmael says: If two stones were found within the idol's reach  they are prohibited and three are prohibited even at a greater distance! — Raba explained: There is no contradiction; here  they were within one reach, and there within two reaches. How is this to be understood?  — There is a mound between [the stones] and the Mercurius. When they are lying in this manner  [are they to be considered a Mercurius]? For behold it has been taught: The following are the stones of a Beth-Kulis  — one here, a second next to it, and a third on the top of them!  — Raba explained: This teaching refers to the basis of a Mercurius. The palace of King Jannaeus  was destroyed. Idolaters came and set up a Mercurius there. Subsequently other idolaters came, who did not worship Mercurius, and removed the stones with which they paved the roads and streets. Some Rabbis abstained [from walking in them] while others did not. R. Johanan exclaimed, 'The son of the holy walks in them, so shall we abstain!' Who was 'the son of the holy'? — R. Menahem son of R. Simai. And why did they call him 'the son of the holy'? — Because he  would not gaze even at the image on a zuz.  What was the reason of him who abstained [from walking in these streets]? — He agreed with what R. Giddal said in the name of R. Hiyya b. Joseph: Whence is it that an idolatrous offering  can never be annulled? As it is stated, They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead  — as a dead body can never be annulled,  similarly an idolatrous offering can never be annulled. As for him who did not abstain, he said: We require [such an offering] to resemble what was offered within the Temple.  and we have not such here. R. Joseph b. Abba said: Rabbah b. Jeremiah once visited our town. When he came he brought with him this teaching: If an idolater took stones from a Mercurius and paved roads and streets with them,