268–269
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. You refer, I suppose, to the token of the golden lamb. Hermes revenged upon the Pelopidae the death of his son Myrtilus by causing a lamb with golden fleece to be born among the flocks of Atreus. When his claim to the succession was disputed, Atreus promised to show this prodigy to prove that the gods were on his side. Thyestes persuaded Aerope, the wife of Atreus, to give him the lamb, and Atreus was in danger of losing his kingdom, had not Zeus, who favored his claim, made the sun and the Pleiades return from their setting towards their rising. This is the form of the story given in a scholium on Eur. Orest. 988, and Plato seems to have this form in mind, though variants existed. The lamb was a token (σημεῖον) of the favor of the gods, and the changed course of the sun and stars was a testimony (μαρτυρήσας) to the right of Atreus.
Stranger
Str. Oh no; I mean the change in the rising and setting of the sun and the other heavenly bodies, how in those times they used to set in the quarter where they now rise, and used to rise where they now set, but the god at the time of the quarrel, you recall, changed all that to the present system as a testimony in favor of Atreus.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Yes, I’ve heard that, too.
Stranger
Str. And again we have often heard the tale of the reign of Cronus.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Yes, very often.
Stranger
Str. And how about the story that the ancient folk were earthborn and not begotten of one another?
5
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. That is one of the old tales, too.
