397–398
Socrates
Socrates. Something of this sort, then, is what I suspect: I think the earliest men in Greece believed only in those gods in whom many foreigners believe today— sun, moon, earth, stars, and sky. They saw that all these were always moving in their courses and running, and so they called them gods (θεούς) from this running (θεῖν) nature; then afterwards, when they gained knowledge of the other gods, they called them all by the same name. Is that likely to be true, or not?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. Yes, very likely.
Socrates
Socrates. What shall we consider next?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. Spirits, obviously.
Socrates
Socrates. Hermogenes, what does the name spirits really mean? See if you think there is anything in what I am going to say.
10
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. Go on and say it.
Socrates
Socrates. Do you remember who Hesiod says the spirits are?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. I do not recall it.
Socrates
Socrates. Nor that he says a golden race was the first race of men to be born?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. Yes, I do know that.
15
Socrates
Socrates. Well, he says of it:But since Fate has covered up this race, They are called holy spirits under the earth,Noble, averters of evil, guardians of mortal men.Hes. WD 122 ff
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. What of that?
Socrates
Socrates. Why, I think he means that the golden race was not made of gold, but was good and beautiful. And I regard it as a proof of this that he further says we are the iron race.
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. True.
Socrates
Socrates. Don’t you suppose that if anyone of our day is good, Hesiod would say he was of that golden race?
5
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. Quite likely.
