Ζεὺς Τραγῳδός

Bölümler

1–2 2–3 4–5 5–6 6–7 7–10 10–11 11–13 13–14 14–15 15 16 17 18–19 19 20 21 22–23 24–25 25–26 27–28 29–30 30–31 31–32 32 33 33–36 36–38 38–39 39 40 41 42–43 43–44 44–46 46–47 48 49–51 51–52 53

İngilizce İngilizce İngilizce Yunanca

42–43

TIMOCLES

Well ‘then, all men and all nations have been mistaken in believing in gods and celebrating festivals?

DAMIS

Thank you kindly, Timocles, for-reminding me of what the nations believe... From that you can discern partitularly well that there is nothing in the theory of gods, for the confusion is great, and some believe one thing, some another. The Scythians offer sacrifice to a scimitar, the Thracians to Zamolxis, a runaway slave who came to them from Samos, the Phrygians to Men, the Ethiopians to Day, the Cyllenians to’ Phales, the Assyrians to a dove, the Persians to fire, and the Egyptians to water. And while all the Egyptians in common have water for a god, the people of Memphis have the bull, the people of Pelusium a wild onion, others an ibis or a crocodile, others a dog-faced god or a cat or a monkey. Moreover, taking them by villages, some hold the right shoulder a god and others, who dwell opposite them, the left; others, half.a skull, and others an earthen cup or dish. Isn’t that matter for laughter, good Timocles?

MOMUS

Didn't I tell you, gods, that all this would come out and be thoroughly looked into?

ZEUS

You did, Momus, and your criticism was just. I shall try to set it all right if we escape this immediate danger.

TIMOCLES

But, you god-hater, how about the oracles and pre- dictions of coming events? whose work can you call them except that of the gods and their providence?