按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
with the privy member made to move and not much less in size than the
rest of the body： and a flute goes before and they follow singing the
praises of Dionysos。 As to the reason why the figure has this member
larger than is natural and moves it； though it moves no other part of the
body； about this there is a sacred story told。 Now I think that Melampus
the son of Amytheon was not without knowledge of these rites of sacrifice；
but was acquainted with them： for Melampus is he who first set forth to
the Hellenes the name of Dionysos and the manner of sacrifice and the
procession of the /phallos/。 Strictly speaking indeed； he when he made it
known did not take in the whole； but those wise men who came after him
made it known more at large。 Melampus then is he who taught of the
/phallos/ which is carried in procession for Dionysos； and from him the
26
… Page 27…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
Hellenes learnt to do that which they do。 I say then that Melampus being a
man of ability contrived for himself an art of divination； and having learnt
from Egypt he taught the Hellenes many things； and among them those
that concern Dionysos； making changes in some few points of them： for I
shall not say that that which is done in worship of the god in Egypt came
accidentally to be the same with that which is done among the Hellenes；
for then these rites would have been in character with the Hellenic worship
and not lately brought in； nor certainly shall I say that the Egyptians took
from the Hellenes either this or any other customary observance： matters
concerning Dionysos from Cadmos the Tyrian and from those who came
with him from Phenicia to the land which we now call Boeotia。
Moreover the naming of almost all the gods has come to Hellas from
Egypt： for that it has come from the Barbarians I find by inquiry is true；
and I am of opinion that most probably it has come from Egypt； because；
except in the case of Poseidon and the Dioscuroi （in accordance with that
which I have said before）； and also of Hera and Hestia and Themis and the
Charites and Nereids； the Egyptians say themselves： but as for the gods
whose names they profess that they do not know； these I think received
their naming from the Pelasgians； except Poiseidon； but about this god the
Hellenes learnt from the Libyans； for no people except the Libyans have
had the name of Poseidon from the first and have paid honour to this god
always。 Nor； it may be added； have the Egyptians any custom of
worshipping heroes。 These observances then； and others besides these
which I shall mention； the Hellenes have adopted from the Egyptians； but
to make； as they do the images of Hermes with the /phallos/ they have
learnt not from the Egyptians but from the Pelasgians； the custom having
been received by the Athenians first of all the Hellenes and from these by
the rest； for just at the time when the Athenians were beginning to rank
among the Hellenes； the Pelasgians became dwellers with them in their
land； and from this very cause it was that they began to be counted as
Hellenes。 Whosoever has been initiated in the mysteries of the Cabeiroi；
which the Samothrakians perform having received them from the
Pelasgians； that man knows the meaning of my speech； for these very
Pelasgians who became dwellers with the Athenians used to dwell before
27
… Page 28…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
that time in Samothrake； and from them the Samothrakians received their
mysteries。 So then the Athenians were the first of the Hellenes who made
the images of Hermes with the /phallos/； having learnt from the Pelasgians；
and the Pelasgians told a sacred story about it； which is set forth in the
mysteries in Samothrake。 Now the Pelasgians formerly were wont to make
all their sacrifices calling upon the gods in prayer； as I know from that
which I heard at Dodona； but they gave no title or name to any of them；
for they had not yet heard any； but they called them gods from some such
notion as this； that they had set in order all things and so had the
distribution of everything。 Afterwards when much time had elapsed； they
learnt from Egypt the names of the gods； all except Dionysos； for his name
they learnt long afterwards； and after a time the Pelasgians consulted the
Oracle at Dodona about the names； for this prophetic seat is accounted to
be the most ancient of the Oracles which are among the Hellenes； and at
that time it was the only one。 So when the Pelasgians asked the Oracle at
Dodona whether they should adopt the names which had come from the
Barbarians； the Oracle in reply bade them make use of the names。 From
this time they sacrificed using the names of the gods； and from the
Pelasgians the Hellenes afterwards received them： but when the several
gods had their birth； or whether they all were from the beginning； and of
what form they are； they did not learn till yesterday； as it were； or the day
before： for Hesiod and Homer I suppose were four hundred years before
my time and not more； and these are they who made a theogony for the
Hellenes and gave the titles to the gods and distributed to them honours
and arts； and set forth their forms： but the poets who are said to have been
before these men were really in my opinion after them。 Of these things the
first are said by the priestesses of Dodona； and the latter things； those
namely which have regard to Hesiod and Homer； by myself。
As regards the Oracles both that among the Hellenes and that in Libya；
the Egyptians tell the following tale。 The priests of the Theban Zeus told
me that two women in the service of the temple had been carried away
from Thebes by Phenicians； and that they had heard that one of them had
been sold to go into Libya and the other to the Hellenes； and these women；
they said； were they who first founded the prophetic seats among the
28
… Page 29…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
nations which have been named： and when I inquired whence they knew
so perfectly of this tale which they told； they said in reply that a great
search had been made by the priests after these women； and that they