Library › Eusebius of Caesarea › On the Theophania
On the Theophania
Eusebius of Caesarea, tr. Lee, 1843
But, if you wish to investigate things more ancient than these, contemplate with your …
But, if you wish to investigate things more ancient than these, contemplate with your mind him who was in Delphos, and held his seat (there) in the presence of the Greeks. I speak of the Pythian; of him who was preached to all the Greeks, and who proclaimed to the Lydian (Crœsus),—but was infirm when he did so,—“I know the number of the sand, and the measure of the sea: the deaf I understand, and the dumb I hear.” He therefore, sent to this same (as) a reward for this song, the bricks of gold of two talents (weight), the phials of gold, and bowls in like manner. Nevertheless, Crœsus was, with this his declaration, all infirmity: nor did this Deity in any way help those descendants of his house, so that they might live happily and soberly. On the contrary, Pisistratus became embittered against the Athenians, while this Pythian was seer among the Greeks, and the rest of the Gods had dominion over them, and were even partakers in (their) wars! The people of Argus accordingly, fought against the Corinthians; the Lacedemonians, against the Træzenians; the Locrians again, waged war with the other Greeks, and the Corcyreans with others. Messena too, was taken four times by the Lacedemonians; and the Arcadians were reduced! The walls of the Orchomenians were also rased to the foundations, and the Athenians overcame the people of Ægina: and again, the Megarians, the Corinthians; the Lacedemonians, the Athenians; the Athenians, the Bœotians; and the Locrians, the people of Phocis! These things therefore, (did) all the Greeks to the Greeks; the Gods nevertheless, sitting at the side of Jupiter while all these came to pass! The Clarian Pythius; that of Dodona, which was in Epirus, did—since they were Demons filled with fumes,—very gladly receive the sacrifices which were of Demons, both the sacrificial bestial hecatombs of bulls, and those human sacrifices, which were of their own friends! And, while they were inflamed with this vile delirium and love of war, and were (even) rabid against one another; these Grecian Gods,—behold! when with them; these friends, (I say) and provident beings, these lovers and guardians of the Greeks,—restrained them not! But, if we must speak truly, these were the friends of war; these the haters of mankind; these the contenders with God! For, they were the cause of all these things, because they delighted in the slaughter of mankind. And when they had it not in their power to delight in war, they forthwith did so in human sacrifices, and in the libations of human blood, with which they glutted themselves in every city!