Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 2 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 2 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"
Plutarch
Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy
_Solution._ Dinon the Tarentine general, being a man well skilled
in military affairs, when the citizens manifested their dislike of
a certain opinion of his by lifting up of hands, as the crier was
declaring the majority of votes, stretched forth his right hand and
said, This is better. Thus Theophrastus hath told the story; and
Apollodorus in his Rhytinus adds this: When the crier had said, ‘These
are the most suffrages;’ ‘Aye, but,’ saith Dinon, ‘these are the best,’
and ratifies the suffrages of the minority.
_Question 43._ Why is the city of the Ithacans called Alalcomenae?
_Solution._ It is affirmed by most, that it was because Anticlea
in the time of her virginity was forcibly seized upon by Sisyphus, and
brought forth Ulysses. But Ister the Alexandrian hath acquainted us in
his memoirs, that Anticlea was married to Laertes, and being brought
to a place about the Alalcomeneum in Boeotia, was delivered of Ulysses;
and therefore Ulysses called the city of Ithaca by the same name, to
renew the memory of the place in which he had been born.
_Question 44._ Who are the _Monophagi_ in Aegina?
_Solution._ Many of the Aeginetans that fought against Troy were
slain in those wars, but more of them by storm in the voyaging by
sea. The relations therefore receiving those few that were left, and
observing the other citizens overwhelmed with sorrow and grief, thought
it not convenient to make any public appearances of joy or to sacrifice
to the Gods; but every one entertained privately in his own house
his relations that were escaped with feasts and entertainments, they
themselves giving attendance to their fathers, kinsfolks, brethren,
and acquaintance, none of other families being admitted thereto. Hence
in imitation of these they celebrate a sacrifice to Neptune, which is
called the Thiasi, in which they revel without any noise, each family
apart by itself, for the space of sixteen days, without any servant
attending them; then offering sacrifices to Venus, they finish this
solemn feast. Upon this account they are called Monophagi, i.e. such as
feed apart by themselves.
_Question 45._ What is the reason that the statue of Labradean
Jupiter in Caria is made so as to hold an axe lifted up, and not a
sceptre or thunderbolt.
_Solution._ Because Hercules slaying Hippolyta, and taking away
from her amongst other weapons her pole-axe, presented it to Omphale.
After Omphale the kings of the Lydians carried it, as part of the
sacred regalities which they took by succession, until Candaules,
disdaining it, gave it to one of his favorites to carry. But afterwards
Gyges revolting waged war against him; Arselis also came to the aid
of Gyges from the Mylassians with a great strength, slew Candaules
with his favorite, and carried away the pole-axe into Caria with other
spoils; where furbishing up the statue of Jupiter, he put the axe into
his hand and called it the Labradean God,—for the Lydians call an axe
_labra_.
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