The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 1 (of 2)Clement, of Alexandria, Saint
Religion
The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Clement, of Alexandria, Saint
Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
And as appears to me, it was in consequence of perceiving the great
benefit which is conferred through wise men, that the men themselves
were honoured and philosophy cultivated publicly by all the Brahmins,
and the Odrysi, and the Getæ. And such were strictly deified by the
race of the Egyptians, by the Chaldeans and the Arabians, called the
Happy, and those that inhabited Palestine, by not the least portion
of the Persian race, and by innumerable other races besides these.
And it is well known that Plato is found perpetually celebrating the
barbarians, remembering that both himself and Pythagoras learned the
most and the noblest of their dogmas among the barbarians. Wherefore
he also called the races of the barbarians, “races of barbarian
philosophers,” recognising, in the Phædrus, the Egyptian king, and
shows him to us wiser than Theut, whom he knew to be Hermes. But in
the Charmides, it is manifest that he knew certain Thracians who were
said to make the soul immortal. And Pythagoras is reported to have
been a disciple of Sonches the Egyptian arch-prophet; and Plato, of
Sechnuphis of Heliopolis; and Eudoxus, of Cnidius of Konuphis, who was
also an Egyptian. And in his book, _On the Soul_,[935] Plato again
manifestly recognises prophecy, when he introduces a prophet announcing
the word of Lachesis, uttering predictions to the souls whose destiny
is being fixed. And in the _Timæus_ he introduces Solon, the very
wise, learning from the barbarian. The substance of the declaration
is to the following effect: “O Solon, Solon, you Greeks are always
children. And no Greek is an old man. For you have no learning that is
hoary with age.”[936]
Democritus appropriated the Babylonian ethic discourses, for he is said
to have combined with his own compositions a translation of the column
of Acicarus.[937] And you may find the distinction notified by him when
he writes, “Thus says Democritus.” About himself, too, where, pluming
himself on his erudition, he says, “I have roamed over the most ground
of any man of my time, investigating the most remote parts. I have seen
the most skies and lands, and I have heard of learned men in very great
numbers. And in composition no one has surpassed me; in demonstration,
not even those among the Egyptians who are called Arpenodaptæ, with all
of whom I lived in exile up to eighty years.” For he went to Babylon,
and Persis, and Egypt, to learn from the Magi and the priests.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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