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 barbarians were inventors not only of philosophy, but almost of
every art. The Egyptians were the first to introduce astrology among
men. Similarly also the Chaldeans. The Egyptians first showed how
to burn lamps, and divided the year into twelve months, prohibited
intercourse with women in the temples, and enacted that no one should
enter the temples from a woman without bathing. Again, they were the
inventors of geometry. There are some who say that the Carians invented
prognostication by the stars. The Phrygians were the first who attended
to the flight of birds. And the Tuscans, neighbours of Italy, were
adepts at the art of the Haruspex. The Isaurians and the Arabians
invented augury, as the Telmesians divination by dreams. The Etruscans
invented the trumpet, and the Phrygians the flute. For Olympus and
Marsyas were Phrygians. And Cadmus, the inventor of letters among
the Greeks, as Euphorus says, was a Phœnician; whence also Herodotus
writes that they were called Phœnician letters. And they say that the
Phœnicians and the Syrians first invented letters; and that Apis, an
aboriginal inhabitant of Egypt, invented the healing art before Io came
into Egypt. But afterwards they say that Asclepius improved the art.
Atlas the Libyan was the first who built a ship and navigated the sea.
Kelmis and Damnaneus, Idæan Dactyli, first discovered iron in Cyprus.
Another Idæan discovered the tempering of brass; according to Hesiod,
a Scythian. The Thracians first invented what is called a scimitar
(ἄρπη),--it is a curved sword,--and were the first to use shields on
horseback. Similarly also the Illyrians invented the shield (πέλτη).
Besides, they say that the Tuscans invented the art of moulding clay;
and that Itanus (he was a Samnite) first fashioned the oblong shield
(θυρεός). Cadmus the Phœnician invented stonecutting, and discovered
the gold mines on the Pangæan mountain. Further, another nation, the
Cappadocians, first invented the instrument called the nabla,[946]
and the Assyrians in the same way the dichord. The Carthaginians were
the first that constructed a trireme; and it was built by Bosporus,
an aboriginal.[947] Medea, the daughter of Æetas, a Colchian, first
invented the dyeing of hair. Besides, the Noropes (they are a Pæonian
race, and are now called the Norici) worked copper, and were the first
that purified iron. Amycus the king of the Bebryci was the first
inventor of boxing-gloves.[948] In music, Olympus the Mysian practised
the Lydian harmony; and the people called Troglodytes invented the
sambuca,[949] a musical instrument. It is said that the crooked pipe
was invented by Satyrus the Phrygian; likewise also diatonic harmony
by Hyagnis, a Phrygian too; and notes by Olympus, a Phrygian; as also
the Phrygian harmony, and the half-Phrygian and the half-Lydian, by
Marsyas, who belonged to the same region as those mentioned above. And
the Doric was invented by Thamyris the Thracian. We have heard that
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