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7- D I V I N A T I O N A N D D I V I N E R S<br />

the priests themselves in 125 B.C. and the content seems broadly compatible<br />

with that date. It may be, however, that some of the text is a great deal older,<br />

perhaps being built up gradually into its present form over many years.<br />

The text is thoroughly obscure and baffling (and must have been so for the<br />

Romans too); it would have called for skill, effort and a good deal or laich from<br />

its interpreters. The first line (as we know from Cicero, On Divination<br />

11.111-12 was the custom in these oracles) is an acrostich: that is, it is com­<br />

posed of the first letter of each of the remaining lines of the oracle, reading<br />

downwards. The great bulk of the text is a description of an elaborate ceremo­<br />

nial ro be carried out, but the end of this extract provides a riddling reference<br />

to a war, seemingiy with the Greeks.<br />

Only the firsr half of the text is translated here. The translation is speculative<br />

at times, since the text has gaps and many uncertainties. The speaker is the<br />

Sibyl herself.<br />

See further: MacBain (1982) 129-31; Breglia Pulci Doria (1983); Parke<br />

(1988) 137-9.<br />

Pblegon of Tralles, On Wonders 10, in Diels (1890) 111-13 and R Jacoby, Die Fragmente<br />

der griechischen Historiker (1923-58), II B no.257, ft. 36.10.A.1-28<br />

Since I know the Fates, and know where each man's destiny shall take him, 1<br />

and know the<br />

wonders and griefs Fate has in store, all these things I can reveal through the power of my<br />

loom,' if you will meditate on these things in your heart, putting your trust<br />

in the loom's power. I tell you that a woman shall give birth to a hermaphrodite, having<br />

all the parts of males, but also those of females. 3<br />

1 shall no longer conceal, but explain in<br />

detail, the sacrifices for Demeter and chaste Persephone. The Goddess herself is misrress<br />

ol the loom, if you place your trust in these things, lor the most holy Demeter and the<br />

chaste Persephone. First of all, gather together a treasure of coined money, Irom the cities<br />

and from yourselves as you wish, then order the making of a sacrifice for Demeter,<br />

Mother of the Maiden. Then I bid you at public expense thrice nine bulls . . /'<br />

<br />

. . . sacrifice splendid , with fine horns and white hides, the ones you judge<br />

most beautiful of all. Bid the maidens, the number I have already said,^ perform these bv<br />

the Greek rite, 6<br />

calling upon the Queen Immortal with sacrifices, chastely and purely.<br />

Then after that let there be sacred gifts from your wives and let these — trusting in my<br />

loom - carry torches for the most holy Demeter. Then nexr, let the older women<br />

(knowing well the sacrifices) take thrice the same number of libations - wineless ones -<br />

and place them on a slender flame. And let the others (the young ones with a carefree<br />

spirit) taking as many to Persephone, Pluto's wife, let them pray to her, the most holy, the<br />

all-learned one, to remain in the fatherland while the war goes on, and pray for<br />

forgetfulness to fall upon the Greeks both of the city and of her . R<br />

180

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