Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers

Plutarch and the Greece of His Age
punishment does not end in this life. Retribution
is not delayed until after death; it visits the sinner in
this world. Or if he is so fortunate as to end his
clays in peace, so far as mortals can see, he entails a
curse upon his descendants. The iniquities of
the fathers are visited upon the children unto the
third and fourth generation. But the punishment of
the wicked does not end with this life. The soul
bears the imprint of its crimes after it has left the
That God sometimes permits a wicked man to
body.
end his days in peace but that He has fastened a curse
on his offspring, is a prominent article in the creed
of many of the older Greek writers. It is often re
ferred to by Herodotus. So firmly convinced is he
that all wrong-doing must be atoned for that when he
finds an instance where the law does not appear to
hold good he confesses himself at a loss to account
for the failure of its operation. Not only individuals
but nations as well must expiate crimes committed
and wrongs done by their representatives in an
official capacity. And there is no doubt that the in
fluence of this belief was most wholesome. Much of
what Plutarch says on this point is probably fanci
ful, especially \vhen he appeals to the testimony of
history; but what he records is in keeping with
his philosophy and has therefore a strong personal
interest. Moreover, he furnishes us with some in
teresting testimony as to the prevalence of a belief in
rewards and punishments among men outside the
pale of Christianity.
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