Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
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The Delay <strong>of</strong> the Deity<br />
with dissolve into nothing, like clouds or srnoke, as<br />
soon as they leave the body, he would have instituted so<br />
many ceremonies for the dead, <strong>and</strong> would still require<br />
large gifts <strong>and</strong> honors for the deceased, merely to<br />
impose upon <strong>and</strong> delude the credulous. For im<br />
part, I could never give up (my faith in) the<br />
immortality <strong>of</strong> the soul unless some one should again,<br />
like another Herakles, take away the tripod <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Pythia. <strong>and</strong> eradicate <strong>and</strong> destroy the oracle. So long<br />
as even in our day many such oracular responses are<br />
rendered, as they say were given to Korax the Naxian.<br />
it is impious to assert that the soul can die." Here<br />
Patrocleas asked,<br />
What was the response <strong>and</strong> who<br />
was this Korax? for to me both the name <strong>and</strong> the<br />
circumstance are unknown." "Not at all,"<br />
said I,<br />
"but I am to blame for using a cognomen instead<br />
<strong>of</strong> a name. The man who slew Archilochus in battle<br />
was called Kalondas, as you know; but he bore the<br />
eponym, Korax. Repelled at first by the Pythia for<br />
killing a devotee <strong>of</strong> the Muses, he next had recourse<br />
in order to secure<br />
to prayers <strong>and</strong> humble supplications<br />
his restoration to favor, then was comm<strong>and</strong>ed to repair<br />
to the habitation <strong>of</strong> Tettix, in order to appease the<br />
soul <strong>of</strong> Archilochus. This was at Taenarus. for<br />
thither, they say,<br />
Tettix the Cretan came with his<br />
fleet, founded a city <strong>and</strong> settled near an oracle <strong>of</strong> the<br />
dead. In like manner, also, an oracle came to the<br />
Spartans, bidding them conciliate the soul <strong>of</strong> Pausanias,<br />
persons who could evoke the dead having been<br />
^ent for to Italy; these, after <strong>of</strong>fering sacrifice.<br />
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