Taylor - Eleusianian and Bacchic Mysteries.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

Bacchic Mysteries. 131the fable which asserts that Saturn devouredhis children :for it insinuates nothing morethan the nature of an intellectual (or intuitional) god ;into itself.since every such intellect returnsWe regard fables physically whenwe speak concerning the operations of thegods about the world as when;consideringSaturn the same as Time, and calling theparts of time the children of the universe, weassert that the children are devoured by theirparent.But we utter fables in a spiritualmode, when we contemplate the operationsbecause the intellections of ourof the soul ;souls, though by a discursive energy they goforth into other things, yet abide in theirparents.Lastly, fables are material, such asthe Egyptians ignorantly employ, considering and calling corporeal natures divinities :such as Isis, earth, Osiris, humidity, Typhon,heator, again, denominating Saturn water,Adonis, fruits, and Bacchus, wine.And, indeed, to assert that these are dedicated to thegods, in the same manner as herbs, stones, andanimals, is the part of wise men but to call;them gods is alone the province of fools and