LP0021 - The Cretans - Diodorus Siculus' Library of History - скачать в хорошем качестве

LP0021 - The Cretans - Diodorus Siculus' Library of History -

Legendary Passages #0021 - The Cretans - Diodorus Siculus' Library of History - Last time we heard the story of Europa and her descendants. This time we shall focus on her sons and the men and demigods of Crete. First is Heracles, though a distinction is made between the original and the son of Alcmena. Both slew the unjust and beasts of the the wild, but the older demigod founded a city in Egypt. Second is Britomartis, daughter of Zeus and Carme. She is called Dictynna for inventing hunting nets, not because she fled Minos and jumped into the nets of a fisherman. Third is Plutus, son of Demeter and Iasion. He is the god of wealth and abundance. He was the first to introduce the idea of safeguarding property and surpluses. The author asserts that worship of the gods originated in Crete, and spread from there to distant lands. While foreigners kept their mysteries secret, Cretans shared their sacred knowledge with all. Minos, the eldest son of Zeus and Europa, founded several cities, established laws, and with his naval fleet became master of the seas. He died in Sicily chasing down Daedalus. Rhadamanthys was known as the greatest of judges. He gave his son Erythrus the city of Erythrae; and gave Chios to Oenopion, son of Ariadne and Dionysus. After he dies he becomes a judge in Hades, along with his brother Minos. But not the third brother Sarpedon, who started a dynasty in Lycia. Cousins Idomenus, son of Deucalion, and Meriones, son of Molus, fought in the Trojan war, and their entombed remains are honored with sacrifices. Many peoples have settled in Crete. First were the Eteocretans, then the Pelasgians, and third the Dorians, led by Tectamus, son of Dorus. Fourth were barbarians. After the sons of Heracles, the Argives and Lacedaemonians colonized the island of Crete. Next time we shall hear more of Ariadne, Hippodameia, Semele, and Pasiphae. http://www.theoi.com/Text/DiodorusSic... The Cretans, a Legendary Passage, from Diodorus Siculus' Library of History, translated by C. H. Oldfather. [5.76.1] - [5.80.4] HERACLES THE GOD Of Heracles the myths relate that he was sprung from Zeus many years before that Heracles who was born of Alcmenê. As for this son of Zeus, tradition has not given us the name of his mother, but only states that he far excelled all others in vigour of body, and that he visited the inhabited earth, inflicting punishment upon the unjust and destroying the wild beasts which were making the land uninhabitable; for men everywhere he won their freedom, while remaining himself unconquered and unwounded, and because of his good deeds he attained to immortal honour at the hands of mankind. The Heracles who was born of Alcmenê was very much later, and, since he emulated the plan of life of the ancient Heracles, for the same reasons he attained to immortality, and, as time went on, he was though by men to be the same as the other Heracles because both bore the same name, and the deeds of the earlier Heracles were transferred to the later one, the majority of men being ignorant of the actual facts. And it is generally agreed that the most renowned deeds and honours which belong to the older god were concerned with Egypt, and that these, together with a city which he founded, are still known in that country. BRITOMARTIS Britomartis, who is also called Dictynna, the myths relate, was born at Caeno in Crete of Zeus and Carmê, the daughter of Eubulus who was the son of Demeter; she invented the nets (dictya) which are used in hunting, whence she has been called Dictynna, and she passed her time in the company of Artemis, this being the reason why some men think Dictynna and Artemis are one and the same goddess; and the Cretans have instituted sacrifices and built temples in honour of this goddess.