29. And here, indeed, we can show that all those whom you represent to us as and call gods, were but men, by quoting either Euhemerus of Acragas,4229 whose books were translated by Ennius into Latin that all might be thoroughly acquainted with them; or Nicanor4230 the Cyprian; or the Pellæan Leon; or Theodorus of Cyrene; or Hippo and Diagoras of Melos; or a thousand other writers, who have minutely, industriously, and carefully4231 brought secret things to light with noble candour. We may, I repeat, at pleasure, declare both the acts of Jupiter, and the wars of Minerva and the virgin4232 Diana; by what stratagems Liber strove to make himself master of the Indian empire; what was the condition, the duty, the gain4233 of Venus; to whom the great mother was bound in marriage; what hope, what joy was aroused in her by the comely Attis; whence came the Egyptian Serapis and Isis, or for what reasons their very names4234 were formed.
Footnotes
- 4229
Lit., “Euhemerus being opened.”
- 4230
So Elm. and Orelli, reading Nicanore for the ms. Nicagora, retained by all other edd.
- 4231
Lit., “with the care of scrupulous diligence.”
- 4232
Meursius would join virginis to Minerva, thinking it an allusion to her title Παρθένος.
- 4233
These terms are employed of hetæræ.
- 4234
Lit., “the title itself of their names was.”