Cosmos of the Ancients

The Greek Philosophers on Myth and Cosmology

Pindar

he lyrical poet Pindar (c. 520-476 BC) would not have the gods treated disrespectfully. In the beginning of his Olympian Odes he states: "In truth it is seemly for man to say of the gods nothing ignoble; for so he giveth less cause for blame."

He goes on to tell how "some envious neighbours" have added to the story of the gods inviting a human being, Tantalus, to join them, that they cut him up and devoured him. "Far be it from me to call any one of the blessed gods a cannibal! I stand aloof." He did not object to the idea of the gods acting, even mercilessly, toward humans - but as a punishment, well deserved, and not for some deranged pleasure of theirs.

Pindar. Roman copy of a Greek 5th Century portrait.

To Pindar the gods are distant and superior indeed, and mortal man cannot hope to find them. Because he is mortal, it is impossible for him. Yet, there is something in man, which does not suffer death, but is released from the body at the moment of its passing, and therefore has to be of divine origin:

And, while the body of all men is subject to over-mastering death, an image of life remaineth alive, for it alone cometh from the gods. But it sleepeth, while the limbs are active; yet, to them that sleep, in many a dream it giveth presage of a decision of things delightful or doleful.

Literature

Sandys, John, The Odes of Pindar, Cambridge, Massachusetts 1946.

© Stefan Stenudd 2000

The Greek Philosophers

Introduction

Thales

Anaximander

Anaximenes

Pherecydes of Syros

Pythagoras

Xenophanes

Theagenes

Hecataeus

Heraclitus

Pindar

Parmenides

Anaxagoras

Empedocles

Herodotus

Gorgias

Melissus

Protagoras

Euripides

Prodicus of Ceos

Leucippus

Democritus

Critias

Antisthenes

Diagoras of Melos

Plato

Aristotle

Epicurus

Euhemerus

Table of the Greek Philosophers

Literature

The book

Aristotle

Introduction

Aristotle's Life

Timeline

Aristotle's Poetics

Aristotle's Cosmology

Cosmos of the Ancients. Book by Stefan Stenudd.

Cosmos of the Ancients - the Book

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