DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0288
266
OF THE RELIOJtON OF GREEO..
Qropians, and afterwards by all the other Grecians : and a stately tem
pie, with a statue of white marble, was erected to him in the place where
he was swallowed up, saith my author, being about twelve stadia distant
from Oropus, a city in the confines of Attica and Boeotia, which for that
reason, is sometimes attributed to both countries. There was also a re-
markable altar dedicated to him in the same place. It was divided into
five parts ; the first of which was sacred to Hercules, Jupiter, and Pa?o-
nian Apollo ; the second, to the heroes and their wives ; the third to
Vesta, Mercury, Amphiaraus, and the sons of Amphilocus (for Alcmaeon,
the son of Amphiaraus, was not allowed to partake of any of the honours
paid to Amphilochus, or Amphiaraus, because he slew his mother Eri-
phyle) ; the fourth to Venus, Panacea, Jason, Hygia, and Paeonian Mi-
nerva ; the fifth part to the Nymphs, Pan, and the rivers Achelous and
Cephisus.
Answers were delivered in dreams: Jophon the Gnosian, who pub-
lished the ancient oracles in heroic verse, reports, that Amphiaraus re-
turned an answer to the Argives in verse ; but my author herein contra-
dicteth him, and reports farther, that it was the general opinion, that only
those who were inspired by Apollo gave answers after that manner ;
whereas, all the rest made predictions either by dreams or the flight of
birds, or the entrails of beasts. He adds, for a confirmation of what he
had said before, viz that these answers were given in dreams, that Am-
phiaraus was excellently skilled in the interpretation of dreams, and ca-
nonized for the invention of that art.
They that came to consult this oracle, were first to be purified by of-
fering sacrifice to Amphiaraus, and all the other gods, whose names were
inscribed on the altar (1) : Philostratus adds, they were to fast twenty-
four hours, and abstain three days from wine. After all, they offered a
ram in sacrifice to Amphiaraus ; then went to sleep, lying upon a victim's
skin, and in that posture expected a revelation by dream. In the same
manner did the people of Apulia Daunia expect answers from Podalarius,
who died there, and returned prophetic dreams to those that came to en-
quire of him. Whoever consulted him, was to sleep upon a sheep's skin
at his altar, as we learn from these words of Lycophron (2) ;
Xp»Ve/Kct6' u.ryov TttLei VHfAtpry fxriv.
They, whose aspiring:minds, curious to pry
Into the mystic records of events,
Ask aid of Podalirius, must sleep
Prostrate on sheep-skins, at his hallow'd fane,
. And thus receive the true prophetic dreams. h. h.
To return : all persons were admitted to this oracle, the Thebans only
excepted, who were to enjoy no benefit from Amphiaraus in this way ;
for, as Herodotus (3) reporteth, he gave them their option of two things,
viz. his counsel and advice, to direct them in time of necessity, or his
help and protection, to defead them in time of danger, telling them they
must not expect both ; whereupon they chose the latter, thinking they
had a greater need of defence than counsel, which they could be suffi-
ciently furnished with by Delpian Apollo.
This oracle was had in very great esteem : Herodotus (4) reckons it
(1) Vita Apellonii Tyansei, Lib. ii.
(2) Cassandra, v. 1050.
(3) Lib. viii. cap. 134.
(4) Lib. i. cap. 46.
OF THE RELIOJtON OF GREEO..
Qropians, and afterwards by all the other Grecians : and a stately tem
pie, with a statue of white marble, was erected to him in the place where
he was swallowed up, saith my author, being about twelve stadia distant
from Oropus, a city in the confines of Attica and Boeotia, which for that
reason, is sometimes attributed to both countries. There was also a re-
markable altar dedicated to him in the same place. It was divided into
five parts ; the first of which was sacred to Hercules, Jupiter, and Pa?o-
nian Apollo ; the second, to the heroes and their wives ; the third to
Vesta, Mercury, Amphiaraus, and the sons of Amphilocus (for Alcmaeon,
the son of Amphiaraus, was not allowed to partake of any of the honours
paid to Amphilochus, or Amphiaraus, because he slew his mother Eri-
phyle) ; the fourth to Venus, Panacea, Jason, Hygia, and Paeonian Mi-
nerva ; the fifth part to the Nymphs, Pan, and the rivers Achelous and
Cephisus.
Answers were delivered in dreams: Jophon the Gnosian, who pub-
lished the ancient oracles in heroic verse, reports, that Amphiaraus re-
turned an answer to the Argives in verse ; but my author herein contra-
dicteth him, and reports farther, that it was the general opinion, that only
those who were inspired by Apollo gave answers after that manner ;
whereas, all the rest made predictions either by dreams or the flight of
birds, or the entrails of beasts. He adds, for a confirmation of what he
had said before, viz that these answers were given in dreams, that Am-
phiaraus was excellently skilled in the interpretation of dreams, and ca-
nonized for the invention of that art.
They that came to consult this oracle, were first to be purified by of-
fering sacrifice to Amphiaraus, and all the other gods, whose names were
inscribed on the altar (1) : Philostratus adds, they were to fast twenty-
four hours, and abstain three days from wine. After all, they offered a
ram in sacrifice to Amphiaraus ; then went to sleep, lying upon a victim's
skin, and in that posture expected a revelation by dream. In the same
manner did the people of Apulia Daunia expect answers from Podalarius,
who died there, and returned prophetic dreams to those that came to en-
quire of him. Whoever consulted him, was to sleep upon a sheep's skin
at his altar, as we learn from these words of Lycophron (2) ;
Xp»Ve/Kct6' u.ryov TttLei VHfAtpry fxriv.
They, whose aspiring:minds, curious to pry
Into the mystic records of events,
Ask aid of Podalirius, must sleep
Prostrate on sheep-skins, at his hallow'd fane,
. And thus receive the true prophetic dreams. h. h.
To return : all persons were admitted to this oracle, the Thebans only
excepted, who were to enjoy no benefit from Amphiaraus in this way ;
for, as Herodotus (3) reporteth, he gave them their option of two things,
viz. his counsel and advice, to direct them in time of necessity, or his
help and protection, to defead them in time of danger, telling them they
must not expect both ; whereupon they chose the latter, thinking they
had a greater need of defence than counsel, which they could be suffi-
ciently furnished with by Delpian Apollo.
This oracle was had in very great esteem : Herodotus (4) reckons it
(1) Vita Apellonii Tyansei, Lib. ii.
(2) Cassandra, v. 1050.
(3) Lib. viii. cap. 134.
(4) Lib. i. cap. 46.