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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,42294229    Lit., “Euhemerus being opened.” whose books were translated by Ennius into Latin that all might be thoroughly acquainted with them; or Nicanor42304230    So Elm. and Orelli, reading Nicanore for the ms. Nicagora, retained by all other edd. 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 carefully42314231    Lit., “with the care of scrupulous diligence.” 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 virgin42324232    Meursius would join virginis to Minerva, thinking it an allusion to her title Παρθένος. Diana; by what stratagems Liber strove to make himself master of the Indian empire; what was the condition, the duty, the gain42334233    These terms are employed of hetæræ. 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 names42344234    Lit., “the title itself of their names was.” were formed.


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