It occurs to me that while Apollon’s epithet λοξίας “oblique” dates back to Aiskhulos, his epithet φοῖβος “clear” dates all the way back to Homeros. In the same way, I think the Egyptians had it right: the best place to hide things is in plain sight.
“Different goals for different souls.”
εἰς δὲ τέλος
And finally into μάντεις
prophets τε καὶ
and ὑμνόπολοι
poets καὶ
and ἰητροί
healers
καὶ
and πρόμοι
champions ἀνθρώποισιν
to humankind ἐπιχθονίοισι
on the earth πέλονται·
they become,
ἔνθεν
thence ἀναβλαστοῦσι
to sprout up as θεοὶ
gods, τιμῇσι φέριστοι.
honored above all.
(Empedokles, fr. 146.)
You know, I don’t think it occurred to me before that lord Apollon rules each of prophets, poets, healers, and champions...
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