Thesauros Literature Philosophy Κρατύλος

Κρατύλος

Κρατύλος Plato
408 Socrates. Well, the true part is smooth and divine and dwells aloft among the gods, but falsehood dwells below among common men, is rough and like the tragic goatThe chorus of the primitive performances from which tragedy developed appeared as satyrs, clad in goat-skins. Hence the name τραγῳδία (goat-song). The adjective τραγικός may mean either goat-like or tragic. In this passage it has both meanings.; for tales and falsehoods are most at home there, in the tragic life.
408 Hermogenes. Certainly.
408 Socrates. Then Pan, who declares and always moves (ἀεὶ πολῶν) all, is rightly called goat-herd (αἰπόλος), being the double-natured son of Hermes, smooth in his upper parts, rough and goat-like in his lower parts. And Pan, if he is the son of Hermes, is either speech or the brother of speech, and that brother resembles brother is not at all surprising. But, as I said, my friend, let us get away from the gods.
408 Hermogenes. From such gods as those, if you like, Socrates; but why should you not tell of another kind of gods, such as sun, moon, stars, earth, ether, air, fire, water, the seasons, and the year?
408 Socrates. You are imposing a good many tasks upon me; however, if it will give you pleasure, I am willing.
408 Hermogenes. It will give me pleasure.
408 Socrates. What, then, do you wish first? Shall we discuss the sun (Ἥλιος), as you mentioned it first?
408 Hermogenes. By all means.
409 Socrates. I think it would be clearer if we were to use the Doric form of the name. The Dorians call it Ἅλιος. Now ἅλιος might be derived from collecting (ἁλίζειν) men when he rises, or because he always turns (ἀεὶ εἱλεῖν) about the earth in his course, or because he variegates the products of the earth, for variegate is identical with αἰολλεῖν.
409 Hermogenes. And what of the moon, Selene?
409 Socrates. That name appears to put Anaxagoras in an uncomfortable position.
409 Hermogenes. How so?
409 Socrates. Why, it seems to have anticipated by many years the recent doctrine of Anaxagoras, that the moon receives its light from the sun.

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