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The Golden Verses of Pythagoras · 82 of 122 · tr. Florence M. Firth

Section 13 (part 49)

545 Τὸν δ᾽ αὖτε προσέειπε Προμηθεὺς ἀγκυλομήτης ἦκ᾽ ἐπιμειδήσας, δολίης δ᾽ οὐ λήθετο τέχνης· Ζεῦ κύδιστε μέγιστε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων, τῶν δ᾽ ἕλε᾽, ὁπποτέρην σε ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἀνώγει. Φῆ ῥα δολοφρονέων· Ζεὺς δ᾽ ἄφθιτα μήδεα εἰδὼς 550 γνῶ ῥ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ἠγνοίησε δόλον· κακὰ δ᾽ ὄσσετο θυμῷ θνητοῖς ἀνθρώποισι, τὰ καὶ τελέεσθαι ἔμελλεν. Χερσὶ δ᾽ ὅ γ᾽ ἀμφοτέρῃσιν ἀνείλετο λευκὸν ἄλειφαρ. Χώσατο δὲ φρένας ἀμφί, χόλος δέ μιν ἵκετο θυμόν, ὡς ἴδεν ὀστέα λευκὰ βοὸς δολίῃ ἐπὶ τέχνῃ. 555 Ἐκ τοῦ δ᾽ ἀθανάτοισιν ἐπὶ χθονὶ φῦλ᾽ ἀνθρώπων καίουσ᾽ ὀστέα λευκὰ θυηέντων ἐπὶ βωμῶν.
Themes
Covenanttheology

A binding agreement or relationship between the divine and a people or individual, establishing mutual obligations.

The division of the ox establishes a binding ritual agreement regarding what portions are offered to the gods versus consumed by humans.

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Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

[auto] The deities are described with human-like genealogy (born from Earth and Heaven) and social dynamics (honor, favor).

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

[auto] Zeus and Hecate are depicted as active, responsive deities who grant honor, power, and happiness to humans.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

The maintenance of a state of cleanliness—physical, moral, or spiritual—required for encounter with the divine.

[auto] The passage explicitly links the acceptance of prayers to performing holy good deeds according to divine law.

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