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The Golden Verses of Pythagoras · 83 of 122 · tr. Florence M. Firth

Section 13 (part 50)

Τὸν δὲ μέγ᾽ ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς· Ἰαπετιονίδη, πάντων πέρι μήδεα εἰδώς, ὦ πέπον, οὐκ ἄρα πω δολίης ἐπιλήθεο τέχνης. 560 Ὥς φάτο χωόμενος Ζεὺς ἄφθιτα μήδεα εἰδώς· ἐκ τούτου δὴ ἔπειτα δόλου μεμνημένος αἰεὶ οὐκ ἐδίδου μελίῃσι πυρὸς μένος ἀκαμάτοιο θνητοῖς ἀνθρώποις, οἳ ἐπὶ χθονὶ ναιετάουσιν. Ἀλλά μιν ἐξαπάτησεν ἐὺς πάις Ἰαπετοῖο 565 κλέψας ἀκαμάτοιο πυρὸς τηλέσκοπον αὐγὴν ἐν κοΐλῳ νάρθηκι· δάκεν δέ ἑ νειόθι θυμόν, Ζῆν᾽ ὑψιβρεμέτην, ἐχόλωσε δέ μιν φίλον ἦτορ, ὡς ἴδ᾽ ἐν ἀνθρώποισι πυρὸς τηλέσκοπον αὐγήν.
Themes
Covenanttheology

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

The event establishes a binding ritual relationship where human tribes offer bones to the gods on altars in exchange for meat.

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Forbidden Knowledgesoteriology

Transgressive knowing acquired against divine prohibition — the Watchers' teaching of metallurgy, sorcery, and cosmetics in 1 Enoch, the Gnostic Eve narratives, the Promethean mytheme; explicitly contrasted with gnosis_direct_knowledge, which is salvific.

The text centers on the Promethean mytheme of using deceitful craft (techne) against divine will to alter the relationship between gods and humans.

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Ritual Firepraxis

Fire as medium of divine presence.

The passage concludes with the establishment of burning white bones on altars as a perpetual ritual practice for the immortals.

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Anthropomorphismtheology

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

[auto] The divine figure is described performing human-like actions such as sitting with kings, moving among crowds, and standing by horses.

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Living Godtheology

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

[auto] The passage centrally depicts a goddess who actively intervenes in human affairs such as war, politics, and games according to her own will.

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