Minucius Felix

Footnotes

^[1781] Four early editions read “instantius” for “in statuis,” making the meaning probably, “more keenly,” “more directly.”

Chapter XXI.—Argument: Octavius Attests the Fact that Men Were Adopted as Gods, by the Testimony of Euhemerus, Prodicus, Persæus, and Alexander the Great, Who Enumerate the Country, the Birthdays, and the Burial-Places of the Gods. Moreover He Sets Forth the Mournful Endings, Misfortunes, and Deaths of the Gods. And, in Addition, He Laughs at the Ridiculous and Disgusting Absurdities Which the Heathens Continually Allege About the Form and Appearance of Their Gods.

^[1782] Otherwise, according to some, “of the historians.”

^[1783] This treatise is mentioned by Athenagoras, Legat. pro Christ., ch. xxviii. [See vol. ii. p. 143, this series.] Also by Augustine, de Civ. Dei., lib. viii. ch. iii. and xxvii. In the fifth chapter Augustine calls the priest by the name of Leo.

^[1784] This passage is very doubtful both in its text and its meaning.

^[1785] Otherwise, “carried about.”

^[1786] Otherwise, “his approach is drowned.”

^[1787] Otherwise, “do they not show what are the sports and the honours of your gods?”

^[1788] These words are very variously read. Davis conjectures that they should be, “When Feretrius, he does not hear,” and explains the allusion as follows: that Jupiter Feretrius could only be approached with the spolia opima; and Minucius is covertly ridiculing the Romans, because, not having taken spolia opima for so long a time, they could not approach Feretrius.

^[1789] Otherwise, “pointed out,” or “designated.”

^[1790] Otherwise corrupted into Ætna.

Chapter XXII.—Argument: Moreover, These Fables, Which at First Were Invented by Ignorant Men, Were Afterwards Celebrated by Others, and Chiefly by Poets, Who Did No Little Mischief to the Truth by Their Authority. By Fictions of This Kind, and by Falsehoods of a Yet More Attractive Nature, the Minds of Young People are Corrupted, and Thence They Miserably Grow Old in These Beliefs, Although, on the Other Hand, the Truth is Obvious to Them If They Will Only Seek After It.

^[1791] Some read, “and it is marvellous how these have prejudiced,” etc.

^[1792] Some read, “the truth itself.”

^[1793] Plat., de Rep., lib. iii.

^[1794] Otherwise, “Then Vulcan fabricates,” etc.

^[1795] Otherwise, “judgments.”

Chapter XXIII.—Argument: Although the Heathens Acknowledge Their Kings to Be Mortal, Yet They Feign that They are Gods Even Against Their Own Will, Not Because of Their Belief in Their Divinity, But in Honour of the Power that They Have Exerted. Yet a True God Has Neither Rising Nor Setting. Thence Octavius Criticises the Images and Shrines of the Gods.

^[1796] “Be created” is a more probable reading.

^[1797] Otherwise, “that he had rashly been so deceived by the artificer in the material, as to make a god.”

^[1798] [Footbaths. See vol. ii., Theophilus, p. 92, and Athenagoras, p. 143.]