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Concerning Sacrifices, Greek Translation, Lucian of Samosata, New Testament Background, NT Background
The previous post in this series may be found here: https://memoirandremains.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/lucian-of-samosata-concerning-sacrifices-12/
Then there is the public proclamation:“No one may enter the sacred space washed clean who is not himself clean.”
Yet, there stands the priest, his hands bloody, just like the Cyclopes, cutting out guts, tearing out hearts, and shaking blood on the altar; what piety is not completed?
After a fire starts, he deposits a goat bearing its skin or a still-wooled sheep. The divine and reverent steam drifts above, gently scattering to heaven.
Now the Scythian rejects all such sacrifices, instead leading humiliated men that may be presented to Artemis — and this pleases that god.
Greek Text and Notes:
καὶ τὸ μὲν πρόγραμμά φησι μὴ παριέναι εἰς τὸ εἴσω τῶν περιρραντηρίων ὅστις μὴ καθαρός ἐστιν . τὰς χεῖρας· ὁ δὲ ἱερεὺς αὐτὸς ἕστηκεν ᾑμαγμένος καὶ ὥσπερ ὁ Κύκλωψ ἐκεῖνος ἀνατέμνων καὶ τὰ ἔγκατα ἐξαιρῶν καὶ καρδιουλκῶν καὶ τὸ αἷμα τῷ βωμῷ περιχέων καὶ τί γάρ οὐκ εὐσεβὲς ἐπιτελῶν; ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ πῦρ ἀνακαύσας ἐπέθηκε φέρων αὐτῇ δορᾷ τὴν αἶγα καὶ αὐτοῖς ἐρίοις τὸ πρόβατον ἡ δὲ κνῖσα θεσπέσιος καὶ ἱεροπρεπὴς χωρεῖ ἄνω καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν οὐρανὸν ἠρέμα διασκίδναται. ὁ μέν γε Σκύθης πάσας τὰς θυσίας ἀφεὶς καὶ ἡγησάμενος ταπεινὰς αὐτοὺς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τῇ Ἀρτέμιδι παρίστησι καὶ οὕτως ποιῶν ἀρέσκει τὴν θεόν.
καὶ τὸ μὲν πρόγραμμά φησι
and the on one hand [the] public pronouncement it
pro-graphein is to write before. As a noun it is a public pronouncement of any sort
It: the proclamation
μὴ παριέναι
not to be to permit
εἰς τὸ εἴσω τῶν περιρραντηρίων
one to be permitted of the around sprinkling [a very wooden translation]
περιρραντήριον, τό, an utensil for besprinkling, or a vessel for lustral water, Lat. aspergillum, Hdt.
II. περιρραντήρια ἀγορᾶς the parts of the forum sprinkled with lustral water, Lex ap. Aeschin.
I (the priest?) will not permit anyone to enter the space sprinkled
ὅστις μὴ καθαρός ἐστιν .
thus not clean is
such a one/anyone who is not clear
τὰς χεῖρας·
the hands
ὁ δὲ ἱερεὺς αὐτὸς ἕστηκεν ᾑμαγμένος
but the priest himself stands/stood bloody
The passive participle is adjectival.
καὶ ὥσπερ ὁ Κύκλωψ ἐκεῖνος ἀνατέμνων καὶ τὰ ἔγκατα ἐξαιρῶν
and just as the Cyclopes that cutting up also the innermost parts and carrying away
ἀνατέμνω ,
A.cut up, cut open, “νεκρόν” Hdt.2.87, cf. Luc.Prom. 21.
2. dissect, Hp.Ep.17, Arist.Spir.478a21.
3. open up, clear, ὁδούς, αὔλακας, Ph.1.16,20; “ὁδὸν καινήν” OGI701 (Egypt).
II. cut off, “κλήματα” Aeschin.3.166; “γεισηπόδισμα” IG22.463.63.
ἔγκατα, άτων, τά (Hom.+; Theocr. 22, 202; Pollux 6, 51; schol. on Nicander, Ther. 694; TestSol 18:13 A) inmost parts 1 Cl 18:10 (Ps 50:12). Addition to Papias 3:2 (s. Preuschen, Antilegomena p. 98).—DELG (etym. uncertain).
καὶ καρδιουλκῶν
and tearing out the heart
καρδι^-ουλκέω , (ἕλκω)
A.draw the heart of the victim at a sacrifice, Luc. Sacr.13.
II. κ. φοινίκινα perh. extract the pith (cf. “καρδία” 111), Sammelb.7188.43 (ii B.C.).
καὶ τὸ αἷμα τῷ βωμῷ περιχέων
and the blood to the alter bearing about
καὶ τί γάρ οὐκ εὐσεβὲς ἐπιτελῶν;
and who for not godliness completing
ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ πῦρ ἀνακαύσας ἐπέθηκε
up all but fire burning he placed
φέρων αὐτῇ δορᾷ τὴν αἶγα
bearing its own skin the goat
The article indicates the class of goats.
καὶ αὐτοῖς ἐρίοις τὸ πρόβατον
and to them wool the sheep
erion: wool
The wool is still on the sheep.
ἡ δὲ κνῖσα θεσπέσιος
but the steaming forth divine, godlike
De marks a change in attention from the condition of the sacrifice to the circumstances.
καὶ ἱεροπρεπὴς χωρεῖ ἄνω
and reverent departs above
καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν οὐρανὸν ἠρέμα διασκίδναται.
and to the same heaven gentley/soft disburses
διασκίδνημι , poet. for -σκεδάννυμι, Il.5.526, Hes.Th.875, Emp. 84.4, Hdt.2.25:—Pass., Luc.DDeor.20.5, Sacr.13.
ὁ μέν γε Σκύθης πάσας τὰς θυσίας
the on one hand even Skythes all the sacrifices
ἀφεὶς καὶ ἡγησάμενος
rejecting and having lead
ταπεινὰς αὐτοὺς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους
humbled/ them the men
τῇ Ἀρτέμιδι παρίστησι
to Artemis present
καὶ οὕτως ποιῶν ἀρέσκει τὴν θεόν.
and thus doing please the god.
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