[B-Greek] Prevalence of holy books
Anita Clerke
clerke at humanperformance.cc
Tue Feb 19 07:32:41 EST 2008
Thanks Carl for the corrections. Regarding your statement concerning
the prevalence of LOGOI hIEROI (sacred books):
"It is used in the sense of a doctrinal formulation -- and where
I've seen it, it's used of a myth, myths, or a doctrinal formulation
of a
mystery cult." Could you supply a citation or two of when these words
are used in such a pagan context? I realise you may be too busy to do
this though.
Thanks very much Jeffrey for the list of citations of LOGOI hIEROI
(sacred books). I was particularly interested in such sacred books
that could be read aloud, so as to match the context of Lucian's use.
FYI, regarding the context of these citations:
The reference from Philo isn't in the same context as that of Lucian,
as Philo's "sacred words" in "On Dreams", doesn't appear to refer to
words that could actually be read aloud. I can not be certain if the
English translation of sacred words does in fact refer to the Greek
LOGOI hIEROI (sacred books). However nothing else in the English
translation appears to come close to translating these Greek words.
The reference to Eusebius of Caesarea's 'Praeparatio Evangelica
(Preparation for the Gospel)' also doesn't always appear to refer to
words that could actually be read aloud. Eusebius describes God's
sacred laws and God's word as the source of control of the elements
such as flood-tides, sequence of seasons, and the alternating course
of day and night. However the chapter also talks of the 'sacred laws'
delivered by Moses. The last sentence in chapter 10 mentions
Scripture. As so far I only have access to an english translation of
this work, which doesn't indicate the exact line reference of 7.10.3,
means I can not be certain if the latter reference to Moses uses the
same Greek words that I am interested in, namely those of Lucian,
LOGOI hIEROI (sacred books). I imagine that they are. In fact I can
not be certain if the English translation of sacred laws does in fact
refer to the Greek LOGOI hIEROI (sacred books). However nothing else
in the English translation appears to come close to translating these
Greek words.
Regarding the reference to Eusebius of Caesarea's 'The History of
the Martyrs in Palestine', once again I only have access to an
english translation of this work, which doesn't indicate the exact
line reference of 4.6 means I can not be certain, but the only
reference in English to 'sacred' that is relevant, is a reference to
Pamphilus' "...accomplishments in philosophy, and his acquirements
both in sacred and profane literature." This is found in the chapter
titled: The Confession of Domninus. The context indicates that sacred
literature here probably refers to Christian literature.
The reference to Lucian is that which I gave originally, and the
context indicates that LOGOI hIEROI (sacred books) here refers to
Christian literature. I really appreciated finding out that this is
the only time Lucian used these words.
As Photius lived in the ninth century, I did not check out his
references, though will probably do so later.
Thanks again to both of you.
Regards
Jonathan Clerke
clerke at humanperformance.cc
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