Cyprus-Forum.com

[wyoming cowboy]

Ignorance is not bliss.

gods
Heraclitus talks about gods in the plural at many places, and these reference seem to be towards the traditional Olympian gods. Heraclitus said that war made some things gods and others men. Either his theology was not consistent (which is a possibility), or else he believed that the traditional gods are somehow less than his Divine God. Perhaps the Olympian gods are all just aspects of the one God (see B15). This would explain why the Fire/God/λόγος would be willing and unwilling to be called Zeus (B32): on the one hand, his God would be at the top of the world order; but on the other, it would not be the same as the Olympian conception of Zeus.

http://www.heraclitusfragments.com/cate ... igion.html

what difference does it make what its name is? it is what it is........A rose by any other name....blah blah blah

[GreekIslandGirl]

The Golden Hellenic Verses of Pythagoras



First the Immortal Gods as ranked by law

Honor, and use an oath with holy awe.

Then honour Heroes which Mankind excell,

And Daemons of the earth, by living well.

Your parents next and those of nearest blood,

Then other Friends regard as they are good.

Yield to mild words and offices of love,

Doe not for little faults your friend remove.

This is no more than what in you doth lye,

For power dwells hard by necessity.

Doe these things so; but those restrain you must

Your Appetite, your Sleep, your Anger and Lust.

From filthy actions at all times forbear,

Whether with others or alone you are;

And of all things yourself learn to revere.

In Deed and Word to Justice have an eye;

Doe not the lest thing unadvisedly.

But know that all must to the shades below,

That riches sometimes ebb and sometimes flow.

Bear patiently what ill by Heaven is sent,

Add not unto your griefs by discontent.

Yet rid them if you can, but know withall,

Few of those Thunder storms on good men fall.

Oft good and ill doe in discourse unite,

Be not too apt to admire, nor yet to slight.

But if through errour any speak amiss,

Endure it with mildness, but be sure of this,

that none by word or action you entice

To doe or speak to your own prejudice.

Think before action Folly to prevent;

Rash words and acts are their own punishment.

That doe, which done, after you'll ne'er repent.

That which you know not, doe not undertake,

But learn what's fit, if life you'll pleasant make.

Health is a thing you ought not to despise,

In diet use a mean, and exercise;

And that's a mean whence does no damage rise.

Be neat, but not luxurious in you fare,

How you incur men's censure have a care

Let not thy state in ill timed treats be spent,

Like one that knows not what's magnificent,

Nor by a thrift untimely rake too clean,

'Tis best in every thing to use a mean.

Be not mischievous to yourself; advise

Before you act, and never let your eyes

The sweet refreshings of soft slumber taste,

Till you have thrice severe reflections past,

On the actions of the day from first to last.

Wherein have I transgressed? What done have I?

What duty unperformed have I passed by?

And if your actions ill on search you find,

Let Grief; if good, let joy possess your mind.

This doe, this think, to this your heart incline,

this way will lead you to the life Divine.

Believ't, I swear by him who did us show

The mystery of Four, whence all things flow,

Then to your work, having prayed Heaven to send,

On what you undertake, a happy end.

This course, if you observe, you shall know then

The constitution both of Gods and men.

The due extent of all things you shall see,

And Nature in her Uniformitie.

That so your ignorance may not suggest

Vain hopes of what you cannot be possest.

You'll see how poor, unfortunate mankind

To hurt themselves are studiously inclined,

To all approaching good, both deaf and blind.

The way to cure their ills is known to few,

Such a besotting fate do men pursue.

They're on cylinders still roll'd up and down,

And with full tides of evil overflown,

A cursed inbred strife doth work within,

The cause of all this misery and sin,

Which must not be provoked to open field,

The way to conquer here's to fly and yield.

And now from ill, Great Father, set us free,

Or teach us all to know ourselves and Thee.

Courage, my soul; Great Jove is their allie,

Their duty who by Nature's light descry;

These Rules if to that number you retain,

You'll keep, and purge your Soul from every stain.

Abstain from meats which you forbidden find

In our Traditions, wherein are defined

The Purgings and Solution of the Mind.

Consider this: then in the highest sphere

Enthrone your Reason, the best Charioteer.

So when unbodyed you shall freely rove

In the unbounded Regions above,

You an immortal God shall then commence,

Advanced beyond Mortality and Sense.



As translated by Reverend John Norris

[Get Real!]

The Golden Hellenic Verses of Pythagoras

It's a load of nonsensical bollocks! I’d be embarrassed to post this if it were Cypriot.

[GreekIslandGirl]

The Golden Hellenic Verses of Pythagoras

It's a load of nonsensical bollocks! I’d be embarrassed to post this if it were Cypriot.

But you are always embarrassed by what is truly Cypriot. For your further embarrassment, here they are in their original Cypriot language:

[supporttheunderdog]

a lot has been attributed to Pythagorus but evidence of his authorship is often sketchy. His famous theorom about the square of the hypotenuse was for example apparently known to the Ancient Babylonians and Indians possibly some millenia before Pythagorus lived.

As to the verses they make a bit more sence if the line structure is removed

[qu0te]First worship the Immortal Gods, as they are established and ordained by the Law Reverence the Oath, and next the Heroes, full of goodness and light.
Honour likewise the Terrestrial Daemons by rendering them the worship lawfully due to them.
Honour likewise your parents, and those most nearly related to you.
Of all the rest of mankind, make him your friend who distinguishes himself by his virtue; always give ear to his mild exhortations, and take example from his virtuous and useful actions.
Avoid as much as possible hating your friend for a slight fault.
Power is a near neighbour to necessity.
Know that all these things are just as what I have told you; and accustom yourself to overcome and vanquish these passions:-- First gluttony, sloth, sensuality, and anger.
Do nothing evil, neither in the presence of others, nor privately; but above all things respect yourself. In the next place, observe justice in your actions and in your words and do not accustom yourself to behave yourself in anything without rule, and without reason, but always make this reflection, that it is ordained by destiny that all men shall die and that the goods of fortune are uncertain; and that just as they may be acquired, they may likewise be lost.
Concerning all the calamities that men suffer by divine fortune, support your lot with patience, it is what it may be, and never complain at it, but endeavour what you can to remedy it and consider that fate does not send the greatest portion of these misfortunes to good men.
There are many sorts of reasonings among men, good and bad; Do not admire them too easily, nor reject them, But if falsehoods are advanced, hear them with mildness, and arm yourself with patience.
Observe well, on every occasion, what I am going to tell you:--
Do not let any man either by his words, or by his deeds, ever seduce you, nor lure you to say or to do what is not profitable for yourself. Consult and deliberate before you act, that you may not commit foolish actions, for it is the part of a miserable man to speak and to act without reflection, but do the thing which will not afflict you afterwards, nor oblige you to repentance. Never do anything which you do not understand but learn all you ought to know, and by that means you will lead a very pleasant life.
In no way neglect the health of your body, but give it drink and meat in due measure, and also the exercise of which it needs. Now by measure I mean what will not discomfort you; Accustom yourself to a way of living that is neat and decent without luxury; Avoid all things that will occasion envy and do not be prodigal out of season, like someone who does not know what is decent and honourable. Neither be covetous nor stingy; a due measure is excellent in these things.
Only do the things that cannot hurt you, and deliberate before you do them.
Never allow sleep to close your eyelids, after you went to bed, until you have examined all your actions of the day by your reason, in what have I done wrong? What have I done? What have I omitted that I ought to have done? If in this examination you find that you have done wrong, reprove yourself severely for it; and if you have done any good, rejoice.
Practise thoroughly all these things; meditate on them well; you ought to love them with all your heart. It is those that will put you in the way of divine virtue. I swear it by he who has transmitted into our souls the Sacred Quaternion, the source of nature, whose cause is eternal.
But never begin to set your hand to any work, until you have first prayed the gods to accomplish what you are going to begin.

When you have made this habit familiar to you, you will know the constitution of the Immortal Gods and of men, Even how far the different beings extend, and what contains and binds them together. You shall likewise know that according to Law, the nature of this universe is in all things alike, So that you shall not hope what you ought not to hope; and nothing in this world shall be hidden from you
You will likewise know, that men draw upon themselves their own misfortunes voluntarily, and of their own free choice Unhappy they are! They neither see nor understand that their good is near them: Few know how to deliver themselves out of their misfortunes.
Such is the fate that blinds humankind, and takes away his senses Like huge cylinders they roll back and forth, and always oppressed with innumerable ills, For fatal strife, natural, pursues them everywhere, tossing them up and down; nor do they perceive it Instead of provoking and stirring it up, they ought to avoid it by yielding.
Oh! Jupiter, our Father! If you would deliver men from all the evils that oppress them, Show them of what daemon they make use, But take courage; the race of humans is divine. Sacred nature reveals to them the most hidden mysteries. If she impart to you her secrets, you will easily perform all the things which I have ordained thee, And by the healing of your soul, you wilt deliver it from all evils, from all afflictions, But you should abstain from the meats, which we have forbidden in the purifications and in the deliverance of the soul; Make a just distinction of them, and examine all things well. Leave yourself always to be guided and directed by the understanding that comes from above, and that ought to hold the reins, And when, after having deprived yourself of your mortal body, you arrived at the most pure Aither, You shall be a God, immortal, incorruptible, and Death shall have no more dominion over you [/quote]

[Get Real!]

The Golden Hellenic Verses of Pythagoras

It's a load of nonsensical bollocks! I’d be embarrassed to post this if it were Cypriot.

But you are always embarrassed by what is truly Cypriot. For your further embarrassment, here they are in their original Cypriot language:

Oh please stop it! I wouldn’t recite such utter stupidities in a bloody nuthouse!

[GreekIslandGirl]

The quality of your nuthouse rhetoric is renowned.

[Get Real!]

The quality of your nuthouse rhetoric is renowned.

Oracle, trust your education if not your instincts that nonsense is nonsense and most likely the work of someone who had the IQ of an Aardvark!

[bill cobbett]

a lot has been attributed to Pythagorus but evidence of his authorship is often sketchy. His famous theorom about the square of the hypotenuse was for example apparently known to the Ancient Babylonians and Indians possibly some millenia before Pythagorus lived.

etc etc

Yes, was reading about Ancient Babylonian cuneiform tablets that point towards a very decent understanding of the relationship between the sides of right-angled triangles.

... yes and poss known to the Ancient Egyptians... how, after all, did they build those massive square-based Pyramids without knowing about it.

[Get Real!]

how, after all, did they build those massive square-based Pyramids without knowing about it.

Good point Billius Copernicus...