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In his book entitled Περὶ ἀπίστων, On Unbelievable Tales, Palaephatus, a contemporary of Aristotle, provides interpretations of mythological stories on the assumption that they refer to real, historical events.1 In the introduction (p. 1, 1-2, 13 ed. Festa), he positions himself between ‘those who are unacquainted with wisdom and knowledge’ (ἀνοµίλητοι σοφίας καὶ ἐπιστήµης) and those who are ‘by nature wiser and curious’ (πυκνότεροι τὴν φύσιν καὶ πολυπράγµατοι), i.e. philosophers. The former simply believe everything they are told, the latter don’t believe anything at all (ἀπιστοῦσι τὸ παράπαν). On both accounts there is no need for the sort of rationalizing mythology that Palaephatus advocates. Hence Palaephatus sets out to prove both groups wrong. The philosophers are right to disapprove of the uncritical acceptance of stories about mythological creatures such as the Minotaur, Gorgo, centaurs and the like.2 If such ‘forms and shapes’ (εἴδη καὶ µορφαί) do not exist today, we have to assume that neither did they in the past. On the other hand, though, the philosophers are wrong to discard these stories in their entirety. Palaephatus explains:ἐµοὶ δὲ δοκεῖ γενέσθαι πάντα τὰ λεγόµενα (οὐ γὰρ ὀνόµατα µόνον ἐγένοντο, λόγος δὲ περὶ αὐτῶν οὐδεὶς ὑπῆρξεν· ἀλλὰ πρότερον ἐγένετο τὸ
Mnemosyne – Brill
Published: Sep 29, 2016
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