Alexander the False Prophet (36-40)

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0062.tlg038.perseus-eng2:36-40

Refs	`{'start': {'reference': '36', 'human_reference': 'Section 36'}, 'end': {'reference': '40', 'human_reference': 'Section 40'}}`
Ancestors	`[]`
Children	`[]`

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No sooner did Alexander get Italy in hand than he began to devise projects that were ever greater and greater, and sent oracle-mongers everywhere in

v.4.p.223

the Roman Empire, warning the cities to be on their guard against plagues and conflagrations and earthquakes; he promised that he would himself afford them infallible aid so that none of these calamities should befall them. There was one oracle, also an autophone, which he despatched to all the nations during the pestilence[*]; it was but a single verse:

Phoebus, the god unshorn, keepeth off plague’s nebulous onset.

This verse was to be seen everywhere written over doorways as a charm against the plague; but in most cases it had the contrary result. By some chance it was particularly the houses on which the verse was inscribed that were depopulated! Do not suppose me to mean that they were stricken on account of the verse—by some chance or other it turned out that way, and perhaps, too, people neglected precautions because of their confidence in the line and lived too carelessly, giving the oracle no assistance against the disease because they were going to have the syllables to defend them and “unshorn Phoebus” to drive away the plague with his arrows!

Moreover, Alexander posted a great number of his fellow-conspirators in Rome itself as his agents, who reported everyone’s views to him and gave him advance information about the questions and the especial wishes of those who consulted him, so that the messengers might find him ready to answer even before they arrived!

He made these preparations to meet the situation in Italy, and also made notable preparations at home.

v.4.p.225

He established a celebration of mysteries, with torchlight ceremonies and priestly offices, which was to be held annyally, for three days in succession, in perpetuity. On the first day, as at Athens,[*] there was a proclamation, worded as follows: “If any atheist or Christian or Epicurean has come to spy upon the rites, let him be off, and let those who believe in the god perform the mysteries, under the blessing of Heaven.” Then, at the very outset, there was an “expulsion,” in which he took the lead, saying: “Out with the Christians,” and the whole multitude chanted in response, “Out with the Epicureans!” Then there was the child-bed of Leto, the birth of Apollo, his marriage to Coronis, and the birth of Asclepius. On the second day came the manifestation of Glycon, including the birth of the god.

On the third day there was the union of Podaleirius and the mother of Alexander—it was called the Day of Torches, and torches were burned. In conclusion there was the amour of Selene and Alexander, and the birth of Rutilianus’ wife. The torch-bearer and hierophant was our Endymion, Alexander. While he lay in full view, pretending to be asleep, there came down to him from the roof, as if from heaven, not Selene but Rutilia, a very pretty woman, married to one of the Emperor’s stewards. She was genuinely in love with Alexander and he with her; and before the eyes of her worthless husband there were kisses and embraces in public. If the torches

v.4.p.227

had not been numerous, perhaps the thing would have been carried even further. After a short time Alexander entered again, robed as a priest, amid profound silence, and said in a loud voice, over and over again, “Hail, Glycon,” while, following in his train, a number of would-be Eumolpids and Ceryces[*] from Paphlagonia, with brogans on their feet and breaths that reeked of garlic, shouted in response, “Hail, Alexander!”

Often in the course of the torchlight ceremonies and the gambols of the mysteries his thigh was bared purposely and showed golden. No doubt gilded leather had been put about it, which gleamed in the light of the cressets. There was once a discussion between two of our learned idiots in regard to him, whether he had the soul of Pythagoras, on account of the golden thigh, or some other soul akin to it.[*] They referred this question to Alexander himself, and King Glycon resolved their doubt with an oracle:

Nay, Pythagoras’ soul now waneth and other times waxeth;

His, with prophecy gifted, from God’s mind taketh its issue,;

Sent by the Father to aid good men in the stress of the conflict;

Then it to God will return, by God’s own thunderbolt smitten.

Tokens

No	1	w	2
sooner	1	w	8
did	1	w	11
Alexander	1	w	20
get	1	w	23
Italy	1	w	28
in	1	w	30
hand	1	w	34
than	1	w	38
he	1	w	40
began	1	w	45
to	1	w	47
devise	1	w	53
projects	1	w	61
that	1	w	65
were	1	w	69
ever	1	w	73
greater	1	w	80
and	3	w	83
greater	2	w	90
and	4	w	94
sent	1	w	98
oracle-mongers	1	w	112
everywhere	1	w	122
in	2	w	124
the	1	w	127
Roman	1	w	132
Empire	1	w	138
warning	1	w	146
the	2	w	149
cities	1	w	155
to	2	w	157
be	2	w	159
on	3	w	161
their	1	w	166
guard	1	w	171
against	1	w	178
plagues	1	w	185
and	5	w	188
conflagrations	1	w	202
and	6	w	205
earthquakes	1	w	216
he	6	w	219
promised	1	w	227
that	2	w	231
he	7	w	233
would	1	w	238
himself	1	w	245
afford	1	w	251
them	1	w	255
infallible	1	w	265
aid	1	w	268
so	2	w	270
that	3	w	274
none	1	w	278
of	1	w	280
these	1	w	285
calamities	1	w	295
should	1	w	301
befall	1	w	307
them	2	w	311
There	1	w	317
was	1	w	320
one	3	w	323
oracle	2	w	329
also	1	w	334
an	10	w	336
autophone	1	w	345
which	1	w	351
he	12	w	353
despatched	1	w	363
to	4	w	365
all	3	w	368
the	7	w	371
nations	1	w	378
during	1	w	384
the	8	w	387
pestilence	1	w	397
The	2	w	400
terrible	1	w	408
plague	2	w	414
which	2	w	419
swept	1	w	424
the	9	w	427
whole	1	w	432
Empire	2	w	438
about	1	w	443
A	2	w	444
D	1	w	446
165	1	w	450
it	3	w	454
was	2	w	457
but	1	w	460
a	43	w	461
single	1	w	467
verse	1	w	472
Phoebus	1	w	480
the	10	w	484
god	1	w	487
unshorn	1	w	494
keepeth	1	w	502
off	1	w	505
plague	3	w	511
s	28	w	513
nebulous	1	w	521
onset	1	w	526
This	1	w	531
verse	2	w	536
was	3	w	539
to	5	w	541
be	4	w	543
seen	1	w	547
everywhere	2	w	557
written	1	w	564
over	1	w	568
doorways	1	w	576
as	4	w	578
a	48	w	579
charm	1	w	584
against	2	w	591
the	11	w	594
plague	4	w	600
but	2	w	604
in	9	w	606
most	1	w	610
cases	1	w	615
it	5	w	617
had	1	w	620
the	12	w	623
contrary	1	w	631
result	1	w	637
By	1	w	640
some	1	w	644
chance	1	w	650
it	6	w	652
was	4	w	655
particularly	1	w	667
the	13	w	670
houses	1	w	676
on	12	w	678
which	3	w	683
the	14	w	686
verse	3	w	691
was	5	w	694
inscribed	1	w	703
that	4	w	707
were	2	w	711
depopulated	1	w	722
Do	1	w	725
not	1	w	728
suppose	1	w	735
me	2	w	737
to	6	w	739
mean	1	w	743
that	5	w	747
they	1	w	751
were	3	w	755
stricken	1	w	763
on	13	w	765
account	1	w	772
of	3	w	774
the	16	w	777
verse	4	w	782
by	1	w	785
some	2	w	789
chance	2	w	795
or	6	w	797
other	1	w	802
it	7	w	804
turned	1	w	810
out	2	w	813
that	6	w	817
way	2	w	820
and	7	w	824
perhaps	1	w	831
too	1	w	835
people	1	w	842
neglected	1	w	851
precautions	1	w	862
because	1	w	869
of	4	w	871
their	2	w	876
confidence	1	w	886
in	11	w	888
the	19	w	891
line	1	w	895
and	8	w	898
lived	1	w	903
too	2	w	906
carelessly	1	w	916
giving	1	w	923
the	20	w	926
oracle	3	w	932
no	3	w	934
assistance	1	w	944
against	3	w	951
the	21	w	954
disease	1	w	961
because	2	w	968
they	2	w	972
were	4	w	976
going	1	w	981
to	9	w	983
have	1	w	987
the	23	w	990
syllables	1	w	999
to	10	w	1001
defend	1	w	1007
them	3	w	1011
and	9	w	1014
unshorn	2	w	1022
Phoebus	2	w	1029
to	11	w	1032
drive	1	w	1037
away	1	w	1041
the	25	w	1044
plague	5	w	1050
with	1	w	1054
his	2	w	1057
arrows	1	w	1063
Moreover	1	w	1072
Alexander	2	w	1082
posted	1	w	1088
a	90	w	1089
great	3	w	1094
number	1	w	1100
of	5	w	1102
his	3	w	1105
fellow-conspirators	1	w	1124
in	16	w	1126
Rome	1	w	1130
itself	1	w	1136
as	10	w	1138
his	4	w	1141
agents	1	w	1147
who	2	w	1151
reported	1	w	1159
everyone	1	w	1167
s	80	w	1169
views	1	w	1174
to	13	w	1176
him	2	w	1179
and	11	w	1182
gave	1	w	1186
him	3	w	1189
advance	1	w	1196
information	1	w	1207
about	2	w	1212
the	26	w	1215
questions	1	w	1224
and	12	w	1227
the	27	w	1230
especial	1	w	1238
wishes	1	w	1244
of	6	w	1246
those	1	w	1251
who	3	w	1254
consulted	1	w	1263
him	4	w	1266
so	6	w	1269
that	7	w	1273
the	28	w	1276
messengers	1	w	1286
might	1	w	1291
find	1	w	1295
him	5	w	1298
ready	1	w	1303
to	14	w	1305
answer	1	w	1311
even	1	w	1315
before	1	w	1321
they	3	w	1325
arrived	1	w	1332
He	1	w	1335
made	1	w	1339
these	2	w	1344
preparations	1	w	1356
to	15	w	1358
meet	1	w	1362
the	31	w	1365
situation	1	w	1374
in	19	w	1376
Italy	2	w	1381
and	13	w	1385
also	2	w	1389
made	2	w	1393
notable	1	w	1400
preparations	2	w	1412
at	20	w	1414
home	1	w	1418
He	2	w	1421
established	1	w	1432
a	120	w	1433
celebration	1	w	1444
of	7	w	1446
mysteries	1	w	1455
with	2	w	1460
torchlight	1	w	1470
ceremonies	1	w	1480
and	14	w	1483
priestly	1	w	1491
offices	1	w	1498
which	4	w	1504
was	6	w	1507
to	17	w	1509
be	10	w	1511
held	1	w	1515
annyally	1	w	1523
for	4	w	1527
three	1	w	1532
days	1	w	1536
in	20	w	1538
succession	1	w	1548
in	21	w	1551
perpetuity	1	w	1561
On	1	w	1564
the	32	w	1567
first	1	w	1572
day	2	w	1575
as	12	w	1578
at	22	w	1580
Athens	1	w	1586
The	3	w	1590
reference	1	w	1599
is	11	w	1601
to	18	w	1603
the	34	w	1606
proclamation	1	w	1618
that	8	w	1622
preceded	1	w	1630
the	35	w	1633
Eleusinian	1	w	1643
mysteries	2	w	1652
Its	1	w	1656
entire	1	w	1662
content	1	w	1669
is	12	w	1671
unknown	1	w	1678
but	3	w	1682
it	13	w	1684
reqnuired	1	w	1693
that	9	w	1697
the	36	w	1700
celebrants	1	w	1710
be	11	w	1712
clean	1	w	1717
of	9	w	1719
hand	2	w	1723
pure	1	w	1728
of	10	w	1730
heart	1	w	1735
and	16	w	1739
Greek	1	w	1744
in	23	w	1746
speech	1	w	1752
Barbarians	1	w	1763
homicides	1	w	1773
and	17	w	1777
traitors	1	w	1785
were	5	w	1789
excluded	1	w	1797
and	18	w	1801
there	1	w	1806
was	7	w	1809
some	3	w	1813
sort	1	w	1817
of	11	w	1819
restriction	1	w	1830
in	24	w	1832
regard	1	w	1838
to	20	w	1840
previous	1	w	1848
diet	1	w	1852
there	2	w	1858
was	8	w	1861
a	149	w	1862
proclamation	2	w	1874
worded	1	w	1881
as	15	w	1883
follows	1	w	1890
If	1	w	1894
any	1	w	1897
atheist	1	w	1904
or	19	w	1906
Christian	1	w	1915
or	20	w	1917
Epicurean	1	w	1926
has	1	w	1929
come	1	w	1933
to	21	w	1935
spy	1	w	1938
upon	1	w	1942
the	40	w	1945
rites	1	w	1950
let	1	w	1954
him	6	w	1957
be	12	w	1959
off	3	w	1962
and	19	w	1966
let	2	w	1969
those	2	w	1974
who	4	w	1977
believe	1	w	1984
in	25	w	1986
the	41	w	1989
god	2	w	1992
perform	1	w	1999
the	42	w	2002
mysteries	3	w	2011
under	1	w	2017
the	43	w	2020
blessing	1	w	2028
of	13	w	2030
Heaven	1	w	2036
Then	1	w	2042
at	28	w	2045
the	44	w	2048
very	4	w	2052
outset	1	w	2058
there	3	w	2064
was	9	w	2067
an	38	w	2069
expulsion	1	w	2079
in	27	w	2083
which	5	w	2088
he	61	w	2090
took	1	w	2094
the	46	w	2097
lead	1	w	2101
saying	1	w	2108
Out	1	w	2113
with	3	w	2117
the	47	w	2120
Christians	1	w	2130
and	20	w	2135
the	48	w	2138
whole	2	w	2143
multitude	1	w	2152
chanted	1	w	2159
in	29	w	2161
response	1	w	2169
Out	2	w	2174
with	4	w	2178
the	49	w	2181
Epicureans	1	w	2191
Then	2	w	2197
there	4	w	2202
was	10	w	2205
the	51	w	2208
child-bed	1	w	2217
of	14	w	2219
Leto	1	w	2223
the	52	w	2227
birth	1	w	2232
of	15	w	2234
Apollo	1	w	2240
his	5	w	2244
marriage	1	w	2252
to	24	w	2254
Coronis	1	w	2261
and	21	w	2265
the	53	w	2268
birth	2	w	2273
of	16	w	2275
Asclepius	1	w	2284
On	2	w	2287
the	54	w	2290
second	1	w	2296
day	3	w	2299
came	1	w	2303
the	55	w	2306
manifestation	1	w	2319
of	17	w	2321
Glycon	1	w	2327
including	1	w	2337
the	56	w	2340
birth	3	w	2345
of	18	w	2347
the	57	w	2350
god	3	w	2353
On	3	w	2356
the	58	w	2359
third	1	w	2364
day	4	w	2367
there	5	w	2372
was	11	w	2375
the	60	w	2378
union	1	w	2383
of	19	w	2385
Podaleirius	1	w	2396
and	22	w	2399
the	61	w	2402
mother	1	w	2408
of	20	w	2410
Alexander	3	w	2419
it	19	w	2422
was	12	w	2425
called	1	w	2431
the	63	w	2434
Day	1	w	2437
of	21	w	2439
Torches	1	w	2446
and	24	w	2450
torches	1	w	2457
were	6	w	2461
burned	1	w	2467
In	1	w	2470
conclusion	1	w	2480
there	6	w	2485
was	13	w	2488
the	65	w	2491
amour	1	w	2496
of	22	w	2498
Selene	1	w	2504
and	25	w	2507
Alexander	4	w	2516
and	27	w	2520
the	66	w	2523
birth	4	w	2528
of	23	w	2530
Rutilianus	1	w	2540
wife	1	w	2545
The	6	w	2549
torch-bearer	1	w	2561
and	28	w	2564
hierophant	1	w	2574
was	14	w	2577
our	2	w	2580
Endymion	1	w	2588
Alexander	5	w	2598
While	1	w	2604
he	87	w	2606
lay	1	w	2609
in	32	w	2611
full	1	w	2615
view	2	w	2619
pretending	1	w	2630
to	27	w	2632
be	16	w	2634
asleep	1	w	2640
there	7	w	2646
came	2	w	2650
down	1	w	2654
to	28	w	2656
him	7	w	2659
from	1	w	2663
the	68	w	2666
roof	1	w	2670
as	24	w	2673
if	3	w	2675
from	2	w	2679
heaven	1	w	2685
not	3	w	2689
Selene	2	w	2695
but	4	w	2698
Rutilia	2	w	2705
a	203	w	2707
very	5	w	2711
pretty	1	w	2717
woman	1	w	2722
married	1	w	2730
to	29	w	2732
one	6	w	2735
of	25	w	2737
the	69	w	2740
Emperor	1	w	2747
s	170	w	2749
stewards	1	w	2757
She	1	w	2761
was	15	w	2764
genuinely	1	w	2773
in	35	w	2775
love	1	w	2779
with	5	w	2783
Alexander	6	w	2792
and	31	w	2795
he	93	w	2797
with	6	w	2801
her	13	w	2804
and	32	w	2808
before	2	w	2814
the	70	w	2817
eyes	1	w	2821
of	26	w	2823
her	14	w	2826
worthless	1	w	2835
husband	1	w	2842
there	8	w	2847
were	7	w	2851
kisses	1	w	2857
and	34	w	2860
embraces	1	w	2868
in	36	w	2870
public	1	w	2876
If	2	w	2879
the	72	w	2882
torches	2	w	2889
had	2	w	2892
not	4	w	2895
been	1	w	2899
numerous	1	w	2907
perhaps	2	w	2915
the	73	w	2918
thing	1	w	2923
would	2	w	2928
have	2	w	2932
been	2	w	2936
carried	1	w	2943
even	2	w	2947
further	1	w	2954
After	1	w	2960
a	218	w	2961
short	1	w	2966
time	1	w	2970
Alexander	7	w	2979
entered	1	w	2986
again	4	w	2991
robed	1	w	2997
as	26	w	2999
a	223	w	3000
priest	2	w	3006
amid	1	w	3011
profound	1	w	3019
silence	1	w	3026
and	36	w	3030
said	1	w	3034
in	39	w	3036
a	227	w	3037
loud	1	w	3041
voice	1	w	3046
over	3	w	3051
and	37	w	3054
over	4	w	3058
again	5	w	3063
Hail	1	w	3069
Glycon	2	w	3076
while	1	w	3083
following	1	w	3093
in	42	w	3095
his	6	w	3098
train	1	w	3103
a	233	w	3105
number	2	w	3111
of	28	w	3113
would-be	1	w	3121
Eumolpids	1	w	3130
and	38	w	3133
Ceryces	1	w	3140
Hereditary	1	w	3150
priesthoods	1	w	3161
in	44	w	3163
the	75	w	3166
Eleusinian	2	w	3176
mysteries	4	w	3185
from	3	w	3190
Paphlagonia	1	w	3201
with	7	w	3206
brogans	1	w	3213
on	45	w	3215
their	3	w	3220
feet	1	w	3224
and	39	w	3227
breaths	1	w	3234
that	10	w	3238
reeked	1	w	3244
of	29	w	3246
garlic	1	w	3252
shouted	1	w	3260
in	46	w	3262
response	2	w	3270
Hail	2	w	3276
Alexander	8	w	3286
Often	1	w	3293
in	47	w	3295
the	77	w	3298
course	1	w	3304
of	30	w	3306
the	78	w	3309
torchlight	2	w	3319
ceremonies	2	w	3329
and	41	w	3332
the	79	w	3335
gambols	1	w	3342
of	31	w	3344
the	80	w	3347
mysteries	5	w	3356
his	7	w	3359
thigh	1	w	3364
was	16	w	3367
bared	1	w	3372
purposely	1	w	3381
and	42	w	3384
showed	1	w	3390
golden	1	w	3396
No	2	w	3399
doubt	1	w	3404
gilded	1	w	3410
leather	1	w	3417
had	3	w	3420
been	3	w	3424
put	1	w	3427
about	3	w	3432
it	24	w	3434
which	6	w	3440
gleamed	1	w	3447
in	48	w	3449
the	82	w	3452
light	3	w	3457
of	32	w	3459
the	83	w	3462
cressets	1	w	3470
There	2	w	3476
was	17	w	3479
once	1	w	3483
a	257	w	3484
discussion	1	w	3494
between	1	w	3501
two	1	w	3504
of	33	w	3506
our	4	w	3509
learned	1	w	3516
idiots	1	w	3522
in	49	w	3524
regard	2	w	3530
to	32	w	3532
him	8	w	3535
whether	1	w	3543
he	114	w	3545
had	4	w	3548
the	85	w	3551
soul	1	w	3555
of	34	w	3557
Pythagoras	1	w	3567
on	50	w	3570
account	2	w	3577
of	35	w	3579
the	86	w	3582
golden	2	w	3588
thigh	2	w	3593
or	33	w	3596
some	4	w	3600
other	3	w	3605
soul	2	w	3609
akin	1	w	3613
to	33	w	3615
it	25	w	3617
As	2	w	3620
Pythagoras	2	w	3630
had	5	w	3633
a	268	w	3634
golden	3	w	3640
thigh	3	w	3645
Plutarch	1	w	3654
Numa	1	w	3659
65	2	w	3662
Aelian	1	w	3669
Var	1	w	3673
Hist	1	w	3678
2	1	w	3681
26	1	w	3684
a	273	w	3687
believer	1	w	3695
in	51	w	3697
metempsychosis	1	w	3711
might	2	w	3716
think	1	w	3721
that	11	w	3725
Alexander	9	w	3734
was	18	w	3737
a	277	w	3738
reincarnation	1	w	3751
of	36	w	3753
Pythagoras	3	w	3763
They	1	w	3768
referred	1	w	3776
this	1	w	3780
question	2	w	3788
to	34	w	3790
Alexander	10	w	3799
himself	2	w	3806
and	45	w	3810
King	1	w	3814
Glycon	3	w	3820
resolved	1	w	3828
their	4	w	3833
doubt	2	w	3838
with	8	w	3842
an	75	w	3844
oracle	4	w	3850
Nay	1	w	3854
Pythagoras	4	w	3865
soul	3	w	3870
now	2	w	3873
waneth	1	w	3879
and	46	w	3882
other	4	w	3887
times	1	w	3892
waxeth	1	w	3898
His	2	w	3902
with	9	w	3907
prophecy	1	w	3915
gifted	1	w	3921
from	4	w	3926
God	1	w	3929
s	240	w	3931
mind	1	w	3935
taketh	1	w	3941
its	2	w	3944
issue	1	w	3949
Sent	1	w	3955
by	2	w	3957
the	90	w	3960
Father	1	w	3966
to	35	w	3968
aid	3	w	3971
good	1	w	3975
men	1	w	3978
in	56	w	3980
the	92	w	3983
stress	1	w	3989
of	37	w	3991
the	93	w	3994
conflict	1	w	4002
Then	3	w	4007
it	29	w	4009
to	36	w	4011
God	2	w	4014
will	1	w	4018
return	1	w	4024
by	3	w	4027
God	3	w	4030
s	247	w	4032
own	3	w	4035
thunderbolt	1	w	4046
smitten	1	w	4053