XV. Περὶ Εὐρώπης
Φασὶν Εὐρώπην τὴν Φοίνικος ἐπὶ ταύρου ὀχουμένην διὰ τῆς θαλάσσης ἐκ Τύρου εἰς Κρήτην ἀφικέσθαι. ἐμοὶ δὲ οὔτ᾽ ἂν ταῦρος οὔθ᾽ ἵππος δοκεῖ τοσοῦτον πέλαγος διανύσαι [δύνασθαι], οὔτε κόρη ἐπὶ ταῦρον ἄγριον ἀναβῆναι· ὅ τε Ζεύς, εἰ ἐβούλετο Εὐρώπην εἰς Κρήτην ἐλθεῖν, εὑρεῖν ἂν αὐτῇ ἑτέραν πορείαν καλλίονα. τὸ δὲ ἀληθὲς ἔχει ὧδε. ἀνὴρ Κνώσιος ὀνόματι Ταῦρος ἐπολέμει τὴν Τυρίαν χώραν. τελευτῶν οὖν ἐκ Τύρου ἥρπασεν ἄλλας τε πολλὰς κόρας καὶ δὴ καὶ τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως θυγατέρα Εὐρώπην. ἔλεγον οὖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι „Εὐρώπην τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως Ταῦρος ἔχων ᾤχετο.“ τούτων γενομένων προσανεπλάσθη ὁ μῦθος.
15. Europa
They say that Europa, the daughter of Phoenix, was carried on a bull through the sea from Tyre to Crete. To me it seems that neither a bull nor a horse [can] cross so great a stretch of sea, nor could a girl mount a wild bull; and Zeus, if he had wished Europa to come to Crete, could have found another and finer way for her. The truth is this. A man from Cnossus, called Taurus (“Bull”), was making war on the territory of Tyre. In the end he carried off from Tyre many girls and, in particular, the king’s daughter Europa. So people said: “Taurus has gone off with the king’s Europa.” When this happened, the myth was added to it.
XVI. Περὶ τοῦ δουρείου ἵππου
Φασὶν ὡς Ἀχαιοὶ οἱ ἐν ξυλίνῳ κοίλῳ ἵππῳ ἀριστεῖς κατέβαλον τὴν Ἴλιον. ἔστι δὲ μυθώδης ἄγαν ὁ λόγος. ἡ δὲ ἀλήθεια αὕτη. ἵππον κατεσκεύασαν ξύλινον πρὸς μέτρον τῶν πυλῶν, ὅπως μὴ ἑλκόμενος εἰσέλθῃ, ἀλλ᾽ ὑπερέχῃ τῷ μεγέθει. οἱ δὲ λοχαγοὶ ἐκάθηντο ἐν κοίλῳ χωρίῳ παρὰ τὴν πόλιν, ὃς Ἀργείων λόχος ἐκαλεῖτο μέχρι τοῦ νῦν. αὐτόμολος δὲ ἐλθὼν παρὰ τῶν Ἀργείων Σίνων φράζει αὐτοῖς κατὰ μαντείαν ὡς, εἰ μὴ εἰσαγάγοιεν τὸν ἵππον εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ὑποστρεψόντων Ἀχαιῶν, ἂν δὲ εἰσαγάγωσι, μηκέθ᾽ ἡξόντων. οὗ ἐπακούσαντες οἱ Τρῶες καὶ καθελόντες τὸ τεῖχος, εἰσάγουσι τὸν ἵππον. εὐωχουμένοις δὲ αὐτοῖς ἐπιπίπτουσιν οἱ Ἕλληνες δι᾽ ἧς καθήρητο τὸ τεῖχος, καὶ οὕτως ἑάλω ἡ Ἴλιος.
16. The Wooden Horse
They say that the Achaean champions in a hollow wooden horse destroyed Troy. But this account is exceedingly fabulous. The truth is this. They built a wooden horse to the measure of the gates, so that it could not be dragged inside but would be too large for them. The captains sat in a hollow place beside the city, which has been called the “Ambush of the Argives” to this day. A deserter from the Argives, Sinon, came and told the Trojans, as if from an oracle, that if they did not bring the horse into the city the Achaeans would turn back, but if they did bring it in they would never come again. The Trojans listened to this, pulled down part of the wall, and brought the horse in. While they were feasting the Greeks fell upon them through the place where the wall had been pulled down, and so Troy was taken.
XVII. Περὶ Αἰόλου
Λέγεται ὅτι Αἴολος ἄνθρωπος ἦν κυριεύων πνευμάτων, ὅστις ἔδωκεν Ὀδυσσεῖ τοὺς ἀνέμους ἐν ἀσκῷ· περὶ δὲ τούτου, ὡς οὐχ οἷόν τε γίνεσθαι, δῆλον εἶναι πᾶσιν οἶμαι. εἰκὸς δὲ ἀστρολόγον γενόμενον Αἴολον φράσαι Ὀδυσσεῖ τοὺς χρόνους καὶ καθ᾽ ἃς ἐπιτολὰς ἄνεμοί τινες πνευσοῦνται. φασὶ δὲ ὅτι καὶ χαλκοῦν τεῖχος τῇ πόλει αὐτοῦ περιεβέβλητο, ὅπερ ἐστὶ ψεῦδος· ὁπλίτας γὰρ εἶχε τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ φυλάττοντας.
17. Aeolus
It is said that Aeolus was a man, master of the winds, who gave Odysseus the winds in a bag; but as to this, that it cannot happen, I think it is clear to everyone. It is likely that Aeolus, being an astronomer, told Odysseus the times and at which risings of the stars certain winds would blow. They also say that a bronze wall had been built around his city, which is false: he had hoplites guarding his city.
XVIII. Περὶ τῶν Ἑσπερίδων
Λέγεται ὡς γυναῖκές τινες ἦσαν αἱ Ἑσπερίδες, ταύταις δὲ ἦν μῆλα χρυσᾶ ἐπὶ μηλέας, ἣν ἐφύλασσε δράκων, ἐφ᾽ ἃ μῆλα καὶ Ἡρακλῆς ἐστρατεύσατο. ἔχει δὲ ἡ ἀλήθεια ὧδε. Ἕσπερος ἦν ἀνὴρ Μιλήσιος, ὃς ᾤκει ἐν τῇ Καρίᾳ καὶ εἶχε θυγατέρας δύο αἳ ἐκαλοῦντο Ἑσπερίδες. τούτῳ δὲ ἦσαν ὄις καλαὶ καὶ εὔκαρποι, τοῦτο τὸ γένος ὃ νῦν ἐστιν ἐν Μιλήτῳ. ἐπὶ τούτῳ δὴ ὠνομάζοντο χρυσαῖ· κάλλιστον γὰρ ὁ χρυσός, ἦσαν δὲ κἀκεῖναι κάλλισται. μῆλα δὲ ἐκαλεῖτο τὰ πρόβατα. ἅπερ ἰδὼν Ἡρακλῆς βοσκόμενα παρὰ τῇ θαλάσσῃ, περιελάσας ἐνέθετο εἰς τὴν ναῦν, καὶ τὸν ποιμένα αὐτῶν ὀνόματι Δράκοντα *** ἤγαγεν εἰς οἶκον, οὐκέτι ζῶντος τοῦ Ἑσπέρου, ἀλλὰ τῶν παίδων αὐτοῦ. ἔλεγον δὴ οἱ ἄνθρωποι „ἐθεασάμεθα χρυσᾶ μῆλα, ἃ ἤγαγεν ἐξ Ἑσπερίδων Ἡρακλῆς τὸν φύλακα ἀποκτείνας Δράκοντα.“ ἔνθεν ὁ μῦθος.
18. The Hesperides
It is said that the Hesperides were women, who had golden apples on an apple-tree guarded by a serpent, and that Heracles marched against those apples. The truth is this. Hesperus was a man of Miletus who lived in Caria and had two daughters, who were called the Hesperides. He had sheep that were beautiful and fruitful, a breed that is still found in Miletus. On this account they were called “golden” (for gold is the most beautiful thing, and those sheep were most beautiful). And sheep (probata) were called “apples” (mela). Heracles, seeing them grazing beside the sea, drove them round, put them aboard his ship, and their shepherd, named Draco (“Serpent”), *** he brought home — Hesperus no longer being alive, but his children. So people said: “We have seen golden apples (sheep), which Heracles brought from the Hesperides after killing the guardian, Draco.” Hence the myth.
XIX. Περὶ Κόττου καὶ Βριάρεω
Περὶ Κόττου καὶ Βριάρεω, ὡς ἑκατὸν ἔσχον χεῖρας ἄνδρες ὄντες, πῶς οὐκ εὔηθες; τὸ δὲ ἀληθὲς οὕτως. τούτων τῇ πόλει ὄνομα ἦν Ἑκατογχειρία, ἐν ᾗ ᾤκουν, ἦν δὲ τῆς Χαονίας τῆς νῦν Ὀρεστιάδος καλουμένης. τεκμαίρομαι δὲ ὅτι μετὰ τῶν Ὀλυμπίων ἐμαχέσαντο τὴν πρὸς Τιτᾶνας μάχην· ταῦτα δὲ τὰ χωρία ὅμορά ἐστι τῷ Ὀλύμπῳ. ἔλεγον οὖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι „Κόττος καὶ Βριάρεως [καὶ Γύγης] οἱ Ἑκατόγχειρες βοηθήσαντες τοῖς Ὀλυμπίοις αὐτοὶ ἐξήλασαν τοὺς Τιτᾶνας ἐκ τοῦ Ὀλύμπου.“
19. Cottus and Briareus
About Cottus and Briareus, that being men they had a hundred hands: how is that not foolish? The truth is this. The name of their city was Hecatoncheiria (“Hundred-Hands”), where they lived, and it was in Chaonia, now called Orestias. I infer that they fought with the Olympians in the battle against the Titans; for these places border on Olympus. So people said: “Cottus and Briareus [and Gyges], the Hundred-handers, came to the help of the Olympians and themselves drove the Titans out of Olympus.”
XX. Περὶ Σκύλλης
Λέγεται περὶ Σκύλλης ὡς ἦν ἐν Τυρρηνίᾳ θηρίον τι γυνὴ μὲν μέχρι τοῦ ὀμφαλοῦ, κυνῶν δὲ ἐντεῦθεν προσπεφύκεσαν κεφαλαί, τὸ δ᾽ ἄλλο σῶμα ὄφεως. τοιαύτην δὲ φύσιν ἐννοεῖν πολλὴ εὐήθεια. ἡ δὲ ἀλήθεια αὕτη. Τυρρηνῶν νῆες ἦσαν, αἳ ἐληίζοντο τὰ περίχωρα τῆς Σικελίας καὶ τὸν Ἰόνιον κόλπον. ἦν δὲ καὶ ναῦς τριήρης ταχεῖα τότε, ᾗ ὄνομα Σκύλλα, καὶ κατεπεγέγραπτο ἐπὶ τῆς πρῴρας. αὕτη δ᾽ ἡ τριήρης τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν πλοίων συλλαμβάνουσα πολλάκις εἰργάζετο βρῶμα, καὶ λόγος ἦν περὶ αὐτῆς πολύς. ταύτην τὴν ναῦν Ὀδυσσεὺς φορῷ καὶ λάβρῳ πνεύματι χρησάμενος διέφυγε· διηγήσατο δὲ ἐν Κερκύρᾳ τῷ Ἀλκινόῳ ὡς ἐδιώχθη καὶ ὡς ἐξέφυγε, καὶ τὴν ἰδέαν τοῦ πλοιαρίου. προσανεπλάσθη δὲ ὁ μῦθος.
20. Scylla
It is said of Scylla that in the region of Tyrrhenia there was a creature, a woman as far as the navel, from which point heads of dogs grew on her, and the rest of the body that of a serpent. To imagine such a nature is great foolishness. The truth is this. There were ships of the Tyrrhenians that plundered the districts around Sicily and the Ionian Gulf. There was also at that time a fast trireme called Scylla, with the name inscribed on its prow. This trireme, seizing the other ships, often made a meal of them, and there was much talk about it. Odysseus escaped this ship by using a favourable and violent wind; and he told Alcinous in Corcyra how he had been pursued and how he had escaped, and described the shape of the little vessel. And the myth was added to it.
XXI. Περὶ Δαιδάλου
Λέγεται περὶ Δαιδάλου ὡς ἀγάλματα κατεσκεύαζε δι᾽ ἑαυτῶν πορευόμενα· ὅπερ ἔμοιγε ἀδύνατον εἶναι δοκεῖ, ἀνδριάντα δι᾽ ἑαυτοῦ βαδίζειν. τὸ δὲ ἀληθὲς τοιοῦτον. οἱ τότε ἀνδριαντοποιοὶ καὶ ἀγαλματοποιοὶ συμπεφυκότας ὁμοῦ τοὺς πόδας καὶ τὰς χεῖρας παρατεταμένας ἐποίουν. Δαίδαλος δὲ πρῶτος ἐποίησε διαβεβηκότα τὸν ἕνα πόδα. διὰ τοῦτο δὴ οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἔλεγον „ὁδοιποροῦν τὸ ἄγαλμα τοῦτο εἰργάσατο Δαίδαλος, ἀλλ᾽ οὐχὶ ἑστηκός.“ ὡς καὶ νῦν λέγομεν „μαχόμενοί γε ἄνδρες γεγραμμένοι εἰσί“ καὶ „τρέχοντες ἵπποι“ καὶ „χειμαζομένη ναῦς“. οὕτω κἀκεῖνον ἔλεγον ὁδοιποροῦντα ποιεῖν ἀγάλματα.
21. Daedalus’ Statues
It is said of Daedalus that he made statues that walked of themselves; which seems to me impossible: that a statue should walk of itself. The truth is this. The sculptors and image-makers of that time made statues with the feet joined together and the arms stretched down. Daedalus was the first to make a figure with one foot set forward. For this reason people said: “Daedalus made this statue walking, not standing still,” as even now we say “men are painted fighting”, and “horses running”, and “a ship in a storm.” In the same way they said of him that he made statues that walked.
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