Minerva; (for another theology, ‘and not the Orphic only, calls her virtue,) but through strength its alliance to her plulopolemic nature. But he ealls the power conspicuous, because it is mundane, and contributes to the fabri- cation of sensibles: and to the Atlanties indeed, he alone attributes power, and this continually, beeause they are arranged under infinity, But he says that the Athenians vanquished this power, through virtue, Por as they belong to the co-ordination of bound; they are characterized by virtue,
which measures the passions, and uses powers in a becoming manner.
* i.e, The Chaldean theology.
net
Tar ες“ “νυ Rs
nooK τι] TIMEUS OF PLATO. 155
“For as its armies surpassed all others, both ia magnanimity and military arts, so with respect to its contests, whether it) was assisted by the rest of the Grecks, over whom it sometimes presided in wathke affairs, or whether it was deserted by them through the incursions of the cnemics, and thus was in extreme danger, yet still” it remained triumphant. In the mean time, those who were not yet enslaved, it liberated from danger; and procured the most ample liberty for all those of us who dwell within the Pillars of ITler- cules.”
As we have triply divided the inferior co-ordination, into first, middle, and last boundaries, thus also we must divide the superior, into the most total, and the most partial genera, and those that subsist between these. And having made this division, we shall arrange the Athenians as analogous to the first genera; but the other Grecks who were not yet enslaved, to the middle; and those who were now slaves, to the last genera. For according to this arrangement, those that belong to the Minerval series, vanquish those that belong to the series of Neptune; those that rank as first, subduing those that rank as second,’ the monadic, the dyadic, and in short, the better vanquishing the worse. But the middle genera eternally preserve their own order, and are not vanquished by the worse co-ordination, on account of the union of them- selves, and the stable genus of power. They likewise liberate from slavery those that are enslaved, recalling them to union and permanency. Tor some things indeed, are always in matter, others are always separated from it, and others, sometimes become situated under the material genera, and sometimes have an arrangement in a separate life. Just as in the drama pertaining to us; at one time we are arranged under the Titanic, and at another, under the Olympian order; and at one time our course terminates in gencration, but at another, in the heavens. This however happens to partial souls, through the invariably perma- nent providence of the Gods, which leads back souls to their pristine felicity. For as in consequence of there being genesiurgic Gods, souls descend, in sub- serviency to their will, thus also, through the prior subsistence of anagogic causes, the ascent of our souls from the realms of generation is elected. And thus much
* For xpwrwy here, it scems necessary to read Sevrepwr,
156 PROCLUS ON THE {(pooxt.
concerning the whole meaning of the words before us. Let us however, concisely discuss each particular,
The words therefore, surpassed all others, manifest the total comprehension of the first genera of the more divine part. But the words im magnantnity, and military arts, have the same meaning as Minervatlly. Por through mag nanimily, they imitate the philosophic characteristic of the Goddess, but through warlike arts, her philopolemic characteristic. And the words, whether it was assisted by the rest of the Greeks, over whom it sometimes presided tn warlike affairs, or whether it was deserted by them through the incursions of the enemies, signify that first and total causes, produce some things in conjunction with second and middle causes, but others by themselves, beyond the production of these, and being alone in their energy. For the genus of the Gods, and that which is posterior to the Gods, do not produce equally, but the eflective power of the Gods proceeds to a greater extent; since every where more divine causes energize prior to, together with, and posterior to their effects. Credibility therefore of this may be multifariously produced. But the extreme danger manifests the last production of the: first genera. And the ¢rophics signify that the second co-ordination is perfected under the first, being adorned by it; that it is in a certain respect converted by the power of it; and that there are in the last of things invariably permanent indications of the conversion of less excellent natures, proceeding from the first of things. For whatever is arranged in the worse co-ordination, and invested with form, material causes receding, affords a suflicient indication of the inspective care' of the better order, which is especially the peculiarity of trophies. But the most ample liberty, is an indication of the divine and iiberated order, proceeding from on high to all things; which liberty the Athenians imparted to the Greeks, by vanquishing the Atlantics; or rather the Olympic, by subduing the ‘Titanic genera, For thus the demiurgic will is accomplished, and the worse is vanquish- ed by the better co-ordination; in partial natures indeed the Atlantics by the Athenians, but in wholes, the Titans by the Olympian Gods,“ Though they are robust, and oppose the better order, through pernicious pride, and insolent impro- hity,” says the theologist; whom Plato emulating, asserts that the Atlantics inso- lently proceeded against the Athenians.
“ But in succeeding times prodigious earthquakes and deluges taking
* For extorparcas here, it is necessary to read exoraoias.
πο ses er στον
Rook 1.} ἐπε of Plato. 157
place, and bringing with them desolation, in the space of one dreadful day and night, all that warhke race of Athenians was at once merged under the earth ; and the Atlantic island itself, being absorbed in the sea, entirely disappeared. And hence that sea is at present innavigable, from the impeding mud which the subsiding island produced.” *
That what is here said has a physical deduction, is evident to those who are not entirely ignorent of the physical theory. For it is not wonderful that there should have been an earthquake so great, as to have destroyed sucha large island ; since an earthquake that happened a little before our time, shook both Egypt and Bithynia, and it is not at all paradoxical, that a deluge should follow an earth- quake, For this usually happens in great earthquakes, as Aristotle relates, who at the same time adds the cause. For where a deluge takes place together with earthquakes, the waves are the vause of this passion. For when the spirit which produces the earthquake, does not yet flow towards the earth, and is not able to drive backward the sea which is impelled by a certain contrary spirit, urging it in acontrary direction, through the wind which propels it, but nevertheless stops the sea by hindering its progression, it is the eause of much sea which js impelled by the spirit contrary to this, becoming collected together. Then however, the sea thus collected flowing most abundantly, the spirit impelling it ina contrary direction, enters under the earth and produces an earthquake. But the sea deluges the place, For after this manner also about Achaia, there was an earthquake accom- panied with an ingress of the waves of the sea, which deluged the maritime cities, Bouras and Helice ;; so that neither will any physiologist reject this narration, who considers the affair rightly. Moreover, that the same place may become pervious and impervious, continent and sea, is among the things admitted by physiologists, according to Aristotle, and which history demonstrates. Aristotle also relates, {in his Meteors,] that there was mud in the external sea, after the mouth of it, and that the place there was marshy ; so that if ro πηλοῦ xapra Bpayeng signifies marshy, it is not wonderful. For even now rocks concealed under the sea, and having water on their surface, are called breakers. Why therefore should any one con tending for the truth of these things be disturbed?
That these particulars however, have reference to the admirable and orderly distribution of the universe, we shall be convinced by recollecting what is said by
" The text of Plato in this place is in the Commentaries of Proclus very erroneous, as the Jearned reader will immediately perceive by comparing it with any of the editions of the Timzus.
158 PROCLUS ON THE leven. Orpheus about the hurling into Tartarus, near the end of the fabrication of things,— For he delivering the demiurgic opposition between the Olympian and. ‘Titanic Gods," terminates the whole ordorly distribution in the extremities of the universe, and imparts to these also the undefiled providence of the Gods, — Plato, therefore, knowing this, and delivering to us wholes in images, extends and leads into the
invisible, these twofold genera, and through this disappearing, imitates the Orphic
precipitation into Tartaras, Por in order that the last of things may be adorned, and participate of divine providence, it is requisite that both the superior and infe- rior co-ordination, should extend their production from on high as far as fo the mundane extremity. Each however, effects this in a manner adapted τὸ itself; the one being shaken, and entering under the earth, which is the same as proceed- ing stably and solidly ; but the other disappearing, whieh is the same as becom- ing material, disorderly, and formless 3 raider the earth, being a symbol of the firm and the stable; but ἐλ the sea, of that which is very mutable, disorderly and flowing. Forin the last of things, permanency and generation are from the better 5 but corruption, mutation, and disorderly motion are from the worse co-ordina- tion. Since however these things are adorned, both the invisible and visible fabri- cation receiving their completion, on this account Plato says, they happened in one dreadful day and night, aight indicating the invisible causes, but day the visi- ble, and the dreadfulness, signifying opposing power, the inflexible, and that which proceeds through all things. But because all these are accomplished according to demiurgic powers, earthquakes and deluges took place, Which are adapted to the middle fabrication. Por if he wished to signity Jovian powers or energies, he would have said, thunders and lightnings happened. But since he delivers Nep- tunian demiurgic energies, he asstmilates them to earthquakes or delauges. Por it is usual to call this God earth-shaker, and the source of marine walter (κυανοχετὴν). And because time signifies a progression in order, and a well-arranged diminu- tion, he says that all these events took place in succeeding time. Its not there- fore proper to say, that he who destroys an argument, takes away also the sub- jects, as Homer says of the Phieaceans, and of the wall which the Greeks raised ; since the things which are now asserted are not fictitious, but true. Por many parts of the earth are deluged by the sea; and what he says happened is not at all impossible. Nor again, does he relate it'as a mere history ; but he mtroduces it for the purpose of indicating the providence which proceeds through all things,
and extends even to the last of things.
* Instead of τὴν των Ολυμπίων θεων, καὶ την Tiraviny παραουν δημιουργικὴν artreou in this place,
Tread σὴν των Ολυμπίων θεω», καὶ τὴν τῶν Τιταγίκων, κι δ.
BaP
Book 1.) Tim.Eus of Plato. 159
In short, it is necessary to assert, since the whole orderly distribution of things receives its completion from the visible and invisible fabrication, that for the purpose of giving perfection to the demiurgie productions of the second father, the gifts both of the better and the worse co-ordination, proceed as far as to the last of beings; the former vanquishing the subjects [of its powec] through the warlike genus, and illuminating a stable! power, through entering under the carth, li. 6. through proceeding firmly and solidly 2] but the latter producing ultimate division, and connecting the most material and indefinite motion of Tartarus. But these things being adorned, it reasonably follows that what remains is an impervious * and uninvestizable place of the sea. For there is no other passage and progression of the adorning genera of the universe, but this is that which is truly mud; and whichis mentioned by Socrates in the Phado, when he is teaching us concerning the subterranean places. For the place under the earth obscurely retains the forms of corporeity, which it possesses through the inferior co-ordina- tion subsiding, and proceeding to the end of the orderly distribution of things. For the Titanic order being driven by Jupiter as far as to Tartarus, fills what is there contained with deiform guards.