Wednesday, November 05, 2025
Demand for Respect
Euripides, Hippolytus 3-8 (Aphrodite speaking; tr. David Kovacs):
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Of all those who dwell between the Euxine Sea and the Pillars of Atlas and look on the light of the sun, I honor those who reverence my power, but I lay low all those who think proud thoughts against me. For in the gods as well one finds this trait: they enjoy receiving honor from mortals.Commentators compare Hippocrates, Airs, Waters, Places 22 (tr. W.H.S. Jones):
ὅσοι τε Πόντου τερμόνων τ᾽ Ἀτλαντικῶν
ναίουσιν εἴσω, φῶς ὁρῶντες ἡλίου,
τοὺς μὲν σέβοντας τἀμὰ πρεσβεύω κράτη, 5
σφάλλω δ᾽ ὅσοι φρονοῦσιν εἰς ἡμᾶς μέγα.
ἔνεστι γὰρ δὴ κἀν θεῶν γένει τόδε·
τιμώμενοι χαίρουσιν ἀνθρώπων ὕπο.
if indeed the gods are pleased to receive from men respect and worship, and repay these with favours.
εἰ δὴ τιμώμενοι χαίρουσιν οἱ θεοὶ καί θαυμαζόμενοι ὑπ᾿ ἀνθρώπων καὶ ἀντὶ τούτων χάριτας ἀποδιδόασιν.
