Greek and Roman Sexualities by Larson Jennifer;

Author:Larson, Jennifer; [Larson, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1080363
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

6.12 Dio Chrysostom Orations 36.55–6. Late first or early second century CE. The philosopher Dio presents a Stoic version of the sacred marriage. Here ‘Mind’ (Greek nous), the active principle that organises the universe, is identified with the god Zeus.

For when the Mind alone had been left, and had filled infinite space with itself, pouring itself evenly in all directions, nothing dense remained within it, but a looseness of texture prevailed throughout. At this point it was very beautiful, having taken on the purest nature of undiluted light, but immediately it yearned for the existence it had in the beginning. And conceiving a love for that guidance and rule and oneness of mind which it had maintained over the three natures of the sun and moon and other stars, and over every single animal and plant, it set out to procreate and distribute each thing and to fashion the universe then existing into one far better and more splendid because it was newer. And it sent out a perfect bolt of lightning, not a disordered or foul one such as storms often create when the clouds are driven violently, but a pure bolt, unmixed with any darkness. And quick as thought, it easily brought about a transformation. Mindful of Aphrodite and procreation, it calmed and relaxed itself, and extinguished much of its light, turning into a fiery mist of gentle heat. Then having intercourse with Hera and sharing in perfect sexual relations, it released anew at the end of this process the full complement of the seed of all that exists. The sons of the wise sing of this blessed marriage of Hera and Zeus in secret mysteries.

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