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Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database



9606
Plutarch, Roman Questions, 268f


nanIs it because, as they tell the tale, Picus, transformed by his wife's magic drugs, became a woodpecker and in that form gives oracles and prophecies to those who consult him? Or is this wholly incredible and monstrous, and is that other tale more credible which relates that when Romulus and Remus were exposed, not only did a she-wolf suckle them, but also a certain woodpecker came continually to visit them and bring them scraps of food? For generally, even to this day, in foot-hills and thickly wooded places what the woodpecker is found, there also is found the wolf, as Nigidius records. Or is it rather because they regard this bird as sacred to Mars, even as other birds to other gods? For it is a courageous and spirited bird and has a beak so strong that it can overturn oaks by pecking them until it has reached the inmost part of the tree. Why do they suppose Janus to have been two-faced and so represent him in painting and sculpture? Is it because, as they relate, he was by birth a Greek from Perrhaebia, and, when he had crossed to Italy and had settled among the savages there, he changed both his speech and his habits? Or is it rather because he changed the people of Italy to another manner and form of life by persuading a people which had formerly made use of wild plants and lawless customs to till the soil and to live under organized government? Why do they sell articles for funerals in the precinct of Libitina


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achilles tatius Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
aethiopians Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
apollomos oftyana Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
apparitions Stephens and Winkler (1995) 191
babylon Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
billy goat Stephens and Winkler (1995) 191
damas Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190, 191
dareios Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
demon Stephens and Winkler (1995) 191
garmos Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190, 191
gold chains,,treasure Stephens and Winkler (1995) 191
gold chains Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
hehodoros Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
hekale Stephens and Winkler (1995) 191
iambhchos (author of babylomaka) Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
iamblichos babyloniaka,ix Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190, 191
intaphrenes Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
kalhmachos Stephens and Winkler (1995) 191
letters Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
mutilation Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
osiris Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190, 191
persians Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
phoenician Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
poisoned honey' Stephens and Winkler (1995) 191
remus Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190, 191
rhodanes Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190, 191
romulus and remus Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190, 191
sakas Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
sinoms Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190, 191
smonis Stephens and Winkler (1995) 190
soraichos Stephens and Winkler (1995) 191
theseus Stephens and Winkler (1995) 191