Thursday, August 03, 2017
Ancient Custom is the Best
Porphyry, On Abstinence from Animal Food 2.18.3 (tr. Glenn W. Most):
Newer› ‹Older
... and thus Hesiod [fragment 322 Merkelbach-West], praising the custom of ancient sacrifices, quite rightly said,My watchword: νόμος δ' ἀρχαῖος ἄριστος.
howsoever the city performs sacrifice, ancient custom is the best.... καὶ τὸν Ἡσίοδον οὖν εἰκότως τὸν τῶν ἀρχαίων θυσιῶν νόμον ἐπαινοῦντα εἰπεῖν·
ὥς κε πόλις ῥέζῃσι, νόμος δ' ἀρχαῖος ἄριστος.
