29. And here, indeed, we can show that all those whom you represent to us as and call gods, were but men, by quoting either Euhemerus of Acragas,991    Lit., “Euhemerus being opened.” whose books were translated by Ennius into Latin that all might be thoroughly acquainted with them; or Nicanor992    So Elm. and Orelli, reading Nicanore for the ms. Nicagora, retained by all other edd. the Cyprian; or the Pellæan Leon; or Theodorus of Cyrene; or Hippo and Diagoras of Melos; or a thousand other writers, who have minutely, industriously, and carefully993    Lit., “with the care of scrupulous diligence.” brought secret things to light with noble candour. We may, I repeat, at pleasure, declare both the acts of Jupiter, and the wars of Minerva and the virgin994    Meursius would join virginis to Minerva, thinking it an allusion to her title Παρθένος. Diana; by what stratagems Liber strove to make himself master of the Indian empire; what was the condition, the duty, the gain995    These terms are employed of hetæræ. of Venus; to whom the great mother was bound in marriage; what hope, what joy was aroused in her by the comely Attis; whence came the Egyptian Serapis and Isis, or for what reasons their very names996    Lit., “the title itself of their names was.” were formed.

XXIX. Et possumus quidem hoc in loco omnes 1062B istos nobis quos inducitis atque appellatis deos, homines fuisse monstrare, vel Agragantino Evhemero replicato, cujus libellos Ennius, clarum ut fieret cunctis, sermonem in Italum transtulit; vel Nicanora Cyprio, vel Pellaeo Leonte, vel Cyrenensi Theodoro, vel Hippone ac Diagora Meliis, vel auctoribus aliis 1063A mille, qui scrupulosae diligentiae cura in lucem res abditas libertate ingenua protulerunt. Possumus, inquam, si placet, et Jovis res gestas, et Minervae expromere bella, virginis et Dianae; quibus dolis Liber Indorum affectaverit regnum, cujus fuerit conditionis Venus, cujus operae, cujus quaestus: matrimonium magna cujus tenuerit mater; quidnam spei, quid voluptatis specioso ab Attide conceperit. Unde Serapis Aegyptius, unde Isis, vel ex quibus causis appellatio ipsa concinnata sit nominum.