Plutarch: Moralia, Volume V, Isis and Osiris. The E at Delphi. The Oracles at Delphi No Longer Given in Verse. The Obsolescence of Oracles.

by Plutarch, Frank Cole Babbitt (Translator)

Plutarch (Plutarchus), ca. 45-120 CE, was born at Chaeronea in Boeotia in central Greece, studied philosophy at Athens, and, after coming to Rome as a teacher in philosophy, was given consular rank by the emperor Trajan and a procuratorship in Greece by Hadrian. He was married and the father of one daughter and four sons. He appears as a man of kindly character and independent thought, studious and learned.

Plutarch wrote on many subjects. Most popular have always been the 46 Parallel Lives, biographies planned to be ethical examples in pairs (in each pair, one Greek figure and one similar Roman), though the last four lives are single. All are invaluable sources of our knowledge of the lives and characters of Greek and Roman statesmen, soldiers and orators. Plutarch's many other varied extant works, about 60 in number, are known as Moralia or Moral Essays. They are of high literary value, besides being of great use to people interested in philosophy, ethics and religion.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of the Moralia is in fifteen volumes, volume XIII having two parts.

Genres: Classics

528 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1936

About the author

Plutarch (later named, upon becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus; AD 46–AD 120) was a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist, known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia. He is classified as a Middle Platonist. Plutarch's surviving works were written in Greek, but intended for both Greek and Roman readers.

Reviews

[Mateusz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a different edition of "De Iside et Osiride", namely Plutarch, and J. Gwyn Griffiths. 1970. Plutarch's de Iside et Osiride. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, thus omitted Babbitt's translation. This Plutarchian text that I've read in the National Library of Wales as a second year student years ago brightened my mind and opened to a wholly new course of studies in metaphysics, pagan theology and magic that I pursued privately for the next fourteen years. As an advise, if anyone reads the "E at Delphi"; "Delphic oracles no longer given in verse" and "On the obsolence of oracles" it is of dire necessity to understand the neo-platonic schools of thought, knowledge of basic "modus operandi" of ancient mysteries is of great significance, otherwise it is quite a fruitless endeavour save for an aesthetical journey in a magnificent classical text. I understand that most people want to read with understanding - not only that, to "acquire the belief-perspective" is enriching, even if for a while, to honour the Eleusia and adorn one's intellect with a true commitment. Plutarch left extremely important matter in his magisterial works, collected and translated in Loeb's volumes, yet to grasp it fully, it is advisable to read, e.g. Iamblichus "On the Mysteries", Chaldean Oracles by Julian the Theurgist, Macrobius commentary to Somnium Scipionis, Hymn to Magna Mater and King Helios by Emperor Julian, Metamorphoses by Apuleius, modern Daniel Ogden's "Greek and Roman Necromancy" to name a few, for background; For whom shall believe it mere tale-tale of ancient past shall never understand the profound truths that are full of vigorous blood: Of prophetissas, of oracles, of Divine transcendent Sun that in the modern world are not only unseen, forgotten, but in the mind's of many descended into mere shadows of shadows, deeper into Platonic cave of apparitions. May the muses guide you.

[Marko Vasić · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nemam običaj da se previše gombam sa filozofskim raspravama, ali moram da priznam da me ova zbirka poprilično lepo iznenadila. Najviše zbog obilja podataka koje sam iz nje izvukao u poseban dokument u vezi sa proročištem u Delfima – običajima koji se uz njega vezuju i brojnim karakteristikama koje su se kroz vekove menjale. Plutarh je, kao sveštenik upravo u Delfima, ostao uzdržan da otkrije tajne kulta nakon odlaska Pitije, ali, zaboga, ne treba ni sve ostati otkriveno. Kao i u ostalim filozofskim delima, smeta mi obilje pitanja i digresija, ali to nije do samog dela nego do moje nesklonosti ka takvoj literaturi i nepripremljenosti na to šta me čeka između redova, ali i nedovoljnog obrazovanja u toj sferi, što je lako popravljivo.

[Tommy Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for Isis & Osiris, stayed for Obsolescence of Oracles. There is perennialism with The Timaeus and Platonic geometry which should never be passed over, if one is lucky enough to encounter it.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting detail on the Egyptian mythology of Osiris and Isis. Reading this gave me some faith that I could eventually tackle the Moralia in its entirety. Like everything else Plutarch has written, this is a must-read for the amateur classicist.