Chapter IV. That Nothing Else Than Indecent Fables Were Contained in the Narratives Concerning the Gods of the Greeks, for Not Believing Which Socrates Was Put to Death by the Athenians. From the Euthyphron

[PLATO] ‘FOR though these men themselves consider Zeus the best and most righteous of the gods, yet they acknowledge that even he bound his own father Kronos, because he used wickedly to devour his sons, and that Kronos too had mutilated his own father for similar reasons; but they are angry with me because I proceed against my father for doing wrong, and so they contradict themselves in regard both to the gods and to me.

‘Is this then the reason, Euthyphron, why I am prosecuted, because when any one says such things about the gods, I am vexed at hearing them? And for this, it seems, some one will say that I commit a great sin. Now therefore if you, who know so well about such matters, agree with them, it seems that I too must of necessity agree. For what else can I say, since I myself admit that I know nothing about them? But tell me, for friendship’s sake, do you really believe that these things are so?

‘Yes, Socrates, and more wonderful things than these, of which the multitude know nothing.

‘Do you then also believe that there has really been war among the gods, and dire quarrels and battles, and many other such things, as are told by the poets, and seen in the decorations of our temples by good painters? Especially at the Great Panathenaea the robe that is carried up to the Acropolis is full of such embroideries. Are we to say that these tales are true, Euthyphron?

‘Not these alone, O Socrates; but, as I said just now, I will, if you like, relate to you many other tales concerning the gods, which, I am sure, you will be astonished to hear.’ [1]

Thus writes Plato in the Euthyphron.And Numenius explains his meaning in his book concerning The Secrets in Plato,speaking in the way following: [2]