BOOK V
CONTENTS
I. Further proof that the prophetic and oracular shrines among the heathen belonged to evil daemons, and how they have all been destroyed and have failed since our Saviour's teaching in the Gospel p 178 b
II. The manner of the daemoniacal operation p 181 a
III. That the superstition of the Greeks concerning the gods consisted of many divisions and various opinions p 182 e
IV. That the prophetic and oracular shrines among the heathen belonged to evil daemons p 184 a
V. That the mythical narratives related concerning gods contain covert histories of daemons p 187 a
VI. That their so-called good daemons are agents of death p 190 a
VII. That they minister also to amorous pleasures; and the kind of pleasures in which they severally delight p 191 b
VIII. That they are drawn down by incantations, and compelled against their will to serve the designs of men p 193 a
IX. That they cannot withdraw of their own accord p 195 b
X. The kind of methods by which their wonderful gods are subjected to the impostors p 197 d
XI. That the daemons whom men have supposed to be gods taught them their own curious arts p 199 d
XII. That they themselves taught men how to array their images for magical rites p 200 b
XIII. That they showed the proper forms of their own statues p 201 a
XIV. That they encourage the practice of magic p 202 a
XV. That they love the lifeless blocks p 203 c
XVI. Of the oracles that have failed p 304 d
XVII. That the daemons whom they worship as gods actually die p 205 d
XVIII. Of the oracles mentioned among the Greeks of old times p 208 b
XIX. Apollo charged with commanding twice seven boys and maidens to be sent out by the Athenians to the Cretans to be sacrificed p 209 c
XX. How Apollo has been the cause of death to many by the ambiguity of his responses p 210 b
XXI. How again by an ambiguous response he caused Croesus to lose his own kingdom p 212 c
XXII. How they used to mislead inquirers by deluding them through the responses p 213 d
XXIII. That by their darkness and obscurity they concealed their own ignorance p 214 d
XXIV. That, being unable to give any help in the misfortunes of war, they used to quibble and deceive their suppliants by ambiguous responses p 216 b
XXV. The answers to the Lacedaemonians p 219 a
XXVI. The like to the people of Cnidos p 220 b
XXVII. How they incited those who consulted them to war against each other p 221 b
XXVIII. That the treatment of Lycurgus the law-giver of the Lacedaemonians was not worthy of a god p 222 d
XXIX. That they failed to give answers about matters of importance p 224 c
XXX. That, in advising men what to do, they were guided by ordinary human reasonings p 225 b
XXXI. That their recommendations were for the most part unphilosophical p 225 c
XXXII. That they used to take part with the wrongdoers p 226 d
XXXIII. That in accordance with the opinions of the multitude they injudiciously belauded the poets, who had displayed nothing worthy of the philosophical life p 227 a
XXXIV. That they exhorted men to glorify pugilists and athletes with honours equal to those of the gods p 230 a
XXXV. That they used to flatter tyrants p 233 a
XXXVI. That they bade men worship lifeless matter p 233 d