Δεισιδαιμονία
fear of the gods, piety, superstition
Translated by Catharine Roth18 May 2005Vetting: high9 revisions
Translation
[Meaning] discretion in regard to the divine, timidity, doubt concerning the faith.1
Also [sc. attested is the related adjective]deisidai/mwn ["god-fearing"], as if afraid. The Apostle [says]: "men of Athens, I see that you are rather god-fearing." Meaning pious.2
And Crito in the Getica says: "the kings of the Getae, inducing in them fear of the gods and concord by means of deceit and magic are already aiming at great things."3
And Polybius of Megalopolis says concerning Timaeus: "he demonstrated great cleverness and audacity in accusing his neighbors, but in his own denials he is full of dreams and marvels and unreliable stories and in short of ignoble superstition and old wives' tales."4
"Asclepiodotus was holy and pious and at first he had become so scrupulous and cautious that he did not dare even to offer sacrifice or to hear any secret word; for [he thought] that these were not appropriate for fleshly beings but only for Olympus and those who are believed to live on Olympus."5
Piety happens to be the mean between impiety and superstition.6
Untimely free speech is superstition.7
"For as Pyrrhus was stealing the money of Persephone he said jokingly, 'Untimely piety is superstition, and gathering up wealth without effort is good counsel'."8
Also [sc. attested is the related adjective]
And Crito in the Getica says: "the kings of the Getae, inducing in them fear of the gods and concord by means of deceit and magic are already aiming at great things."3
And Polybius of Megalopolis says concerning Timaeus: "he demonstrated great cleverness and audacity in accusing his neighbors, but in his own denials he is full of dreams and marvels and unreliable stories and in short of ignoble superstition and old wives' tales."4
"Asclepiodotus was holy and pious and at first he had become so scrupulous and cautious that he did not dare even to offer sacrifice or to hear any secret word; for [he thought] that these were not appropriate for fleshly beings but only for Olympus and those who are believed to live on Olympus."5
Piety happens to be the mean between impiety and superstition.6
Untimely free speech is superstition.7
"For as Pyrrhus was stealing the money of Persephone he said jokingly, 'Untimely piety is superstition, and gathering up wealth without effort is good counsel'."8