Clement of Alexandria – Crambe Repetita

Loutra

John Reinhard Weguelin, The bath, 1884 — John Reinhard Weguelin, *The bath* (1884)

Οἷα δὲ καὶ τὰ λουτρὰ αὐταῖς· οἶκοι τεχνητοί, συμπαγεῖς καὶ περιφορητοί, διαφανεῖ σινδόνι καλυπτόμενοι, καθέδραι τε ἐπίχρυσοι, ἀργυρόηλοι καὶ σκεύη μυρία χρυσοῦ τε καὶ ἀργύρου, τὰ μὲν εἰς προπόσεις, τὰ δὲ εἰς τροφάς, τὰ δὲ εἰς τὸ λούσασθαι περιφερόμενα· ναὶ μὴν καὶ ἐσχαρίδες ἀνθράκων· εἰς τοσοῦτον γὰρ ἀκρασίας ἥκουσιν ὡς δειπνεῖν καὶ μεθύειν ἔτι λουομένας· τά τε ἀργυρώματα, μεθ’ ὧν ἐμπομπεύουσιν, ἀπειροκάλως ἐν τοῖς βαλανείοις προτιθέασι· τάχα μέν που καὶ τὸν πλοῦτον δι’ ἀλαζονείαν περιττήν, μάλιστα δὲ τὴν αὐτεξούσιον ἀπαιδευσίαν, καθ’ ἣν κατηγοροῦσιν ἀνάνδρων ἀνδρῶν πρὸς γυναικῶν κεκρατημένων, ἐπιδεικνύμεναι ἐλέγχουσαί τε ἁμῇ γέ πῃ σφᾶς αὐτὰς μὴ οἵας τε εἶναι συνεῖναι καὶ δίχα τῶν σκευῶν τῶν πολλῶν ἱδροῦν δύνασθαι· καὶ γὰρ αἱ πενόμεναι τῆς πομπῆς μὴ μεταλαμβάνουσαι τῶν ἴσων κοινωνοῦσι λουτρῶν. ἔχει δὲ ἄρα ὁ ῥύπος τῆς περιουσίας βλασφημίας περιβολὴν πολλήν. τούτῳ καθάπερ δελέατι ἀγκιστρεύουσιν τοὺς ἀθλίους κεχηνότας ἐπὶ τὰς μαρμαρυγὰς τοῦ χρυσίου· καὶ γὰρ ἐκπλήττουσαι τούτῳ τοὺς ἀπειροκάλους θαυμάζειν σφᾶς τεχνῶνται τοὺς ἐραστάς, οἳ μετ’ ὀλίγον αὐταῖς ἐνυβρίζουσι γυμναῖς. καὶ δὴ τοῖς μὲν ἀνδράσι τοῖς σφῶν οὐκ ἂν ἀποδύσαιντο προσποίητον αἰσχύνης ἀξιοπιστίαν μνώμεναι, ἔξεστι δὲ τοῖς βουλομένοις τῶν ἄλλων τὰς οἴκοι κατακλείστους γυμνὰς ἐν τοῖς βαλανείοις θεάσασθαι· ἐνταῦθα γὰρ ἀποδύσασθαι τοῖς θεαταῖς ὥσπερ καπήλοις σωμάτων οὐκ αἰσχύνονται. ἀλλ’ ὁ μὲν Ἡσίοδος “μηδὲ γυναικείῳ λουτρῷ χρόα φαιδρύνεσθαι” παραινεῖ. κοινὰ δὲ ἀνέῳκται ἀνδράσιν ὁμοῦ καὶ γυναιξὶ τὰ βαλανεῖα, κἀντεῦθεν ἐπὶ τὴν ἀκρασίαν ἀποδύονται· ἐκ τοῦ γὰρ εἰσορᾶν γίνεται ἀνθρώποις ἐρᾶν, ὥσπερ ἀποκλυζομένης τῆς αἰδοῦς αὐτοῖς κατὰ τὰ λουτρά. αἳ δὲ μὴ εἰς τοσοῦτον ἀπερυθριῶσαι τοὺς μὲν ὀθνείους ἀποκλείουσιν, ἰδίοις δὲ οἰκέταις συλλούονται καὶ δούλοις ἀποδύονται γυμναὶ καὶ ἀνατρίβονται ὑπ’ αὐτῶν, ἐξουσίαν δοῦσαι τῷ κατεπτηχότι τῆς ἐπιθυμίας τὸ ἀδεὲς τῆς ψηλαφήσεως· οἱ γὰρ παρεισαγόμενοι παρὰ τὰ λουτρὰ ταῖς δεσποίναις γυμναῖς μελέτην ἴσχουσιν ἀποδύσασθαι πρὸς τόλμαν ἐπιθυμίας ἔθει πονηρῷ περιγράφοντες τὸν φόβον. καὶ οἱ μὲν παλαιοὶ τῶν ἀθλητῶν γυμνὸν δεικνύναι τὸν ἄνδρα αἰδούμενοι ἐν διαζώσμασι τὴν ἀγωνίαν ἐκτελοῦντες τὸ αἰδῆμον ἐφύλαττον· αἳ δὲ ἀποδυσάμεναι ἅμα τῷ χιτῶνι καὶ τὴν αἰδῶ φαίνεσθαι μὲν βούλονται καλαί, ἄκουσαι δ’ ὅμως ἐλέγχονται κακαί· καὶ γὰρ δι’ αὐτοῦ καταφαίνεται μάλιστα τοῦ σώματος τὸ μάχλον τῆς ἐπιθυμίας, καθάπερ τοῖς ὑδεριῶσιν τὸ περιστεγόμενον τῆς ἐπιφανείας ὑγρόν· τὸ νοσοῦν δὲ ἀμφοῖν ἐκ τῆς ὄψεως γνωρίζεται. χρὴ τοίνυν τοὺς ἄνδρας γενναῖον ἀληθείας ὑπόδειγμα ταῖς γυναιξὶ γινομένους αἰσχύνεσθαι τὰς μετ’ αὐτῶν ἀποδύσεις καὶ φυλάττεσθαι τὰς ὄψεις τὰς ὀλισθηράς· ὁ γὰρ ἐμβλέψας, φησί, περιεργότερον ἤδη ἥμαρτεν. οἴκοι μὲν οὖν τοὺς γονεῖς καὶ τοὺς οἰκέτας αἰδεῖσθαι χρή, ἐν δὲ ταῖς ὁδοῖς τοὺς ἀπαντῶντας, ἐν δὲ τοῖς λουτροῖς τὰς γυναῖκας, ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἐρημίαις ἑαυτούς, πανταχοῦ δὲ τὸν λόγον, ὅς ἐστι πανταχοῦ, καὶ ἐγένετο ἄνευ αὐτοῦ οὐδὲ ἕν. οὕτως γὰρ μόνως ἀπτώς τις διαμενεῖ, εἰ πάντοτε αὐτῷ συμπαρεῖναι νομίζοι τὸν θεόν.
(Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 3.31-33)

And of what sort are their baths? Houses skilfully constructed, compact, portable, transparent, covered with fine linen. And gold-plated chairs, and silver ones, too, and ten thousand vessels of gold and silver, some for drinking, some for eating, some for bathing, are carried about with them. Besides these, there are even braziers of coals; for they have arrived at such a pitch of self-indulgence, that they sup and get drunk while bathing. And articles of silver with which they make a show, they ostentatiously set out in the baths, and thus display perchance their wealth out of excessive pride, but chiefly the capricious ignorance, through which they brand effeminate men, who have been vanquished by women; proving at least that they themselves cannot meet and cannot sweat without a multitude of vessels, although poor women who have no display equally enjoy their baths. The dirt of wealth, then, has an abundant covering of censure. With this, as with a bait, they hook the miserable creatures that gape at the glitter of gold. For dazzling thus those fond of display, they artfully try to win the admiration of their lovers, who after a little insult them naked. They will scarce strip before their own husbands affecting a plausible pretence of modesty; but any others who wish, may see them at home shut up naked in their baths. For there they are not ashamed to strip before spectators, as if exposing their persons for sale. But Hesiod advises
“Not to wash the skin in the women’s bath.” [Erga kai Hēmerai 753]
The baths are opened promiscuously to men and women; and there they strip for licentious indulgence (for from looking, men get to loving [Agathon, fr. 29]), as if their modesty had been washed away in the bath. Those who have not become utterly destitute of modesty shut out strangers; but bathe with their own servants, and strip naked before their slaves, and are rubbed by them; giving to the crouching menial liberty to lust, by permitting fearless handling. For those who are introduced before their naked mistresses while in the bath, study to strip themselves in order to audacity in lust, casting off fear in consequence of the wicked custom. The ancient athletes, ashamed to exhibit a man naked, preserved their modesty by going through the contest in drawers; but these women, divesting themselves of their modesty along with their tunic, wish to appear beautiful, but contrary to their wish are simply proved to be wicked. For through the body itself the wantonness of lust shines clearly; as in the case of dropsical people, the water covered by the skin. Disease in both is known from the look. Men, therefore, affording to women a noble example of truth, ought to be ashamed at their stripping before them, and guard against these dangerous sights; for he who has looked curiously, it is said, has sinned already [Mt. 5:28]. At home, therefore, they ought to regard with modesty parents and domestics; in the ways, those they meet; in the baths, women; in solitude, themselves; and everywhere the Word, who is everywhere, and without Him was not anything [John 1:3]. For so only shall one remain without falling, if he regard God as ever present with him. (tr. William Wilson)

Heudōn

Simeon Solomon, Night, 1890 — Simeon Solomon, *Night* (1890)

ᾟ μοι δοκοῦσιν εὐφρόνην κεκληκέναι τὴν νύκτα, ἐπειδὴ τηνικάδε ἡ ψυχὴ πεπαυμένη τῶν αἰσθήσεων συννεύει πρὸς αὑτὴν καὶ μᾶλλον μετέχει τῆς φρονήσεως. διὰ ταῦτ’ οὖν καὶ αἱ τελεταὶ γίνονται νυκτὸς μάλιστα, σημαίνουσαι τὴν ἐν νυκτὶ τῆς ψυχῆς συστολὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ σώματος. ἄρ’ οὖν μὴ καθεύδωμεν ὡς οἱ λοιποί, ἀλλὰ γρηγορῶμεν καὶ νήφωμεν. οἱ γὰρ καθεύδοντες νυκτὸς καθεύδουσι καὶ οἱ μεθυσκόμενοι νυκτὸς μεθύουσιν· ἡμεῖς δὲ ἡμέρας ὄντες νήφωμεν, ἐνδυσάμενοι θώρακα πίστεως καὶ ἀγάπης καὶ περικεφαλαίαν ἐλπίδα σωτηρίου. ὅσα δ’ αὖ περὶ ὕπνου λέγουσι, τὰ αὐτὰ χρὴ καὶ περὶ θανάτου ἐξακούειν. ἑκάτερος γὰρ δηλοῖ τὴν ἀπόστασιν τῆς ψυχῆς, ὃ μὲν μᾶλλον, ὃ δὲ ἧττον, ὅπερ ἐστὶ καὶ παρὰ Ἡρακλείτου λαβεῖν· “ἄνθρωπος ἐν εὐφρόνῃ φάος· ἅπτεται ἑαυτῷ ἀποθανών, ἀποσβεσθεὶς ὄψεις, ζῶν δέ ἅπτεται τεθνεῶτος εὕδων, ἀποσβεσθεὶς ὄψεις· ἐγρηγορὼς ἅπτεται εὕδοντος.” μακάριοι γὰρ οἱ εἰδότες τὸν καιρὸν κατὰ τὸν ἀπόστολον, ὅτι ὥρα ὑμᾶς ἤδη ἐξ ὕπνου ἐγερθῆναι· νῦν γὰρ ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν. ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, ἐνδυσώμεθα δὲ τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός.
(Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 4.140.2-141.5)

And for this reason, as they appear to me, to have called night Euphrone; since then the soul, released from the perceptions of sense, turns in on itself, and has a truer hold of intelligence. Wherefore the mysteries are for the most part celebrated by night, indicating the withdrawal of the soul from the body, which takes place by night. “Let us not then sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunken, are drunken in the night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as an helmet the hope of salvation.” (Paul, 1 Thess. 5.1-6) And as to what, again, they say of sleep, the very same things are to be understood of death. For each exhibits the departure of the soul, the one more, the other less; as we may also get this in Heraclitus (fr. 122): “Man touches night in himself, when dead and his light quenched; and alive, when he sleeps he touches the dead; and awake, when he shuts his eyes, he touches the sleeper.” “For blessed are those that have seen the Lord,” according to the apostle; “for it is high time to awake out of sleep. For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light.” (Paul, Rom. 13.11-12) (tr. Philip Schaff)

Magoi

Ξάνθος δὲ ἐν τοῖς ἐπιγραφομένοις Μαγικοῖς †, “μίγνυνται δὲ”, φησὶν, “οἱ μάγοι μητράσι καὶ θυγατράσι· καὶ ἀδελφαῖς μίγνυσθαι θεμιτὸν εἶναι· κοινάς τε εἶναι τὰς γυναῖκας, οὐ βίᾳ καὶ λάθρᾳ, ἀλλὰ συναινούντων ἀμφοτέρων, ὅταν θέλῃ γῆμαι ὁ ἕτερος τὴν τοῦ ἑτέρου.
(Clement of Alexandria Strom. 3.2.11 = Xanthus Lydus, FGH 765 F31)

Xanthus says in his book entitled Magica “The mages have sex with their mothers,” and he says that it is customary for them to have sex with their daughters and sisters too, and that the women were held in common. Such unions were not forced or secret, but were readily consented to by both parties, whenever one man wanted to marry the woman of another. (tr. Daniel Ogden)

Nuktipolois

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Κἄστι τὸ σύνθημα Ἐλευσινίων μυστηρίων· “ἐνήστευσα, ἔπιον τὸν κυκεῶνα, ἔλαβον ἐκ κίστης, ἐργασάμενος ἀπεθέμην εἰς κάλαθον καὶ ἐκ καλάθου εἰς κίστην.” καλά γε τὰ θεάματα καὶ θεᾷ πρέποντα. ἄξια μὲν οὖν νυκτὸς τὰ τελέσματα καὶ πυρὸς καὶ τοῦ “μεγαλήτορος”, μᾶλλον δὲ ματαιόφρονος Ἐρεχθειδῶν δήμου, πρὸς δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων Ἑλλήνων, οὕστινας “μένει τελευτήσαντας ἅσσα οὐδὲ ἔλπονται.” τίσι δὴ μαντεύεται Ἡράκλειτος ὁ Ἐφέσιος; “νυκτιπόλοις, μάγοις, βάκχοις, λήναις, μύσταις”, τούτοις ἀπειλεῖ τὰ μετὰ θάνατον, τούτοις μαντεύεται τὸ πῦρ· “τὰ γὰρ νομιζόμενα κατὰ ἀνθρώπους μυστήρια ἀνιερωστὶ μυοῦνται.” νόμος οὖν καὶ ὑπόληψις κενὴ καὶ τοῦ δράκοντος τὰ μυστήρια ἀπάτη τίς ἐστιν θρῃσκευομένη, τὰς ἀμυήτους ὄντως μυήσεις καὶ τὰς ἀνοργιάστους τελετὰς εὐσεβείᾳ νόθῳ προστρεπομένων.
(Clement of Alexandria, Protr. 18-19)

And the formula of the Eleusinian mysteries is as follows: “I fasted; I drank the draught; I took from the chest; having done my task, I placed in the basket, and from the basket into the chest.” Beautiful sights indeed, and fit for a goddess! Yes, such rites are meet for night and torch fires, and for the “great-hearted”—I should rather say empty-headed—people of the Erechtheidae, with the rest of the Greeks as well, “whom after death there await such things as they little expect.” Against whom does Heracleitus of Ephesus utter this prophecy? Against “night-roamers, magicians, Bacchants, Lenaean revellers and devotees of the mysteries.” These are the people whom he threatens with the penalties that follow death; for these he prophesies the fire. “For in unholy fashion are they initiated into the mysteries customary among men.” The mysteries, then, are mere custom and vain opinion, and it is a deceit of the serpent that men worship when, with spurious piety, they return towards these sacred initiations that are really profanities, and solemn rites that are without sanctity. (tr. George William Butterworth)