Source edition
Aristides. Vol. 1. Dindorf, Wilhelm, editor. Leipzig: Reimer, 1829.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a sacred prose hymn dedicated to Zeus by an orator who, having survived a perilous storm, seeks to fulfill a solemn vow. Assisted by the Muses, the author begins by praising the divinity of Zeus as the self-caused, oldest creator of all things, existing without any prior cause. The narrative then vividly depicts the creation of the cosmos, wherein Zeus harmoniously arranges the four elements—earth, sea, air, and ether—and allocates distinct realms to both gods and humans. It further explains how Zeus governs the universe through love and necessity, endowing humanity with laws to maintain order, while offering a critique of Homer's inappropriate mythological depictions. Finally, the orator expounds on how Zeus comprehensively rules over all natural phenomena and time, demonstrating that his very name, Dia, signifies the "cause" of the universe, and concludes by exalting him as the ultimate source and completion of all existence.