Bel and the Dragon

Septuaginta. The Old Testament in Greek According to the Septuagint. Volume 3: Hosea-4 Maccabees, Psalms of Solomon, Enoch, The Odes. Swete, Henry Barclay, editor. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1905

Open Greek and Latin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.

"Bel and the Dragon" is a narrative set in the Babylonian court that highlights the wisdom of the prophet Daniel and his devotion to the true God. The work consists of two main episodes demonstrating the falsehood of pagan deities. In the first part, Daniel exposes the deception surrounding the idol Bel; by scattering ashes on the temple floor, he reveals the footprints of the priests who secretly consume the food offerings. In the second part, Daniel slays a great dragon worshipped by the Babylonians by feeding it a fatal mixture. Consequently, an angry mob throws Daniel into a lions' den, but he miraculously survives with the help of the prophet Habakkuk, who is brought by an angel to feed him. Ultimately, the king rescues Daniel and acknowledges his God as the only living God.