Zenobius 5.78

All things are eight

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English

Proverb

Explanation

Evander said that the gods who rule all are eight: Fire, Water, Earth, Heaven, Moon, Sun, Mithras, and Night. Others say that all the contests at Olympia are eight: stade, dolichos, double course, race-in-arms, boxing, pancration, and the rest; whence "all things are eight."

Greek

Proverb

Πάντα ὀκτώ

Explanation

Εὔανδρος ἔφη ὀκτὼ τοὺς πάντων εἶναι κρατοῦντας θεοὺς, Πῦρ, Ὕδωρ, Γῆν, Οὐρανὸν, Σελήνην, Ἥλιον, Μίθραν, Νύκτα. Ἄλλοι δέ φασιν ἐν Ὀλυμπίᾳ τὰ πάντα εἶναι ἀγωνίσματα ὀκτὼ, Στάδιον, [Δόλιχον,] Δίαυλον, Ὁπλίτην, Πυγμὴν, Παγκράτιον καὶ τὰ λοιπά· ἀφ’ ὧν εἰρῆσθαι πάντα ὀκτώ.

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0098.tlg001.1st1K-grc1:5.78