described in order that it may give prophetic intimations。 During
the life of each individual these intimations are plainer； but after
his death the liver becomes blind； and delivers oracles too obscure to
be intelligible。 The neighbouring organ ＇the spleen＇ is situated on
the left…hand side； and is constructed with a view of keeping the
liver bright and pure…like a napkin； always ready prepared and at hand
to clean the mirror。 And hence； when any impurities arise in the
region of the liver by reason of disorders of the body； the loose
nature of the spleen； which is composed of a hollow and bloodless
tissue； receives them all and dears them away； and when filled with
the unclean matter； swells and festers； but； again； when the body is
purged； settles down into the same place as before； and is humbled。
Concerning the soul； as to which part is mortal and which divine；
and how and why they are separated； and where located； if God
acknowledges that we have spoken the truth； then； and then only； can
we be confident； still； we may venture to assert that what has been
said by us is probable； and will be rendered more probable by
investigation。 Let us assume thus much。
The creation of the rest of follows next in order； and this we may
investigate in a similar manner。 And it appears to be very meet that
the body should be framed on the following principles：…
The authors of our race were aware that we should be intemperate
in eating and drinking； and take a good deal more than was necessary
or proper； by reason of gluttony。 In order then that disease might not
quickly destroy us； and lest our mortal race should perish without
fulfilling its end…intending to provide against this； the gods made
what is called the lower belly； to be a receptacle for the superfluous
meat and drink； and formed the convolution of the bowels； so that
the food might be prevented from passing quickly through and
compelling the body to require more food； thus producing insatiable
gluttony； and making the whole race an enemy to philosophy and
music； and rebellious against the divinest element within us。
The bones and flesh； and other similar parts of us； were made as
follows。 The first principle of all of them was the generation of
the marrow。 For the bonds of life which unite the soul with the body
are made fast there； and they are the root and foundation of the human
race。 The marrow itself is created out of other materials： God took
such of the primary triangles as were straight and smooth； and were
adapted by their perfection to produce fire and water； and air and
earth…these； I say； he separated from their kinds； and mingling them
in due proportions with one another； made the marrow out of them to be
a universal seed of the whole race of mankind； and in this seed he
then planted and enclosed the souls； and in the original
distribution gave to the marrow as many and various forms as the
different kinds of souls were hereafter to receive。 That which； like a
field； was to receive the divine seed； he made round every way； and
called that portion of the marrow； brain； intending that； when an
animal was perfected； the vessel containing this substance should be
the head； but that which was intended to contain the remaining and
mortal part of the soul he distributed into figures at once around and
elongated； and he called them all by the name 〃marrow〃； and to
these； as to anchors； fastening the bonds of the whole soul； he
proceeded to fashion around them the entire framework of our body；
constructing for the marrow； first of all a complete covering of bone。
Bone was composed by him in the following manner。 Having sifted pure
and smooth earth he kneaded it and wetted it with marrow； and after
that he put it into fire and then into water； and once more into
fire and again into water…in this way by frequent transfers from one
to the other he made it insoluble by either。 Out of this he fashioned；
as in a lathe； a globe made of bone； which he placed around the brain；
and in this he left a narrow opening； and around the marrow of the
neck and back he formed vertebrae which he placed under one another
like pivots； beginning at the head and extending through the whole
of the trunk。 Thus wishing to preserve the entire seed； he enclosed it
in a stone…like casing； inserting joints； and using in the formation
of them the power of the other or diverse as an intermediate nature；
that they might have motion and flexure。 Then again； considering
that the bone would be too brittle and inflexible； and when heated and
again cooled would soon mortify and destroy the seed within…having
this in view； he contrived the sinews and the flesh； that so binding
all the members together by the sinews； which admitted of being
stretched and relaxed about the vertebrae； he might thus make the body
capable of flexion and extension； while the flesh would serve as a
protection against the summer heat and against the winter cold； and
also against falls； softly and easily yielding to external bodies；
like articles made of felt； and containing in itself a warm moisture
which in summer exudes and makes the surface damp； would impart a
nature coolness to the whole body； and again in winter by the help
of this internal warmth would form a very tolerable defence against
the frost which surrounds it and attacks it from without。 He who
modelled us； considering these things； mixed earth with fire and water
and blended them； and making a ferment of acid and salt； he mingled it
with them and formed soft and succulent flesh。 As for the sinews； he
made them of a mixture of bone and unfermented flesh； attempered so as
to be in a mean； and gave them a yellow colour； wherefore the sinews
have a firmer and more glutinous nature than flesh； but a softer and
moister nature than the bones。 With these God covered the bones and
marrow； binding them together by sinews； and then enshrouded them
all in an upper covering of flesh。 The more living and sensitive of
the bones he enclosed in the thinnest film of flesh； and those which
had the least life within them in the thickest and most solid flesh。
So again on the joints of the bones； where reason indicated that no
more was required； he placed only a thin covering of flesh； that it
might not interfere with the flexion of our bodies and make them
unwieldy because difficult to move； and also that it might not； by
being crowded and pressed and matted together； destroy sensation by
reason of its hardness； and impair the memory and dull the edge of
intelligence。 Wherefore also the thighs and the shanks and the hips；
and the bones of the arms and the forearms； and other parts which have
no joints； and the inner bones； which on account of the rarity of
the soul in the marrow are destitute of reason…all these are
abundantly provided with flesh； but such as have mind in them are in
general less fleshy； except where the creator has made some part
solely of flesh in order to give sensation…as； for example； the
tongue。 But commonly this is not the case。 For the nature which
comes into being and grows up in us by a law of necessity； does not
admit of the combination of solid bone and much flesh with acute
perceptions。 More than any other part the framework of the head
would have had them； if they could have co…existed； and the human
race； having a strong and fleshy and sinewy head； would have had a
life twice or many times as long as it now has； and also more
healthy and free from pain。
But our creators； considering whether they should make a
longer…lived race which was worse； or a shorter…lived race which was
better； came to the conclusion that every one ought to prefer a
shorter span of life； which was better； to a longer one； which was
worse； and therefore they covered the head with thin bone； but not
with flesh and sinews； since it had no joints； and thus the head was
added； having more wisdom and sensation than the rest of the body； but
also being in every man far weaker。 For these reasons and after this
manner God placed the sinews at the extremity of the head； in a circle
round the neck； and glued them together by the principle of likeness
and fastened the extremities of the jawbones to them below the face；
and the other sinews he dispersed throughout the body； fastening
limb to limb。 The framers of us framed the mouth； as now arranged；
having teeth and tongue and lips； with a view to the necessary and the
good； contriving the way in for necessary purposes； the way out for
the best purposes； for that is necessary which enters in and gives
food to the body； but the river of speech； which flows out of a man
and ministers to the intelligence； is the fairest and noblest of all
streams。 Still the head could neither be left a bare frame of bones；
on account of the extremes of heat and cold in the different
seasons； nor yet be allowed to be wholly covered； and so become dull
and senseless by reason of an overgrowth of flesh。 The fleshy nature
was not therefore wholly dried up； but a large sort of peel was parted
off and remained over； which is now called the skin。 This met and grew
by the help of the cerebral moisture； and became the circular
envelopment of the head。 And the moisture； rising up under the
sutures； watered and closed in the skin upon the crown； forming a sort
of knot。 The diversity of the sutures was caused by the power of the
courses of the soul and of the food； and the more these struggled
against one another the more numerous they became； and fewer if the
struggle were less violent。 This skin the divine power pierced all
round with fire； and out of the punctures which were thus made the
moisture issued forth； and the liquid and heat which was pure came
away； and a mixed part which was composed of the same material as
the skin； and had a fineness equal to the punctures； was borne up by
its own impulse and extended far outside the head； but being too
slow to escape； was thrust back by the external air； and rolled up
underneath the skin； where it took root。 Thus the hair sprang up in
the