Collected Works of Xenophon

...the composite Osiris. And [the] destruction of the Danaans [is] removed; which is also a story given to the Greeks for explanation. As for Cadmus, the name following [him] having been extinguished, in the times a little later; having rightly said [it was] a glory among the Greeks long ago to shape [the story] of Dionysus and to theologize [it], during the sacrifices of the stranger for the purifications. For because to them, [he] shared the things of the sacrifice, but [what was] theologized by the base. A middle faith [was] pre-existing, not in the later times; but the Cadmeans favoring [it], to have the Cadmean religion. But in general, to give to the mythologizers: [the] birth of Dionysus from gods [of] two generations; the one, [as] a man; partly because of the ancient times [they were] deceived, and partly because of the glory of the most sachiou hallowed/wise of the gods, [they] attended to the visible [forms] for the generations. But it is necessary, especially as much as they take up the god as considered Greek, to use the ancient [ways] according to the prophet; for those taking up the mythographer made the war. For they agree that the Thesprotians, who were honored, [had] a strong faith and [believed] they were born among the gods. But in general they say the Greeks appropriate the most illustrious heroes and gods; and as if knowing the accuracy of a colony from the Egyptians themselves, [and] the generations of the Athenians from whom [they believe they settled] the city after the inhabited world, from which [it] comes to the city as true. Concerning piety, the most of the tradition the Greeks take, being agreed upon by all. For even at Olympia they say Heracles fought alongside the gods against the giants.

[This] does not fit the brilliant [one], from which [comes] the imagination. And his age, being contained in a kingdom of the ancient times, as much as is reasonable; but most of them are not introduced in the same way. But among the Greeks, [they] attribute the division of his [life]; whence it is said that the one who obtained a thousand years. And likewise the ways and the power of the ancients are circumscribed; because [the] time having already been taken, [it] was not found by the many. For the fermented [breads], to be eternal [and] unchanging. But the things among them [are] the proofs of the beasts; not to use human weapons. For they see the whole world; but [they use] measures to make life happy. For [one should] not neglect the things [that] happened because of the many desires; but [the] one from birth [is] canonical. From which [are] things forbidden, being set apart, which it is necessary to gain strength through others by the laws. But by the interpretation of the same, [with] the choice of Heracles the ancients, to carry the heart and the name at the same time. And [they] agree [with] the idiom of the Egyptians; and no one would reasonably [give] credence to the rumor among the Greeks from long ago, that Heracles made the earth pure of beasts; which does not fit this life at all. Because in the later times, when the many parts of the inhabited world were tamed by agriculture and cities, and a multitude of [people] inhabiting the land everywhere. For it was more fitting for the Argive and the ancient times; because of the length of time, the earth being inhabited and cultivated by a multitude, [and] of the beasts, from which especially according to Egypt, because of the excess.