Chapter XXII.—The Druids; Progenitors of Their
System.
And the Celtic Druids investigated to the very
highest point the Pythagorean philosophy, after Zamolxis,
142
by birth a Thracian,
143
a servant of Pythagoras, became to them
the originator of this discipline. Now after the death of
Pythagoras, Zamolxis, repairing thither, became to them the originator
of this philosophy. The Celts esteem these as prophets and seers,
on account of their foretelling to them certain (events), from
calculations and numbers by the Pythagorean art; on the methods of
which very art also we shall not keep silence, since also from these
some have presumed to introduce heresies; but the Druids resort to
magical rites likewise.
142
Or
“Zamalxis,” or “Zametris” (see Menagius on
Diogenes Laertius, viii. 2).
143
Or, “of Thracian origin.” The words are omitted
in two
mss.