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Diodorus Siculus · Bibliotheca Historica §5.27.1-5.27.4

Gold Gathering in Galatia, Celtic Ornaments, and Sanctuaries

Passage 349 of 406 · Greek

Summary

The author explains that while Galatia lacks silver, gold is abundant and gathered from rivers, describing its mining and smelting process, the extensive use of gold ornaments by both Celtic men and women, and the inviolability of gold dedicated in their sanctuaries due to religious awe despite their love of money.

§5.27.1κατὰ γοῦν τὴν Γαλατίαν ἄργυρος μὲν οὐ γίνεται τὸ σύνολον, χρυσὸς δὲ πολύς, ὃν τοῖς ἐγχωρίοις ἡ φύσις ἄνευ μεταλλείας καὶ κακοπαθείας ὑπουργεῖ.
In Galatia, indeed, silver is not produced at all, but gold is abundant, which nature, without mining and hardship, supplies to the inhabitants.
ἡ γὰρ τῶν ποταμῶν ῥύσις σκολιοὺς τοὺς ἀγκῶνας ἔχουσα, τοῖς τῶν παρακειμένων ὀρῶν ὄχθοις προσαράττουσα καὶ μεγάλους ἀπορρηγνῦσα κολωνούς, πληροῖ χρυσοῦ ψήγματος.
For the flow of the rivers, having crooked bends, dashing against the banks of the adjacent mountains and tearing away great hills, fills [the flow] with gold dust.
§5.27.2τοῦτο δʼ οἱ περὶ τὰς ἐργασίας ἀσχολούμενοι συνάγοντες ἀλήθουσιν τὰς ἐχούσας τὸ ψῆγμα βώλους, διὰ δὲ τῶν ὑδάτων τῆς φύσεως τὸ γεῶδες πλύναντες παραδιδόασιν ἐν ταῖς καμίνοις εἰς τὴν χωνείαν.
And those who are busy with this work, gathering it, grind the lumps containing the dust, and having washed away the earthy part by the nature of the waters, hand it over for melting in the furnaces.
§5.27.3τούτῳ δὲ τῷ τρόπῳ σωρεύοντες χρυσοῦ πλῆθος καταχρῶνται πρὸς κόσμον οὐ μόνον αἱ γυναῖκες, ἀλλὰ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες.
And piling up an abundance of gold in this manner, they use it fully for ornament, not only the women, but also the men.
περὶ μὲν γὰρ τοὺς καρποὺς καὶ τοὺς βραχίονας ψέλια φοροῦσι, περὶ δὲ τοὺς αὐχένας κρίκους παχεῖς ὁλοχρύσους καὶ δακτυλίους ἀξιολόγους, ἔτι δὲ χρυσοῦς θώρακας.
For around their wrists and arms they wear bracelets, and around their necks thick, solid-gold collars, and noteworthy rings, and furthermore gold breastplates.
§5.27.4ἴδιον δέ τι καὶ παράδοξον παρὰ τοῖς ἄνω Κελτοῖς ἐστι περὶ τὰ τεμένη τῶν θεῶν γινόμενον· ἐν γὰρ τοῖς ἱεροῖς καὶ τεμένεσιν ἐπὶ τῆς χώρας ἀνειμένοις ἔρριπται πολὺς χρυσὸς ἀνατεθειμένος τοῖς θεοῖς, καὶ τῶν ἐγχωρίων οὐδεὶς ἅπτεται τούτου διὰ τὴν δεισιδαιμονίαν, καίπερ ὄντων τῶν Κελτῶν φιλαργύρων καθʼ ὑπερβολήν.
And there is something peculiar and extraordinary happening among the upper Celts concerning the sacred precincts of the gods; for in the temples and sacred precincts consecrated throughout the country, much gold dedicated to the gods has been cast down, and none of the inhabitants touches it because of superstition, although the Celts are exceedingly fond of money.

Notes

  1. 5.27.1σκολιοὺς τοὺς ἀγκῶνας ἔχουσα — The adjective σκολιούς is in the predicate position, modifying the articular noun τοὺς ἀγκῶνας in the accusative. This structure functions as an internal accusative or secondary predicate with ἔχουσα, meaning 'having its bends crooked' or 'because the channels of the rivers are winding.'
  2. 5.27.4ἀνειμένοις — Perfect passive participle dative plural of ἀνίημι ('consecrate, set apart, leave loose'), agreeing with τοῖς ἱεροῖς καὶ τεμένεσιν under the preposition ἐν. It describes the state of sanctuaries being consecrated and set apart from common use throughout the territory.
  3. 5.27.4καίπερ ὄντων τῶν Κελτῶν φιλαργύρων — A genitive absolute construction introduced by the particle καίπερ, expressing concession ('although the Celts are...'). ὄντων is the present participle of εἰμί, with τῶν Κελτῶν as its subject and φιλαργύρων as its predicate. This emphasizes the contrast between their legendary love of wealth and their strict religious restraint.

Cite this passage

Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica §5.27.1-5.27.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc5:5.27.1-5.27.4

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