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On Nature & Purifications

Empedocles·Greek·fragmentary

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Two poems, surviving only in fragments. On Nature describes the four roots and the cosmic cycle of Love and Strife. Purifications deals with the transmigration of souls and ritual purity.

Hear first the four roots of all things: bright Zeus, life-giving Hera, Aidoneus, and Nestis who with her tears waters the springs of mortals.

For from these come all things that were and are and shall be: trees spring up, and men and women, and beasts and birds and water-nurtured fish, and even the long-lived gods.

There is only mixing and exchange of what is mixed. 'Nature' is only a name given to these things by men.

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