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Μουσαῖος κτλ. By Musaeus' son Plato probably means Eumolpus (cf. Suidas s. vv. Εὔμολπος and Μουσαῖος). In this section of the argument Plato directs his attack against certain forms of the Orphic conception of a future life: see Lobeck Aglaophamus p. 807 with Rohde Psyche^{2} II pp. 127, 129 notes, and Dieterich Nekyia pp. 72 ff. 77 ff. notes Lobeck refers to Plut. Comp. Cim. et Lucull. 2 Πλάτων ἐπισκώπτει τοὺς περὶ τὸν Ὀρφέα τοῖς εὖ βεβιωκόσι φάσκοντας ἀποκεῖσθαι γέρας ἐν ᾄδου μέθην αἰώνιον and id. Ne suav. quidem vivi posse sec. Epic. 1105 B, where the allusion to Plato is less clear: also D. L. VI 4. συμπόσιον τῶν ὁσίων . ὅσιοι was the regular appellation of the μύσται (ὁσίους μύστας hymn. Orph. 84. 3 ed. Abel). For the συμπόσιον cf. [Axioch.] 371 D συμπόσιά τε εὐμελῆ καὶ εἰλαπίναι αὐτοχορήγητοι καὶ ἀκήρατος ἀλυπία καὶ ἡδεῖα δίαιτα. The stock example in antiquity of earthly virtue rewarded by the delights of a sensuous paradise is Heracles: see e.g. Pind. Nem. I 71, Theocr. XVII 28 f. and Horace Od. III 3. 9 f., IV 8. 29 f. A somewhat higher note is struck in Pind. Ol. II 61 ff. and Fr. 129 f. Several of these passages shew traces of Orphic influence, but the special instance of Heracles is traceable to Homer (Od. XI 602 f.).
The Republic of Plato. James Adam. 1902. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.
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