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Zeus is invoked in a triple character, as the god who enjoined purification from unintentional guilt, and as the protector both of the hearth and of the rights of friendship; this (i. e. three attributes of one god) is a sort of intermediate stage to the idea of three gods with different attributes.

ἐπίστιον. The suppliant actually took refuge in the hearth when appealing to Zeus ἐπίστιος. For cuit titles cf. Farnell, G. C. i. 35.

Croesus not only asks for vengeance, but himself has a grievance against heaven; this he gives up (45. 2), just as he accepts Apollo's explanation in c. 91. ‘The ways of god to men’ are ‘justified’ in the wisdom which Croesus learns by experience.

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