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[514] θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται, a very obscure phrase recurring in 20.435, Od. 1.267, and by no means explained by a reference to the still obscurer proverb “ἐν πέντε κριτῶν γόνασι”, mentioned by Suidas. It is hardly possible to separate the phrase from the custom illustrated in 6.92, of dedicating gifts to the gods by placing them upon the laps of the old-fashioned seated statues. The idea perhaps was that as a gift thus devoted was for ever given up by man and passed into the power of the gods, the phrase would express by a general metaphor all that was yielded by man to divine government; as though Automedon said, ‘over the disposing of such matters I claim no longer any power.’ The resemblance to Prov. xvi. 33, ‘The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord,’ seems to be merely superficial.

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