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Animal Rights History Timeline » [BCE-CE] Antiquity » Peripatetic Dicaearchus

Peripatetic Dicaearchus, Dicaearchus the Messana

Naration of the Manners of the Ancient Greeks

[3rd c.] Porphyry, "Dicaearchus [c350-285 BCE], On the Pristine Life of the Greeks," in On Abstinence from Animal Food, Book the Fourth, in The Select Works of Porphyry, trans. by Thomas Taylor (London, 1823; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks)

[393] Saint Jermome, "Dicaearchus' [c350-285 BCE], Narration of the Manners of the Ancient Greeks," in Against Jovinianus, Book 2 in The Principal Works of St. Jerome, trans. W. H. Fremantle, in St. Jerome: Letters and Select Works, vol 6 of A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of The Christian Church (New York, 1893; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks).

Peripatetic Dicaearchus, who, in narrating the pristine life of the Greeks, says, the ancients, being generated with an alliance to the Gods, were naturally most excellent, and led the best life; so that, when compared to us of the present day, who consisted of an adulterated and most vile matter, they were thought to be a golden race; and they slew no animal whatever. The truth of this, he also says, testified by the poets, who denominate these ancients the golden race, and assert that every good was present with them. "The fertile earth for them spontaneous bore, "Of fruits a copious and unenvy'd store; "In blissful quiet then, unknown to strife, "The worthy with the worthy passed their life."[—Hesoid] (Porphyry, On Abstinence from Animal Food, Book the Fourth, 4.2:131-134)

Men did not procure any thing by labour, because they were unacquainted with the agricultural art, and, in short, had no knowledge of any other art. This very thing, likewise, was the cause of their leading a life of leisure, free from labours and care; and if it is proper to assent to the decision of the most skillful and elegant of physicians, it was also the cause of their being liberated from disease.…Moreover there were neither any wars among them, nor seditions with each other.…So that the principle thing in that life was leisure and rest from necessary occupations, together with health, peace, and friendship.…And this is what is said by Dicaearchus, in his narration of the manners of the ancient Greeks, and the blessed life which they then led, to which abstinence from animal food contributed, no less than other things, Hence, at that period there was no war, because injustice was exterminated. But afterwards, together with injustice towards animals, war was introduced among men, and the endeavour to surpass each other in amplitude of possessions. On which account also, the audacity of those is wonderful, who say that abstinence from animals is the mother of injustice, since both history and experience testify, that together with the slaughter of animals, war and injustice were introduced. (Porphyry, On Abstinence from Animal Food, Book the Fourth, 4.2:131-134)

Dicaearchus [The peripatetic philosopher, geographer, and historian, a disciple of Aristotle and the friend of Theophrastus.] in his book of Antiquities, describing Greece, relates that under Saturn, that is in the Golden Age, when the ground brought forth all things abundantly, no one ate flesh, but every one lived on field produce and fruits which the earth bore of itself. (Saint Jerome, Against Jovianius 2.13:397).