Book VIII

ATHENIAN: Next, with the help of the Delphian oracle, we have to institute
festivals and make laws about them, and to determine what sacrifices will
be for the good of the city, and to what Gods they shall be offered; but
when they shall be offered, and how often, may be partly regulated by us.

CLEINIAS: The number--yes.

ATHENIAN: Then we will first determine the number; and let the whole
number be 365--one for every day--so that one magistrate at least will
sacrifice daily to some God or demi-god on behalf of the city, and the
citizens, and their possessions. And the interpreters, and priests, and
priestesses, and prophets shall meet, and, in company with the guardians
of the law, ordain those things which the legislator of necessity omits;
and I may remark that they are the very persons who ought to take note of
what is omitted. The law will say that there are twelve feasts dedicated
to the twelve Gods, after whom the several tribes are named; and that to
each of them they shall sacrifice every month, and appoint choruses, and
musical and gymnastic contests, assigning them so as to suit the Gods and
seasons of the year. And they shall have festivals for women,
distinguishing those which ought to be separated from the men's festivals,
and those which ought not. Further, they shall not confuse the infernal
deities and their rites with the Gods who are termed heavenly and their
rites, but shall separate them, giving to Pluto his own in the twelfth
month, which is sacred to him, according to the law. To such a deity
warlike men should entertain no aversion, but they should honour him as
being always the best friend of man. For the connexion of soul and body is
no way better than the dissolution of them, as I am ready to maintain
quite seriously. Moreover, those who would regulate these matters rightly
should consider, that our city among existing cities has no fellow, either
in respect of leisure or command of the necessaries of life, and that like
an individual she ought to live happily. And those who would live happily
should in the first place do no wrong to one another, and ought not
themselves to be wronged by others; to attain the first is not difficult,
but there is great difficulty in acquiring the power of not being wronged.
No man can be perfectly secure against wrong, unless he has become
perfectly good; and cities are like individuals in this, for a city if
good has a life of peace, but if evil, a life of war within and without.
Wherefore the citizens ought to practise war--not in time of war, but
rather while they are at peace. And every city which has any sense, should
take the field at least for one day in every month, and for more if the
magistrates think fit, having no regard to winter cold or