topAristeas #3
(66-99)

Chapter 3
Verses 66-99

66 ἐπ’ αὐτῆς‎ δὲ τῆς τραπέζης mαίανδρον ἔκτυπον ἐποίησαν, ἐν ὑπεροχῇ λίθους ἔχοντα‎ κατὰ μέσον πολυτελεῖς τῶν {πολυειδῶν}, ἀνθράκων τε καὶ σμαράγδων, ἔτι‎ δὲ ὄνυχος καὶ τῶν ἄλλων γενῶν τῶν διαφερόντων ἐν ὡραιότητι. 66 On the table itself they engraved a “maeander,” having precious stones standing out in the middle of it, rubies and emeralds and an onyx too and many other kinds of stones which excel in beauty.
67 μετὰ‎ δὲ τὴν τοῦ μαιάνδρου διάθεσιν ἐπέκειτο σχιστὴ πλοκή, θαυμασίως ἔχουσα‎, ῥομβωτὴν ἀποτελοῦσα τὴν ἀνὰ μέσον θεωρίαν·

ἐφ’ ᾗ κρυστάλλου λίθος καὶ τὸ λεγόμενον ἤλεκτρον ἐντετύπωτο, ἀμίμητον θεωρίαν ἀποτελοῦν τοῖς θεωροῦσι. 		67 And next to the “maeander” there was placed a wonderful piece of network, which made the centre of the table appear like a rhomboid in shape, and on it a crystal and amber, as it is called, had been wrought, which produced an incomparable impression on the beholders.
68 τοὺς δὲ πόδας ἐποίησαν τὰς κεφαλίδας ἔχοντας κρινωτάς, ἀνάκλασιν κρίνων ὑπὸ τὴν τράπεζαν λαμβανόντων, τὰ‎ δὲ τῆς ἐντὸς προσόψεως ὀρθὴν ἔχοντα‎ τὴν πετάλωσιν. 68 They made the feet of the table with heads like lilies, so that they seemed to be like lilies bending down beneath the table, and the parts which were visible represented leaves which stood upright.
69 ἡ‎ δὲ ἐπ’ ἐδάφους ἔρεισις τοῦ ποδὸς ἄνθρωπος λίθου πάντοθεν παλαιστιαία, κρηπῖδος ἔχουσα‎ τάξιν κατὰ τὴν πρόσοψιν, ὀκτὼ δὲ δακτύλων τὸ πλάτος ἔχουσα‎·

ἐφ’ ὃν ἐπίκειται τὸ πᾶν ἔλασμα τοῦ ποδός. 		69 The basis of the foot on the ground consisted of a ruby and measured a hand's breadth high all round.

It had the appearance of a shoe and was eight fingers broad.

Upon it the whole expanse of the foot rested.
70 κατεσκεύασαν δὲ ἐκφύοντα κισσὸν ἀκάνθῳ πλεκόμενον ἐκ τοῦ λίθου, σὺν ἀμπέλῳ περιειλούμενον κυκλόθεν τῷ ποδὶ σὺν τοῖς βότρυσιν, οἳ λιθουργεῖς ἦσαν, μέχρι τῆς κεφαλῆς.

ἡ‎ δ’ αὐτὴ διάθεσις ἦν τῶν τεσσάρων ποδῶν, πάντα‎ ἐνεργῶς πεποιημένα καὶ προσηγμένα, τῆς ἐμπειρίας καὶ τέχνης τὰς ὑπεροχὰς ἀπαραλλάκτως ἔχοντα‎ πρὸς τὴν ἀλήθειαν, ὥστε καὶ ῥιπίζοντος τοῦ κατὰ τὸν ἀέρα πνεύματος κίνησιν ἐπιδέχεσθαι τὴν τῶν φύλλων θέσιν, πρὸς τὴν τῆς ἀληθείας διάθεσιν τετυπωμένων ἁπάντων. 		70 And they made the foot appear like ivy growing out of the stone, interwoven with acanthus and surrounded with a vine which encircled it with clusters of grapes, which were worked in stones, up to the top of the foot.

All the four feet were made in the same style, and everything was wrought and fitted so skilfully, and such remarkable skill and knowledge were expended upon making it true to nature, that when the air was stirred by a breath of wind, movement was imparted to the leaves, and everything was fashioned to correspond with the actual reality which it represented.
71 ἐποίησαν δὲ τριμερὲς τὸ στόμα τῆς τραπέζης, οἱονεὶ τρίπτυχον, πελεκίνοις συναρμοζόμενα γομφωτοῖς πρὸς ἑαυτὰ κατὰ τὸ πάχος τῆς κατασκευῆς, ἀθέατον καὶ ἀνεύρετον τὴν τῶν ἁρμῶν κατασκευάσαντες συμβολήν.

ἡμιπηχίου δὲ οὐκ‎ ἐλάσσονος ἦν τὸ πάχος τῆς ὅλης τραπέζης, ὥστε πολλῶν εἶναι ταλάντων τὴν ὅλην διασκευήν. 		71 And they made the top of the table in three parts like a triptychon, and they were so fitted and dovetailed together with spigots along the whole breadth of the work, that the meeting of the joints could not be seen or even discovered.

The thickness of the table was not less than half a cubit, so that the whole work must have cost many talents.
72 ἐπεὶ γὰρ οὐ‎ προῄρητο τοῖς μεγέθεσιν οὐδὲν προσθεῖναι ὁ βασιλεύς, ὅσον ἔδει δαπανηθῆναι κατασκευαζομένων μειζόνων, ταῦτα‎ ἀποδέδωκε πλείονα·

καὶ κατὰ τὴν προαίρεσιν αὐτοῦ‎ πάντα‎ ἐπετελέσθη θαυμασίως καὶ ἀξιολόγως ἔχοντα‎, καὶ ταῖς τέχναις ἀμίμητα, καὶ τῇ καλλονῇ διαπρεπῆ. 		72 For since the king did not wish to add to its size he expended on the details the same sum of money which would have been required if the table could have been of larger dimensions.

And everything was completed in accordance with his plan, in a most wonderful and remarkable way, with inimitable art and incomparable beauty.
73 τῶν‎ δὲ κρατήρων δύο μὲν ἦσαν {χρυσοῖ} τῇ κατασκευῇ, φολιδωτὴν ἔχοντες ἀπὸ τῆς βάσεως μέχρι τοῦ μέσου τὴν διασκευὴν τῇ πορείᾳ, καὶ τὴν τῶν λίθων ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν φολίδων σύνδεσιν πολυτέχνως ἔχοντες. 73 Of the mixing bowls, two were wrought (in gold), and from the base to the middle were engraved with relief work in the pattern of scales, and between the scales precious stones were inserted with great artistic skill.
74 εἶτα μαίανδρος ἐπέκειτο πηχυαῖος ὕψει, τὴν δ’ ἐκτύπωσιν ἐνυπῆρχε διὰ λιθώσεως ποικίλης, ἐμφαίνων σὺν ὡραιότητι τὸ τῆς τέχνης φιλόπονον.

ἐπὶ δὲ τοῦτο ῥάβδωσις, ἐφ’ ᾗ διαπλοκὴ ῥόμβων, δικτυωτὴν ἔχουσα‎ τὴν πρόσοψιν ἕως ἐπὶ τὸ στόμα. 		74 Then there was a “maeander” a cubit in height, with its surface wrought out of precious stones of many colours, displaying great artistic effort and beauty.

Upon this there was a mosaic, worked in the form of a rhombus, having a net-like appearance and reaching right up to the brim.
75 τὸ δ’ ἀνὰ μέσον ἀσπιδίσκοι λίθων Ἑτέρων παρ’ ἑτέροις, τοῖς γένεσι παραλλαγὴν ἐχόντων, τετραδακτύλων οὐκ‎ ἔλαττον, ἀνεπλήρουν τὸ τῆς καλλονῆς ἐναργές.

ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς στεφάνης τοῦ σώματος κρίνων τύπωσις σὺν ἀνθεμίσι καὶ βοτρύων σχοινιαὶ διάπλοκοι διετυποῦντο κυκλόθεν. 		75 In the middle, small shields which were made of different precious stones, placed alternately and varying in kind, not less than four fingers broad enhanced the beauty of their appearance.

On the top of the brim there was an ornament of lilies in bloom, and intertwining clusters of grapes were engraved all round.
76 οἱ‎ μὲν οὖν διὰ τοῦ χρυσοῦ τοιαύτην εἶχον τὴν κατασκευήν, χωροῦντες ὑπὲρ δύο μετρητάς·

οἱ‎ δ’ ἀργυροῖ λείαν εἶχον τὴν διασκευήν, ἔνοπτρον δὴ γεγονυῖαν πρὸς αὐτὸ τοῦτο θαυμασίως ἔχουσαν, ὥστε πᾶν τὸ προσαχθὲν ἀπαυγάζεσθαι σαφέστερον μᾶλλον ἢ ἐν τοῖς κατόπτροις. 		76 Such then was the construction of the golden bowls, and they held more than two measures each.

The silver bowls had a smooth surface, and were wonderfully made as if they were intended for looking-glasses, so that everything which was brought near to them was reflected even more clearly than in mirrors.
77 οὐκ‎ ἐφικτὸν δ’ ἐστὶν ἐξηγήσασθαι τὰ προσυντελεσθέντα πρὸς τὴν τῆς ἀληθείας ἔμφασιν.

ὡς‎ γὰρ ἐπετελέσθη, τεθέντων τῶν κατασκευασμάτων ἑτέρου παρ’ ἕτερον – λέγω δὲ πρῶτον ἀργυροῦ κρατῆρος, εἶτα χρυσοῦ, πάλιν ἀργυροῦ καὶ χρυσοῦ – παντελῶς ἀνεξήγητος ἐγένετο τῆς προσόψεως ἡ‎ διάθεσις, καὶ τῶν πρὸς τὴν θεωρίαν προσιόντων οὐ‎ δυναμένων ἀφίστασθαι διὰ τὴν περιαύγειαν καὶ τὸ τῆς ὄψεως τερπνόν. 		77 But it is impossible to describe the real impression which these works of art produced upon the mind when they were finished.

For, when these vessels had been completed and placed side by side, first a silver bowl and then a golden, then another silver, and then another golden, the appearance they presented is altogether indescribable, and those who came to see them were not able to tear themselves from the brilliant sight and entrancing, spectacle.
78 ποικίλη γὰρ ἦν ἡ‎ τῆς ἐπιφανείας ἐνέργεια.

προσορώντων γὰρ πρὸς αὐτὴν τὴν τοῦ χρυσίου κατασκευήν, ψυχαγωγία τις ἦν μετὰ‎ θαυμασμοῦ, συνεχῶς ἐφ’ ἕκαστον ἐπιβαλλούσης τῆς διανοίας τεχνίτευμα.

καὶ πάλιν ὅτε πρὸς τὴν τῶν ἀργυρῶν προσβλέψαι τις θέσιν ἤθελεν, ἀπέλαμπε τὰ πάντα‎ κυκλόθεν, ὡς‎ ἄν τις ἕστηκε, καὶ διάχυσιν ἐποίει μείζονα τοῖς θεωμένοις·

ὥστε παντελῶς ἀνεξήγητον εἶναι τῶν ἐνηργημένων τὴν πολυτεχνίαν. 		78 The impressions produced by the spectacle were various in kind.

When men looked at the golden vessels, and their minds made a complete survey of each detail of workmanship, their souls were thrilled with wonder.

Again when a man wished to direct his gaze to the silver vessels, as they stood before him, everything seemed to flash with light round about the place where he was standing, and afforded a still greater delight to the onlookers.

So that it is really impossible to describe the artistic beauty of the works.
79 τὰς δὲ χρυσᾶς φιάλας διετόρευσαν στεφάνοις ἀμπέλου κατὰ μέσον, περὶ δὲ τὰ χείλη κισσοῦ τε καὶ μυρσίνης ἔτι‎ δ’ ἐλαίας ἀνέπλεξαν στέφανον ἔκτυπον, πολυτελεῖς ἐνέντες λίθους·

καὶ τὰς λοιπὰς δὲ πορείας διηλλαγμένως ἐπετέλεσαν, ἅπαντα φιλοτιμηθέντες εἰς ὑπεροχὴν δόξης τοῦ βασιλέως ποιῆσαι. 		79 The golden vials they engraved in the centre with vine wreaths.

And about the rims they wove a wreath of ivy and myrtle and olive in relief work and inserted precious stones in it.

The other parts of the relief work they wrought in different patterns, since they made it a point of honour to complete everything in a way worthy of the majesty of the king.
80 καθόλου γὰρ οὔτ’ ἐν τοῖς βασιλικοῖς ὑπῆρχε ῥισκοφυλακίοις τοιαύτη κατασκευὴ τῇ πολυτελείᾳ καὶ τεχνουργίᾳ, οὔτ’ ἔν τινι ἄλλῳ.

πρόνοιαν γὰρ οὐ‎ μικρὰν ἐποιεῖτο ὁ βασιλεύς, φιλοδοξῶν εἰς τὰ καλῶς ἔχοντα‎. 		80 In a word it may be said that neither in the king's treasury nor in any other, were there any works which equalled these in costliness or in artistic skill.

For the king spent no little thought upon them, for he loved to gain glory for the excellence of his designs.
81 πολλάκις γὰρ τὸν δημόσιον χρηματισμὸν παρίει, τοῖς δὲ τεχνίταις παρήδρευεν ἐπιμελῶς, ἵνα‎ καθηκόντως τῷ τόπῳ συντελέσωσιν, εἰς ὃν ἀπεστέλλετο τὰ τῶν ἔργων.

διὸ πάντα‎ σεμνῶς ἐγεγόνει, καὶ καταξίως τοῦ τε ἀποστέλλοντος βασιλέως καὶ τοῦ προστατοῦντος ἀρχιερέως τοῦ τόπου. 		81 For oftentimes he would neglect his official business, and spend his time with the artists in his anxiety that they should complete everything in a manner worthy of the place to which the gifts were to be sent.

So everything was carried out on a grand scale, in a manner worthy of the king who sent the gifts and of the high priest who was the ruler of the land.
82 καὶ γὰρ τὸ τῶν λίθων πλῆθος ἄφθονον, καὶ μεγάλοι τοῖς μεγέθεσιν, οὐκ‎ ἔλαττον πεντακισχιλίων·

καὶ ταῖς τέχναις κρατιστεύοντα πάντα‎, ὥστε πενταπλασίως τοῦ χρυσοῦ τιμιωτέραν εἶναι τὴν τῶν λίθων δόσιν καὶ τὴν τῶν τεχνῶν ἐνέργειαν. 		82 There was no stint of precious stones, for not less than five thousand were used and they were all of large size.

The most exceptional artistic skill was employed, so that the cost of the stones and the workmanship was five times as much as that of the gold.
83 Ὑπολαμβάνων οὖν καὶ τούτων τὴν ἀναγραφὴν ἀναγκαίαν εἶναι, δεδήλωκά σοι.

τὰ δ’ ἑξῆς περιέχει τὴν πρὸς τὸν Ἐλεάζαρον ὁδὸν ἡμῖν γενομένην·

τὴν‎ δὲ θέσιν τῆς ὅλης χώρας πρῶτον δηλώσω.

Ὡς γὰρ παρεγενήθημεν ἐπὶ τοὺς τόπους, ἐθεωροῦμεν τὴν πόλιν μέσην κειμένην τῆς ὅλης Ἰουδαίων ἐπ’ ὄρους ὑψηλὴν ἔχοντος τὴν ἀνάτασιν. 		83 I have given you this description of the presents because I thought it was necessary.

The next point in the narrative is an account of our journey to Eleazar, but I will first of all give you a description of the whole country.

When we arrived in the land of the Jews we saw the city situated in the middle of the whole of Judaea on the top of a mountain of considerable altitude.
84 ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς κορυφῆς κατεσκεύαστο τὸ ἱερὸν ἐκπρεπῶς ἔχον·

καὶ οἱ‎ περίβολοι τρεῖς, ὑπὲρ ἑβδομήκοντα δὲ πήχεις τῷ μεγέθει, καὶ τὸ πλάτος ἀκόλουθον καὶ τὸ μῆκος τῆς κατὰ τὸν οἶκον διασκευῆς ὑπῆρχε, μεγαλομοιρίᾳ καὶ χορηγίᾳ κατὰ πάντα‎ ὑπερβαλλούσῃ διῳκοδομημένων ἁπάντων. 		84 On the summit the temple had been built in all its splendour.

It was surrounded by three walls more than seventy cubits high and in length and breadth corresponding to the structure of the edifice.

All the buildings were characterized by a magnificence and costliness quite unprecedented.
85 καὶ τοῦ θυρώματος δὲ‎ καὶ τῶν περὶ αὐτὸ συνδέσμων κατὰ τὰς φλιὰς καὶ τῆς τῶν ὑπερθύρων ἀσφαλείας ἔκδηλος ἦν ἡ‎ τῶν χρημάτων γεγονυῖα ἀφειδὴς δαπάνη. 85 It was obvious that no expense had been spared on the door and the fastenings, which connected it with the door-posts, and the stability of the lintel.
86 τοῦ τε καταπετάσματος ἡ‎ διατύπωσις θυρώσει κατὰ πᾶν ὁμοιοτάτη ὑπῆρχε·

καὶ μάλιστα διὰ τὴν τοῦ πνεύματος ὑποδρομὴν ἀδιάλειπτον κίνησιν λαμβονούσης τῆς διυφῆς, διὰ τὸ ἀπ’ ἐδάφους γινομένης τῆς ὑποδρομῆς {κατατείνειν} τὴν κόλπωσιν μέχρι τῆς ἄνω διατάσεως, ἡδεῖάν τινα καὶ δυσαπάλλακτον τὴν θεωρίαν ἔχοντος τοῦ πράγματος. 		86 The style of the curtain too was thoroughly in proportion to that of the entrance.

Its fabric owing to the draught of wind was in perpetual motion, and as this motion was communicated from the bottom and the curtain bulged out to its highest extent, it afforded a pleasant spectacle from which a man could scarcely tear himself away.
87 ἥ τε τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου κατασκευὴ {συμμέτρως ἔχουσαν} πρὸς τὸν τόπον καὶ τὰ θύματα διὰ τοῦ πυρὸς ἐξαναλούμενα τὴν διοικοδομὴν εἶχε, τῆς δ’ ἀναβάσεως τῆς πρὸς αὐτό, πρὸς τὴν εὐκοσμίαν ἔχοντος τοῦ τόπου καθηκόντως τὸ κλίμα τῶν λειτουργούντων ἱερέων κεκαλυμμένων μέχρι τῶν σφυρῶν βυσσίνοις χιτῶσιν. 87 The construction of the altar was in keeping with the place itself and with the burnt offerings which were consumed by fire upon it, and the approach to it was on a similar scale.

There was a gradual slope up to it, conveniently arranged for the purpose of decency, and the ministering priests were robed in linen garments, down to their ankles.
88 ὁ‎ δὲ οἶκος βλέπει πρὸς ἕω, τὰ δ’ ὀπίσθια αὐτοῦ‎ πρὸς ἑσπέραν·

τὸ‎ δὲ πᾶν ἔδαφος λιθόστρωτον καθέστηκε καὶ κλίματα πρὸς τοὺς καθήκοντας τόπους ἔχει τῆς τῶν ὑδάτων ἐπιφορᾶς ἕνεκεν, ἣ γίνεται διὰ τὴν σμῆξιν τῶν ἀπὸ τῶν θυσιῶν αἱμάτων.

πολλαὶ γὰρ μυριάδες κτηνῶν προσάγονται κατὰ τὰς τῶν ἑορτῶν ἡμέρας. 		88 The Temple faces the east and its back is toward the west.

The whole of the floor is paved with stones and slopes down to the appointed places, that water may be conveyed to wash away the blood from the sacrifices, for many thousand beasts are sacrificed there on the feast days.
89 ὕδατος δὲ ἀνέκλειπτός ἐστι σύστασις, ὡς‎ ἂν‎ καὶ πηγῆς ἔσωθεν πολυρρύτου φυσικῶς ἐπιρρεούσης, ἔτι‎ δὲ θαυμασίων καὶ ἀδιηγήτων ὑποδοχείων ὑπαρχόντων ὑπὸ γῆν, καθὼς ἀπέφαινον πέντε‎ σταδίων κυκλόθεν τῆς κατὰ τὸ ἱερὸν καταβολῆς καὶ ἑκάστου τούτων σύριγγας ἀναρίθμους, καθ’ ἕκαστον μέρος ἑαυτὰ συναπτόντων τῶν ῥευμάτων·

89 And there is an inexhaustible supply of water, because an abundant natural spring gushes up from within the temple area.

There are moreover wonderful and indescribable cisterns underground, as they pointed out to me, at a distance of five furlongs all round the site of the temple, and each of them has countless pipes so that the different streams converge together.
90 καὶ πάντα‎ ταῦτα‎ μεμολιβῶσθαι κατ’ ἐδάφους καὶ τοῦ τοίχου·

ἐπὶ δὲ τούτων κεχύσθαι πολύ τι πλῆθος κονιάσεως, ἐνεργῶς γεγενημένων ἁπάντων.

εἶναι δὲ πυκνὰ τὰ στόματα πρὸς τὴν βάσιν, ἀοράτως ἔχοντα‎ τοῖς πᾶσι πλὴν‎ αὐτοῖς‎ οἷς ἐστιν ἡ‎ λειτουργία, ὡς‎ ῥοπῇ καὶ νεύματι πάντα‎ καθαρίζεσθαι τὰ συναγόμενα παμπληθῆ τῶν θυμάτων αἵματα. 		90 And all these were fastened with lead at the bottom and at the sidewalls, and over them a great quantity of plaster had been spread, and every part of the work had been most carefully carried out.

There are many openings for water at the base of the altar which are invisible to all except to those who are engaged in the ministration, so that all the blood of the sacrifices which is collected in great quantities is washed away in the twinkling of an eye.
91 πεπεισμένος δὲ‎ καὶ αὐτὸς‎ τὴν τῶν ὑποδοχείων κατασκευὴν δηλώσω καθὼς ἐπιστώθην.

προήγαγον γὰρ πλέον σταδίων τεσσάρων ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, καὶ πρός τινα τόπον ἐκέλευσαν κατακύψαντα συνακοῦσαι τοῦ γινομένου ψόφου τῆς ἀπαντήσεως τῶν ὑδάτων·

ὥστε συμφανές μοι γεγονέναι τὸ μέγεθος τῶν ἀγγείων, καθὼς δεδήλωται. 		91 Such is my opinion with regard to the character of the reservoirs and I will now show you how it was confirmed.

They led me more than four furlongs outside the city and bade me peer down towards a certain spot and listen to the noise that was made by the meeting of the waters, so that the great size of the reservoirs became manifest to me, as has already been pointed out.
92 τῶν‎ δὲ ἱερέων ἡ‎ λειτουργία κατὰ πᾶν ἀνυπέρβλητός ἐστι τῇ ῥώμῃ καὶ τῇ τῆς εὐκοσμίας καὶ σιγῆς διαθέσει.

πάντες γὰρ αὐτοκελεύστως διαπονοῦσι πολλῆς γινομένης κακοπαθείας, καὶ ἑκάστῳ τὸ διατεταγμένον μέλει.

καὶ ἀδιαλείπτως ὑπηρετοῦσιν, οἱ‎ μὲν τὴν ξυλείαν, οἱ‎ δὲ ἔλαιον, οἱ‎ δὲ σεμίδαλιν, οἱ‎ δὲ τὰ τῶν ἀρωμάτων, ἕτεροι τὰ τῆς σαρκὸς ὁλοκαυτοῦντες, ἰσχύι διαφερόντως συγχρώμενοι·

92 The ministration of the priests is in every way unsurpassed both for its physical endurance and for its orderly and silent service.

For they all work spontaneously, though it entails much painful exertion, and each one has a special task allotted to him.

The service is carried on without interruption – some provide the wood, others the oil, others the fine wheat flour, others the spices; others again bring the pieces of flesh for the burnt offering, exhibiting a wonderful degree of strength.
93 διαλαβόντες γὰρ ἀμφοτέραις τῶν μόσχων τὰ σκέλη, πλεῖον ὄντα ταλάντων δύο σχεδὸν ἑκάστου, ἀναρρίπτουσιν ἑκατέραις θαυμασίως ὕψος ἱκανὸν καὶ οὐχ ἁμαρτάνουσι τῆς ἐπιθέσεως.

ὁμοίως δὲ‎ καὶ τὰ τῶν προβάτων ἔτι‎ δ’ αἰγῶν τοῖς βάρεσι καὶ πιμελῇ θαυμασίως ἔχει.

κατὰ πᾶν γὰρ ἐκλεγομένων οἷς ἐπιμελές ἐστιν ἀμώμητα καὶ τῇ παχύτητι διαφέροντα, τὸ προειρημένον ἐπιτελεῖται. 		93 For they take up with both hands the limbs of a calf, each of them weighing more than two talents, and throw them with each hand in a wonderful way on to the high place of the altar and never miss placing them on the proper spot.

In the same way the pieces of the sheep and also of the goats are wonderful both for their weight and their fatness.

For those, whose business it is, always select the beasts which are without blemish and specially fat, and thus the sacrifice which I have described, is carried out.
94 πρὸς δὲ τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν τόπος αὐτοῖς‎ ἐστὶν ἀποτεταγμένος, οὗ καθίζουσιν οἱ‎ διαναπαυόμενοι.

τούτου δὲ γινομένου, τῶν διαλελοιπότων ἐγείρονται πρόθυμοι, οὐδενὸς ἐπιτάσσοντος τὰ τῆς λειτουργίας. 		94 There is a special place set apart for them to rest in, where those who are relieved from duty sit.

When this takes place, those who have already rested and are ready to assume their duties rise up spontaneously since there is no one to give orders with regard to the arrangement of the sacrifices.
95 ἥ τε πᾶσα σιγὴ καθέστηκεν, ὥστε ὑπολαμβάνειν, μηθ’ ἕνα ἄνθρωποι ἐν τῷ τόπῳ παρεῖναι, πρὸς τοὺς ἑπτακοσίους παρόντων τῶν λειτουργῶν – καὶ‎ τῶν προσαγόντων δὲ τὰ θύματα πολύ τι πλῆθος – ἀλλὰ φόβῳ καὶ καὶ‎ καταξίως μεγάλης θειότητος ἅπαντ’ ἐπιτελεῖται. 95 The most complete silence reigns so that one might imagine that there was not a single person present, though there are actually seven hundred men engaged in the work, besides the vast number of those who are occupied in bringing up the sacrifices.

Everything is carried out with reverence and in a way worthy of the great God.
96 μεγάλην δὲ ἔκπληξιν ἡμῖν παρέσχεν, ὡς‎ ἐθεασάμεθα τὸν Ἐλεάζαρον ἐν τῇ λειτουργίᾳ, τά τε τοῦ στολισμοῦ καὶ τῆς δόξης, ἣ συνίσταται διὰ τὴν ἔνδυσιν οὗ φορεῖ χιτῶνος καὶ τῶν περὶ αὐτὸν‎ λίθων·

χρυσοῖ γὰρ κώδωνες περὶ τὸν ποδήρη εἰσὶν αὐτοῦ‎, μέλους ἦχον ἀνθυποτιθεὶς ἰδιάζοντα·

παρ’ ἑκάτερον δὲ τούτων ἄνθεσι πεποικιλμένοι ῥοΐσκοι, τῇ χρόᾳ θαυμασίως ἔχοντες. 		96 We were greatly astonished, when we saw Eleazar engaged in the ministration, at the mode of his dress, and the majesty of his appearance, which was revealed in the robe which he wore and the precious stones upon his person.

There were golden bells upon the garment which reached down to his feet, giving forth a peculiar kind of melody, and on both sides of them there were pomegranates with variegated flowers of a wonderful hue.
97 κατέζωστο δὲ διαφόρῳ ζώνῃ διαπρεπεῖ, διυφασμένῃ καλλίστοις χρώμασιν.

ἐπὶ δὲ τοῦ στήθους φορεῖ τὸ λεγόμενον λόγιον, ἐν ᾧ συνεσφιγμένοι λίθοι δεκαδύο, διαλλάσσοντες τοῖς γένεσι, χρυσῷ κεκολλημένοι, τὰ τῶν φυλάρχων ὀνόματα κατὰ τὴν Ἐξ ἀρχῆς διάταξιν γενηθεῖσαν, ἀπαυγάζοντες ἕκαστος ἀνεξήγητον τῆς ἰδιότητος τὴν φυσικὴν χρόαν. 		97 He was girded with a girdle of conspicuous beauty, woven in the most beautiful colours.

On his breast he wore the oracle of God, as it is called, on which twelve stones, of different kinds, were inset, fastened together with gold, containing the names of the leaders of the tribes, according to their original order, each one flashing forth in an indescribable way its own particular colour.
98 ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς κεφαλῆς ἔχει τὴν λεγομένην κίδαριν, ἐπὶ δὲ ταύτης τὴν ἀμίμητον μίτραν, τὸ καθηγιασμένον βασίλειον ἐκτυποῦν ἐπὶ πετάλῳ χρυσῷ γράμμασιν ἁγίοις ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ, κατὰ μέσον τῶν ὀφρύων, δόξῃ πεπληρωμένον, ὁ κριθεὶς ἄξιος τούτων ἐν ταῖς λειτουργίαις. 98 On his head he wore a tiara, as it is called, and upon this in the middle of his forehead an inimitable turban, the royal diadem full of glory with the name of God inscribed in sacred letters on a plate of gold …having been judged worthy to wear these emblems in the ministrations.
99 ἡ‎ δὲ συμφάνεια τούτων ἐμποιεῖ φόβον καὶ ταραχήν, ὥστε νομίζειν εἰς ἕτερον ἐληλυθέναι ἐκτὸς τοῦ κόσμου·

καὶ διαβεβαιοῦμαι, πάντα‎ ἄνθρωπον προσελθόντα τῇ θεωρίᾳ τῶν προειρημένων εἰς ἔκπληξιν ἥξειν καὶ θαυμασμὸν ἀδιήγητον, μετατραπέντα τῇ διανοίᾳ διὰ τὴν περὶ ἕκαστον ἁγίαν κατασκευήν. 		99 Their appearance created such awe and confusion of mind as to make one feel that one had come into the presence of a man who belonged to a different world.

I am convinced that any one who takes part in the spectacle which I have described will be filled with astonishment and indescribable wonder and be profoundly affected in his mind at the thought of the sanctity which is attached to each detail of the service.