Sibyl

" "This one, behold, is plain to all, unwandering," as the Sibyl says.

Nay, men, mortal-born, cannot stand even over against the rays of the sun," the Sibyl foretold.

So much concerning the Sibyl.

" This the prophetic and poetic Sibyl enjoins upon us;

As your teacher I will set before you the prophetess Sibyl, "oracle-singer not of a lying Phoebus, whom vain men called a god, and falsely styled a seer, but of the great God, whom the hands of men did not fashion, like to dumb idols of polished stone.

Plainly from the prophetess of the Hebrews, who prophesies somewhat thus:

for there is no way I could be marvelled at by you, not even if I should speak truer things than the Sibyl or Bacis;

These same things you will find also the Sibyl prophesying to you, and Bacis, if indeed those two were good oracle-mongers and seers.

somewhat consonant with this, calls upon a third, beyond the two witnesses, the prophetic Sibyl;

and if we should speak of the Sibyl and all the others who by prophetic inspiration have foretold many things to many persons and thereby made them fortunate afterwards, anyone can see that we should speak a long time.

Why, soothsayers, of course, Socrates.

Now, can you tell me what appellation is given to Bacis and Sibyl and our native Amphilytus?

For before all literature existed the Sibyl — that Sibyl, I mean, the true prophetess of the true God, from whose name you have clothed the prophets of demons.

Your Sibyls have falsified the name of truth, just as your gods also have.

It changes even now its fashion locally, when a site is damaged, when among the islands there is no longer any Delos, sands made of Samos, and the Sibyl no liar;