The Funeral Speech

In my view also the fact that the fruits of the earth by which men live were first manifest among us,[*](According to tradition the olive was created by the goddess Athena, while the culture of grain, especially wheat and barley, was established by Demeter, whose mysteries were celebrated at Eleusis close to Athens.) even apart from their being a superlative boon to all men, constitutes an acknowledged proof that this land is the mother of our ancestors. For all things that bring forth young produce at the same time nutriment out of the organism itself[*](Or, by a law of nature herself.) for those that are born. This very thing has been done by this land.[*](This topic is treated in more detail in Plat. Menex. 237e-238b.)