Histories

The Athenians, then, were the first Greeks to make ithyphallic images of Hermes, and they did this because the Pelasgians taught them. The Pelasgians told a certain sacred tale about this, which is set forth in the Samothracian mysteries.

Formerly, in all their sacrifices, the Pelasgians called upon gods without giving name or appellation to any (I know this, because I was told at Dodona [20.8,39.55] (Perseus)Dodona); for as yet they had not heard of such. They called them gods[*](On the supposition that qeo/s meant “a disposer,” connected with qesmo/s, ti/qhmi, etc.) from the fact that, besides setting everything in order, they maintained all the dispositions.

Then, after a long while, first they learned the names of the rest of the gods, which came to them from Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, and, much later, the name of Dionysus; and presently they asked the oracle at Dodona [20.8,39.55] (Perseus)Dodona about the names; for this place of divination, held to be the most ancient in Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, was at that time the only one.