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this flock is especially hungry, No sheep will choose to rest until its stomach is full

and who will believe that it was a god who caused it to lie down?”

“Epimenides must have chosen this time of day on purpose then,” responded Nicias.
“We will only know that a sheep which lies down does so by the will of this unknown
god and not by its own inclination.”

Nicias had only just finished speaking when a shepherd shouted, “Look!” Everyone
looked to see a ram buckle its knees and settle onto the grass. “Here’s another one!”
called a councilman, amazed. Within minutes a number of sheep lay resting on grass

too succulent for any herbivore to resist – under normal circumstances.

“If only one had rested we’d have said it was sick,” said the council president, “but
this can only be the answer. What shall we do now?” he asked Epimenides. Separate
the sheep that are resting and mark the place where each one lay. Then let your

stonemasons build altars – one altar for each animal resting.”

Enthusiastic stonemasons started work mortaring stones. By late afternoon the

mortar was hardened and every altar stood ready for use.

“Which god’s name shall we engrave upon these altars?” asked an eager junior
councilman. All heads turned to hear Epimenides’ answer. “Name?” he replied. “The
god whose help we seek has been pleased to respond to our admission of ignorance.

If we now pretend to be knowledgeable by engraving a name on the altar when we
have not the slightest idea what his name might be, I fear we shall only offend him!”

“We must not take that chance, “agreed the president of the council, “but surely

there must be some appropriate way to dedicate each altar before it is used.” “You
are right, learned elder,” Epimenides said. “There is one way – inscribe the words
Agnosto Theo – to an unknown god – upon the side of each altar. Nothing more is
necessary.”

The Athenians engraved the words, then they sacrificed each dedicated sheep upon
the altar marking the spot where that sheep rested. Night fell.

By dawn the next day the plague’s deadly grip upon the city had already loosened.
Within a week, the sick had recovered and Athens overflowed with praise to
Epimenides’ ‘Unknown god’ and to Epimenides himself for bringing such an amazing
answer. Garlands of flowers were placed around the altars on the side of Mars Hill
and later a statue of Epimenides was carved and placed before one of the temples.

(Greek Grandeur, Hebrew Heart) 21