Single Idea 3029

[catalogued under 28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 5. Atheism]

Full Idea

Stilpo asked a man whether Athena is the daughter of Zeus, and when he said yes, said,"But this statue of Athena by Phidias is the child of Phidias, so it is not a god."

Gist of Idea

Stilpo said if Athena is a daughter of Zeus, then a statue is only the child of a sculptor, and so is not a god

Source

report of Stilpo (fragments/reports [c.330 BCE]) by Diogenes Laertius - Lives of Eminent Philosophers 02.10.5

Book Reference

Diogenes Laertius: 'Diogenes Laertius', ed/tr. Yonge,C.D. [Henry G. Bohn 1853], p.101