Theseus
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Variously attributed to the Roman comic poet Terence or the English poet W. Cowper but, in fact, directly traceable to M. Terentius Varro R.R. III.1:-
--divina natura dedit agros, ars humana ædificavit urbes.
It was divine nature which gave us the country, and man's skill that built the cities.
There is a rather literal Greek version ' ο Θεός έκανε τη χώρα και ο άνθρωπος έκανε τη πόλη but is there another?
Its meaning is clear in the original context viz. the urban environment, constructed by human hands, is inferior to the natural countryside, which is the work of divine creation.
Hallam Tennyson added to it with the words 'and the devil made the little country town.
What is the Greek for a little country town?'
See further:- http://www.answers.com/topic/god-made-the-country-and-man-made-the-town.
--divina natura dedit agros, ars humana ædificavit urbes.
It was divine nature which gave us the country, and man's skill that built the cities.
There is a rather literal Greek version ' ο Θεός έκανε τη χώρα και ο άνθρωπος έκανε τη πόλη but is there another?
Its meaning is clear in the original context viz. the urban environment, constructed by human hands, is inferior to the natural countryside, which is the work of divine creation.
Hallam Tennyson added to it with the words 'and the devil made the little country town.
What is the Greek for a little country town?'
See further:- http://www.answers.com/topic/god-made-the-country-and-man-made-the-town.
