Note 322 — Chapter VI · THE PROTO-SIDERIC OR EARLY IRON AGE OF WEAPONS.

The unfortunate Cretans gained the name of ‘ever liars’ (ἀεὶ ψεῦσται) for telling what was probably the truth. They showed in their island the grave of Jupiter, who must have been originally some hero or chief deified after his death—evidently one of the origins of worship. The evil report began with Callimachus (Hymn. in Jov. 8); and was continued in the proverbial τρία κάππα κάκιστα (Krete, Kappadocia, and Kilikia). Hence the syllogistic puzzle of Eubulides: ‘Epimenides said that the Cretans are liars: Epimenides is a Cretan: ergo, Epimenides is a liar: ergo, the Cretans are not liars: ergo, Epimenides is not a liar.’