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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.

SUMMARY: This group of fragments discusses the involvement of Nyx (who Orpheus calls Maia) assisting Zeus in the fabrication of the universe.

164. (117) σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος B prooem. (I 206, 26 Diehl):

πρὶν δὲ ἅψηται (sc. Socrates) τῦς ὅλυς πραγματείας, ἐπὶ θεῶν παρακλήσεις καὶ εὐχὰς τρέπεται, μιμούμενος καὶ ταύτηι τὸν τοῦ παντὸς ποιητήν, ὃς πρὸ τῦς ὅλης δημιουργίας εἴς τε τὸ χρηστήριον εισιέναι λέγεται της Νυκτός, κακείθεν πληρούσθαι τῶν θείων νοήσεων καὶ τάς τῆς δημιουργίας αρχὰς υποδέχεσθαι καὶ τὰς ἀπορίας ἁπάσας, εἰ θέμις εἰπείν, δια | ^{207 Diehl} λύειν καὶ δὴ καὶ τὸν πατέρα παρακαλεῖν εἰς τὴν τῦς δημιουργίας σύλληψιν. πρὸς μὲν γὰρ τὴν Νύκτα τῶι θεολόγωι πεποίηται λέγων·

μαῖα, θεῶν ὑπάτη, Νὺξ ἄμβροτε, πῶς, τάδε φράζε,

πῶς χρή μ' ἀθανάτων ἀρχὴν κρατερόφρονα θέσθαι;

καὶ ἀκούει παρ' αὐτῆς· fragment 165 vs. 2 --- vs. 3

αἰθέρι πάντα πέριξ ἀφάτῳ λάβε, τῷ δ’ ἐνὶ μέσσῳ οὐρανόν· Vs. 1 etiam in Tim. 40 e (III 179, 10 Diehl).

καὶ περὶ πάσης ἑξῆς ἀναδιδάσκεται τῆς κοσμοποιίας· πρὸς δὲ τὸν Κρόνον πάλιν μετὰ τοὺς δεσμοὺς μόνον οὐκ εὐχόμενός φησιν·

ὄρθου δ' ἡμετέρην γενεήν, ἀριδείκετε δαῖμον

Vs. 1 also in σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος 40 e (III 179, 10 Diehl) (see below).

“Timæus (as told by Socrates) however, prior to entering on the whole discussion, converts himself to the invocations of, and prayers to the Gods, imitating in this the maker of the universe, who prior to the whole fabrication of things, is said to have approached to the oracle of Night, to have been there filled with divine intellectual conceptions, to have received the principles of fabrication, and there to dissolve, if it be lawful so to speak, all his doubts. To Night also, who calls on the father, [Jupiter Ζεύς] to engage in the fabrication of the universe, Jupiter is represented by the theologist as saying,

‘Maia, supreme of all the powers divine,

Immortal Night! how with unconquer’d mind

Must I the source of the immortals fix?

“And receives this answer from her, fragment 165 vs. 2 --- vs. 3

‘All things receive inclos’d on ev’ry side,

In æther’s wide ineffable embrace;

Then in the midst of æther place the heav’n.’

(“And he is instructed by her in all the consequent fabrication of the world. But again to Saturn (Κρόνος), after the bonds, Jupiter all but praying says,

‘Dæmon, most fam’d, our progeny direct.’ ” See fragment 155.)

(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1820)

Vs. 1 also in σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος 40 e (III 179, 10 Diehl):

καὶ γὰρ ἄλλην πρὸ αὐτῆς θεὸν μαῖαν προσηγόρευσεν ὁ θεολόγος·

μαῖα, θεῶν ὑπάτη, Νὺξ ἄμβροτε, πῶς τάδε φράζεις;

“For theologists denominate another Goddess prior to her (Θέμις), Maia. Thus Orpheus,

‘Maia, of the Gods supreme, immortal Night,

What mean you say.’ ”

(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1820)

Compare to σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος 41 c (III 228, 12 Diehl):

ὥσπερ γὰρ Ὀρφεύς τὴν νοερὰν οὐσίαν ἐνθεὶς τῶι Διὶ <τὴν> δημιουργικὴν ἀπετέλεσεν κτλ.

“For as Orpheus placing an intellectual essence in Jupiter, renders it demiurgic...”

(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1820)

And Νυκτὸς χρησμούς

“oracles of Nyx” fragment 107 p. 171, fragments 165. 168 p. 202.

Lobeck I 517.

The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.

We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.

Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.

Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods.

How do we know there are Gods? Experiencing Gods.

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We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.

Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.

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