ORPHIC FRAGMENT 221
OTTO KERN
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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.
SUMMARY: This fragment states that in the Phaedo, Plato reveals secrets of the Mysteries, of the symbolic language in the mythology, of Dionysus and the Titans, and other cryptic things.
221. (221) σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Πολιτείας Πλάτωνος II 85, 1 Guilelmus Kroll:
δηλοῖ (sc. ὁ Πλάτων) δὲ ἐν Φαίδωνι (62 b; 69 c; 108 a; v. fragments 5 and 7) τό τε ἐν ἀπορρήτοις λεγόμενον, ὡς ἔν τινι φρουρᾶι ἐσμεν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, σιγῆι τῆι πρεπούσηι σέβων, καὶ τὰς τελετὰς μαρτυρόμενος τῶν διαφόρων λήξεων τῆς ψυχῆς κεκαθαρμένης τε καὶ ἀκαθάρτου εἰς Ἅιδου ἀπιούσης, καὶ τάς τε σχίσεις αὖ καὶ τὰς τριόδους ἀπὸ τῶν ὁσίων καὶ τῶν πατρίων θεσμῶν (i. e. Eleusiniorum) τεκμαιρόμενος, ἃ δὴ τῆς συμβολικῆς ἅπαντα θεωρίας ἐστὶ μεστά, καὶ τῶν παρὰ τοῖς ποιηταῖς θρυλουμένων ἀνόδων τε καὶ καθόδων, τῶν τε Διονυσιακῶν συνθημάτων καὶ τῶν Τιτανικῶν ἁμαρτημάτων λεγομένων, καὶ τῶν ἐν Ἅιδου τριόδων καὶ τῆς πλάνης καὶ τῶν τοιούτων ἁπάντων. ὥστ’ οὐδ’ ἂν αὐτὸς παντελῶς ἀτιμάσειεν τὴν τοιαύτην μυθοποιΐαν, ἀλλ’ ὡς πρὸς τὴν παιδευτικὴν τῶν νέων προαίρεσιν ἀλλοτρίαν αὐτὴν ὑπείληφεν· καὶ διὰ ταῦτα τοὺς τῆς θεολογίας τύπους συμμέτρους τοῖς τῶν παιδευτικῶν ἥθεσιν παραδίδωσιν.
“But he (Πλάτων) reveals in the Phaidôn (62 b; 69 c; 108 a; v. fragments 5 and 7) what is usually spoken in secret, how we men are in a ‘prison,’ this, clearly, to be kept in silence out of reverence. And calling on the mystic initiations to witness the different allotments of the soul, purified or unclean, as it is departs to Aidîs (Ἅιδης). And, also, of the forks, and again of the convergence of three roads, (he explains as arising) from sacred and patrilineal laws (i.e. of the Ἐλευσίνια Μυστήρια) ordained from signs, all these abounding in highly symbolic content. And (he speaks) of things said many times by the poets, stories of ascents and descents, tokens of Diónysos and the sinful actions of the Titánæs (Τιτάνες) which are spoken of, and the triple-crossroads of Aidîs, and the wandering, and all the things such as these. Therefore, he (Πλάτων) would not wholly discredit mythology such as this, but he was ill-disposed (to such story-telling) as concerns policy for teaching youths.”
(trans. by the author)
Lobeck II 1342; Gruppe Suppl. 717; Tannery Rev. Philolog. XXV 1901, 315 v. also earlier in fragment 8.
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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PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the pages of this website, you will find fascinating stories about our Gods. These narratives are known as mythology, the traditional stories of the Gods and Heroes. While these tales are great mystical vehicles containing transcendent truth, they are symbolic and should not be taken literally. A literal reading will frequently yield an erroneous result. The meaning of the myths is concealed in code. To understand them requires a key. For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level. Similarly, sexual union with a God is a transformation.
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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