ORPHIC FRAGMENT 234
OTTO KERN
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SUMMARY: This fragment, taken out of context by Clement of Alexandria, criticizes bad women.
234. (264) Λόγος Στρώματα Κλήμεντος του Ἀλεξανδρέως VI 2, 5. 3 (II 424, 22 Staeh.):
Ὀρφέως τοίνυν ποιήσαντος·
ὣς οὐ κύντερον ἦν καὶ ῥίγιον ἄλλο γυναικός
Ὅμηρος (Ὀδύσσεια Ὁμήρου 11.427) ἄντικρυς λέγει·
ὣς οὐκ αἰνότερον καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο γυναικός.
“Orpheus, then, having composed the line:
‘Since nothing else is more shameless and wretched than woman,’
“Homer (Ὀδύσσεια Ὁμήρου 11.427) plainly says:
‘Since nothing else is more dreadful and shameless than a woman.’ ”
(trans. William Wilson, 1885)
Lobeck II 952
Ἔργα καὶ Ἡμέραι Ἡσιόδου 702:
(παρθενικὴν δὲ γαμεῖν, ὥς κ᾽ ἤθεα κεδνὰ διδάξῃς.
τὴν δὲ μάλιστα γαμεῖν, ἥ τις σέθεν ἐγγύθι ναίει,
πάντα μάλ᾽ ἀμφιιδών, μὴ γείτοσι χάρματα γήμηις.)
702: οὐ μὲν γάρ τι γυναικὸς ἀνὴρ ληίζετ᾽ ἄμεινον
τῆς ἀγαθῆς, τῆς δ᾽ αὖτε κακῆς οὐ ῥίγιον ἄλλο,
(δειπνολόχης· ἥτ᾽ ἄνδρα καὶ ἴφθιμόν περ ἐόντα
εὕει ἄτερ δαλοῖο καὶ ὠμῶι γήραϊ δῶκεν.)
“(Marry a maiden, so that you can teach her careful ways, and especially marry one who lives near you, but look well about you and see that your marriage will not be a joke to your neighbors.)
702: “For a man wins nothing better than a good wife,
and, again, nothing worse than a bad one,
“(a greedy soul who roasts her man without fire, strong though he may be, and brings him to a raw1 old age.)”
(trans. Hugh G. Evelyn-White, 1914)
to which Sîmônídîs (Σημωνίδης ὁ Ἀμοργῖνος) observes fr. 6 (Bergk PLG II4 738):
γυναικὸς οὐδὲν χρῆμ’ ἀνὴρ ληΐζεται
ἐσθλῆς ἄμεινον οὐδὲ ῥίγιον κακῆς.
“A man gains nothing better than a good wife
nor worse than a bad one.”
(trans. by the author)
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.
This logo is the principal symbol of this website. It is called the CESS logo, i.e. the Children of the Earth and the Starry Sky. The Pætilía (Petelia, Πετηλία) and other golden tablets having this phrase are the inspiration for the symbol. The image represents this idea: Earth (divisible substance) and the Sky (continuous substance) are the two kozmogonic substances. The twelve stars represent the Natural Laws, the dominions of the Olympian Gods. In front of these symbols is the seven-stringed kithára (cithara, κιθάρα), the the lyre of Apóllôn (Apollo, Ἀπόλλων). It (here) represents the bond between Gods and mortals and is representative that we are the children of Orphéfs (Orpheus, Ὀρφεύς).
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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