ORPHIC FRAGMENT 89
OTTO KERN
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SUMMARY: Phanes is the Father of the Gods, for whom he has built an imperishable home.
89. Lactantius, Institutiones Divinae I 5, 4-6 p. 14 Br.:
Hunc (sc. Φάνητα) ait (sc. Ὀρφεύς fr. 73) esse omnium deorum parentem, quorum causa caelum condiderit, liberisque prospexerit, ut haberent habitaculum, sedemque communem:
ἔκτισεν ἀθανάτοις δόμον ἄφθιτον.
natura igitur et ratione ducente intellexit esse praestantissimam potestatem, caeli ac terrae conditricem. non poterat enim dicere Iouem esse principem rerum, qui erat Saturno genitus, neque ipsum Saturnum, qui caelo natus ferebatur; caelum autem tamquam deum primum constituere non audebat, quod uidebat elementum esse mundi, quod ipsum eguerit auctore. haec eum ratio perduxit ad deum illum primogenitum, cui adsignat et tribuit principatum.
“He (Ὀρφεύς) affirms that this Being (Φάνης) is the Parent of all the Gods, on whose account He framed the heaven, and provided for His children that they might have a habitation and place of abode in common:
“ ‘He built for immortals an imperishable home.’
“Thus, under the guidance of nature and reason, he understood that there was a power of surpassing greatness which framed heaven and earth. For he could not say that Jupiter was the author of all things, since he was born from Saturn; nor could he say that Saturn himself was their author, since it was reported that he was produced from the heaven; but he did not venture to set up the heaven as the primeval God, because he saw that it was an element of the universe, and must itself have had an author. This consideration led him to that first-born God, to whom he assigns and gives the first place.” (trans. William Fletcher, 1886)
Herm. 465 n. 2; Lobeck I 496; compare J. Th. Struve Fragm. graec. ap. Lactant. examin. in programm. gymn. Regimontani 1822 = Op. sel. I 125; Holwerda 307.
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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