THE ORPHIC FRAGMENTS
OF OTTO KERN
14. ΙΕΡΟΣ ΛΟΓΟΣ [ΑΙΓΥΓΤΙΟΣ*]
SACRED LOGOS [EGYPTIAN]
HellenicGods.org
HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT
For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.
*Translator’s note: Kern obviously means Αἰγύπτιος, the second Γ is not a gamma at all but hearkening to an earlier form of the the letter Π which looked like a gamma with a hook on the right side, not extending all the way down; but Kern is using a simple gamma, for reasons I am not aware of.
Ὀρφέως Ἀργοναυτικὰ 43-45; See Orphic Testimony No. 224:
ἠδ’ ὅτ’ ἓν Αἰγύπτωι ἱερὸν λόγον ἐξελόχευσα,
Μέμφιν ἐς ἠγαθέην πελάσας ἱεράς τε πόληας
Ἄπιδος, ἃς πέρι Νεῖλος ἀγάρροος ἐστεφάνωται·
“and the sacred discourse I brought forth going to Egypt,
when I went to most holy Memphis and the sacred cities
of Ápis (Ἆπις), around which the strong-flowing Nile confers honor”
(trans. by the author)
and line 32:
θρήνους τ’ Αἰγυπτίων καὶ τ’ Ὀσίριδος ἱερὰ χύτλα.
“and the dirges of the Egyptians and the sacred libations of Ósiris (Ὄσιρις).”
(trans. by the author)
Compare to ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 34.2 Ἀπόλλωνος·
Μεμφῖτ’, ἀγλαότιμος, ἰῃϊος, ὀλβιοδῶτα
“Memphian, renowned, exclaimed with cries of joy, bestower of bliss”
(trans. by the author)
ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 42.9 Μίσης·
σὺν σῆι μητρὶ θεᾶι μελανηφόρωι Ἴσιδι σεμνῆι
Αἰγύπτου παρὰ χεῦμα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι τιθήναις
“With thy dark mother Isis, where she reigns,
With nurses pure attended, near the flood
Of sacred Egypt, thy divine abode.”
(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1792)
ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 55.19 Εἰς Ἀφροδίτην·
Αἰγύπτου κατέχεις ἱερῆς γονιμώδεα λουτρά.
“Or flanked by your priests at the fruitful River of Egypt”
(trans. by the author)
See also section 17. ΚΑΤΑΒΑΣΙΣ ΕΙΣ ΑΙΔΟΥ “The Descent to Hades” (p. 305 in Kern’s book) and Hecataeus of Abdera (Ἑκαταῖος ὁ Ἀβδηρίτης); see Orphic Critical Testimonies numbers 95-98, where through carelessness I (ed. Kern) wrote of Hecataeus of Miletus (Ἑκαταῖος ὁ Μιλήσιος). Ernst Maaß Orpheus p. 114. 196; Otto Kern Genethliakon f. Carl Robert 1910, p. 90; Ulrich Wilcken Jahrbuch des Kaiserlich Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts XXXII 1917, p. 195 ss.
Perhaps the verse from Βιβλιοθήκη ἱστορικὴ Διοδώρου Σικελιώτου I.11.3 and Ἀριστόκριτος Μανιχαῖος in the Tübingen Theosophy 8 (v. fr. 237 p. 250) is taken from this poem:
τοὔνεκά μιν (sc. Ὄσιριν) καλέουσι Φάνητά τε καὶ Διόνυσον
“And this is why men call him Shining One (Φάνης) And Dionysus.”
(trans. Charles Henry Oldfather, 1933)
See section 4. ΙΕΡΟΙ ΛΟΓΟΙ ΕΝ ΡΑΨΩΙΔΙΑΙΣ ΚΔʹ Orphic Fragments 60-235.
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.
SPELLING: HellenicGods.org uses the Reuchlinian method of pronouncing ancient Greek, the system preferred by scholars from Greece itself. An approach was developed to enable the student to easily approximate the Greek words. Consequently, the way we spell words is unique, as this method of transliteration is exclusive to this website. For more information, visit these three pages:
Pronunciation of Ancient Greek
Transliteration of Ancient Greek
Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos
PHOTO COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The many pages of this website incorporate images, some created by the author, but many obtained from outside sources. To find out more information about these images and why this website can use them, visit this link: Photo Copyright Information
DISCLAIMER: The inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) with the views of HellenicGods.org by the external sources from which they were obtained.
Further, the inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) by HellenicGods.org of the contents or views of any external sources from which they were obtained.
For more information: Inquire.hellenicgods@gmail.com
For answers to many questions: Hellenismos FAQ
© 2010 by HellenicGods.org. All Rights Reserved.