ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 191
OTTO KERN
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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.
ONOMACRITI FRAGMENTA (Fragments of Onomacritus)
Godofredus Kinkel Epicorum graecorum fragmenta I 1877, 240 collected fragments of epic Greek poetry.
SUMMARY: This testimony, in the first quotation from the philosopher Sextus Empiricus, claims that Onomacritus said in the Orphica that the foundation of all things is fire, water, and earth; there is second quotation from Ausonius which says something similar.
ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 1191
[I (Ki: 1) Πυῤῥώνειοι ὑποτυπώσεις τοῦ Σέξτου Ἐμπειρικοῦ III 30 (I 141 Sexti Empirici Opera by Hermann Mutschmann) v. Πρὸς μαθηματικούς τοῦ Σέξτου Ἐμπειρικοῦ I 361 (II 287 Mutschmann):
Ὀνομάκριτος δὲ ἐν τοῖς Ὀρφικοῖς πῦρ καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ ὕδωρ (sc. εἶπε τὴν πάντων εἶναι ἀρχήν).
“But Onomákritos in the Orphica (sc. said that the foundation [ἀρχή] of all things is) fire and water and earth.”
(trans. by the author)
Compare Περὶ φιλοσόφου ἱστορίας Κλαυδίου Γαληνοῦ 18 (Doxogr. 610, 15; v. also Hermann Diels Prolegomena to the Doxographi Graeci 249).
Ausonii Griphus ternarii numeri (The Enigma of the Number Three) vs. 74 p. 204 Decimi Magni Ausonii Burdigalensis Opuscula by Rudolf Peiper:
Orpheos hinc tripodes, quia sunt tria: terra, aqua, flamma.
“This number explains Orpheus’ Tripod, because there are three elements, earth, water, fire.”
(trans. Hugh Evelyn-White, 1919)
Christian Lobeck Aglaophamus I 386; Ab. fr. 229; Schuster 55 n. 1; Erwin Rohde Psyche II6 p. 112 n. 1; Zeller I6 125 n. 1; Hermann Diels Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker II3 163 ad 9. It turns the eyes chiefly to the forger of Heraclitus fr. 36 (Diels Die Fragm. I3 85).
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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