ORPHIC FRAGMENT 101

OTTO KERN

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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.


SUMMARY: Nyx receives the scepter from Phanes.

101. (86) σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Κρατύλου Πλάτωνος 396b (54, 21 Pasqu.):

ἦ ὅτι τῆς βασιλικῆς τῶν θεῶν σειρᾶς ἀρχομένης μὲν ἀπὸ Φάνητος, καταντώσης δ᾽ εἰς τὸν δεσπότην ἡμῶν τὸν Διόνυσον καὶ τὸ αὐτὸ σκῆπτρον ἄνωθεν ἄχρι τῆς ἐσχάτης βασιλείας προαγούσης, μόνος ὁ Κρόνος, τὴν τετάρτην βασιλικὴν τάξιν κληρωσάμενος, παρὰ πάντας τοὺς ἄλλους ὑβριστικῶς δοκεῖ κατὰ τὸ μυθικὸν πρόσχημα προσδέχεσθαι καὶ ἐκ τοῦ Οὐρανοῦ τὸ σκῆπτρον καὶ μεταδιδόναι τῷ Διί· καὶ γὰρ ἡ Νὺξ παρ᾽ ἑκόντος αὐτὸ λαμβάνει τοῦ Φάνητος· | 55 Pasqu.

σκῆπτρον δ' ἀριδείκετον εἷο χέρεσσιν θῆκε θεᾶς Νυκτὸς ἑκούσης ὑποδέχεται τὴν ἐπικράτειαν τῶν ὅλων.

καὶ ὁ Οὐρανὸς παρὰ τῆς Νυκτὸς ἑκούσης ὑποδέχεται τὴν ἐπικράτειαν τῶν ὅλων.

“Wherefore the kingly lineage of Gods begins in truth from Phánîs (Φάνης), coming down to our lord Diónysos (Διόνυσος), and advancing the same scepter from on high even to the furthermost dominion; only Krónos (Κρόνος), allotted the fourth kingly rank, beside all the others (received it) in a wanton manner, as imagined in the mythic pretext, and (receives) from Ouranós (Οὐρανός) the scepter and transmits it to Zefs (Ζεύς); for Nyx takes it of herself from Phánîs (who yields it) purposely:

‘He laid his glorious staff in the hands of the Goddess Nyx, so that she receive the entire dominion.’

“And from the free will of Nyx, Ouranós received dominion of the universe.”

(trans. by the author)

Lobeck I 502; Zeller I6 123.

For verse 2 compare Θεογονία Ἡσιόδου 461:

........ ἵνα μή τις ἀγαυῶν Οὐρανιώνων

ἄλλος ἐν ἀθανάτοισιν ἔχοι βασιληίδα τιμήν.

“........ that no other of the proud sons of Heaven (Οὐρανός)

should hold the kingly office amongst the deathless Gods.”

(trans. Hugh G. Evelyn-White, 1914)


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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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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