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

SUMMARY: This group of fragments discuss the etymology of Uranus.

113. (90) Ἀπορίαι καὶ λύσεις περὶ τῶν πρώτων ἀρχῶν εἰς τὸν Πλάτωνος Παρμενίδην Δαμασκίου 257 (II 125, 24 Rue.):

καὶ ὁ τοῦ Ὀρφέως Οὐρανὸς

‘οὖρος πάντων καὶ φύλαξ’

εἶναι βούλεται· ^{| 125 Rue.} καὶ Φοίνικες δὲ καὶ Αἰγύπτιοι τῆιδε τῆι τάξει τὸ φρουρητικὸν ἐγκατοικίζουσιν.

“And the Ouranós of Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς) wants to be

‘the limit (οὖρος*) and guardian of everything’

“And the Phoenicians and the Egyptians establish guardianship in this category.”

(trans. by the author)

*οὖρος could also be translated as “guardian” or “protector.”

Lobeck I 503 qui Damascii locum falso Tatio in Arat. p. 85 (v. infra) attribuit; Holwerda 313; Kern Herm. XXIII 1888, 486 n. XV.

Compare fragment 96 on the Sun.

ὕμνος Ὀρφέως IV Οὐρανοῦ vs. 5:

αἰθέριος χθόνιός τε φύλαξ πάντων περιβληθείς.

“Aithîrial earthly guardian of all things (which) you have encircled.”

(trans. by the author)

Ἐπιδρομή τοῦ Κορνοῦτου 1,4 Lang (οὐρανὸς):

οὖρος ὢν ἄνω πάντων καὶ ὁρίζων τὴν φύσιν· | ^{2 L.} ἔνιοι δέ φασιν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὠρεῖν ἢ ὠρεύειν τὰ ὄντα, ὅ ἐστι φυλάττειν, οὐρανὸν κεκλῆσθαι.

(Note: this is Kornoutos’ etymology of the name Oὐρανός): “Being the limit (οὖρος; see * above for this word) on high of all things and marking out (ὁρίζων) the order of nature. But some declare (his name is derived) from ὠρεῖν or ὠρεύειν (“to care for”) existing things, that is to keep guard; (thus, therefore,) he is called Oὐρανός.”

(trans. by the author)

Εἰσαγωγὴ εἰς τὰ Ἀράτου φαινόμενα τοῦ Ἀχιλλέως Τατίου 36, 13 Μααβ:

οὐρανός δὲ ἠτυμολόγηται, ἤτοι ἐπεὶ ὅρος παλαιός ἐστιν ἢ ἐπεὶ σφαιροειδὴς ὢν ἔνδοθεν αὑτοῦ ἡμᾶς οὐρεῖ, ὅ ἐστι φυλάσσειν.

“οὐρανός etymologies: To be sure, you find the ancient (word) ὅρος (“boundary”) or you find that being spherical from within itself, οὐρεῖ ἡμᾶς (“it watches over us”), that is, it guards us.”

(trans. by the author)

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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