ORPHIC FRAGMENT 118

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: These two fragments discuss the God Thaumas.


118. σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος 23 d (I 133, 7 Diehl):

προηγεῖται μὲν οὖν τὸ θαῦμα, διότι καὶ ἐν ἡμῖν ἀρχὴ τοῦτό ἐστι τῆς τῶν ὅλων γνώσεως, ἐν δὲ τοῖς θείοις συνάπτει τῶι θαυμαζομένωι τὸ θαυμάζον· ὅθεν καὶ Θαύμαντα θεόν τινα μέγιστον ὑμνήκασιν οἱ τὰ θεῖα σοφοί, τὸν διὰ τοῦ θαύματος ὑποκατακλίνοντα τὰ δεύτερα τοῖς πρώτοις.

Wonder, therefore, precedes, because in us, also, this is the beginning of the knowledge of

wholes. But in divine natures, it conjoins that which wonders with the object of wonder. Hence, likewise, those who are wise in divine concerns celebrate Thaumas, [whose name is derived from thauma, (wonder)] as one of the greatest of the Gods, who through wonder inclines secondary to primary natures.” (trans. Thomas Taylor, 1820)

And in the same text σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος 25 b (I 183, 10):

καὶ ἔοικεν ὁ Πλάτων καὶ διὰ τοῦτο μεγάλην καὶ θαυμαστὴν καλέσαι τὴν δύναμιν τῶν Ἀτλαντίνων, ἐπειδὴ καὶ ἐν ταύτηι τῆι τάξει παραδέδοταί τις Θαύμας καλούμενος και ὸ Βίας ἄλλος τις ὑπὸ τῶν πάλαι θεολόγων. See also fragment 117.

“Plato also appears to have called the power of the Atlanteans great and admirable, because Thaumas and Bias are said by ancient theologists to have belonged to this order.”

(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1820)

See also fragment 117.


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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