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

SUMMARY: This fragment describes how Oceanus decides against helping his brothers in their plot to castrate their father Uranus.

135. (100) σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος 40e (III 185, 28 Diehl) [anteit fr. 121]:

τῶν γὰρ ἄλλων Τιτάνων εἰς τὴν κατὰ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐπιβουλὴν ἱεμένων ὁ Ὠκεανὸς ἀπαγορεύει τε πρὸς τὰς τῦς μητρὸς ἐπιτάξεις καὶ ἐνδοιάζει περὶ τῦς πράξεως·

ἔνθ’ αὖτ’ Ὠκεανὸς μὲν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔμιμνεν

ὁρμαίνων, ποτέρωσε νόον τράποι, ἢ πατέρα ὃν |

γυ<ι>ώσηι τε βίης καὶ ἀτάςθαλα λωβήσαιτο

σὺν Κρόνωι ἤδ’ ἄλλοισιν ἀδελφοῖς, οἳ πεπίθοντο

μητρὶ φίληι, ἢ τούς γε λιπὼν μένοι ἔνδον ἕκηλος. 5

πολλά δὲ πορφύρων μένεν ἥμενος ἐν μεγάροισι,

σκυζόμενος ἧι μητρί, κασιγνήτοισι δὲ μᾶλλον.

μένει οὖν οὗτος ἅμα καὶ πρόεισι μετὰ τῦς Τηθύος· συνέζευκται γὰρ αὐτῶι κατὰ τὴν πρώτην ἀπογέννησιν. οἱ δὲ ἄλλοι Τιτᾶνες εἰς διάκρισιν ἐπείγονται καὶ πρόοδον, ἡγεῖται δὲ αὐτῶν ὁ μέγιστος Κρόνος, ὥς φησιν ὁ θεολόγος (follows fragment 117).

“For when the other Titans proceeded to assault their father Heaven (Οὐρανός), Ocean (Ὠκεανὸς) prohibited them from obeying the mandates of their mother, being dubious of their rectitude.

“ ‘But Ocean [says Orpheus] remained within his place of abode,

considering to what he should direct his attention,

and whether he should deprive his father of strength,

and mutilate him in conjunction with Saturn (Κρόνος), and the other brethren, who were obedient

to their dear mother; or leaving these, stay quietly at home.

After much fluctuation of thought however, he remained peaceably at home,

being angry with his mother, but still more so with his brethren.’

“He therefore abides, and at the same time proceeds together with Tethys (Τηθύς); for she is conjoined with him according to the first progeny. But the other Titans are induced to separation and progression. And the leader of these is the mighty Saturn (Κρόνος), as the theologist says.” (follows fragment 117)

(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1820)

Herm. VIII vs. 31 p. 468; Lobeck I 507.

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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