HellenicGods.org

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT

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

SUMMARY: This fragment consists of several Orphic quotations about the “sixth generation.”

14. (34) Φίληβος Πλάτωνος 66 c:

‘Ἕκτηι δ᾽ ἐν γενεᾶι,’

φησὶν Ὀρφεύς,

‘καταπαύσατε κόσμον [1] ἀοιδῆς’.

ἀτὰρ κινδυνεύει καὶ ὁ ἡμέτερος λόγος ἐν ἕκτηι καταπεπαυμένος εἶναι κρίσει.

“And now, as Orpheus says,

‘With the sixth generation cease the glory of my song.’

“Here, at the sixth award, let us make an end; all that remains is to set the crown on our discourse.”

(trans. Benjamin Jowett, 1892)

[1] κόσμον Platon. codd. et Euseb. Praep. en XIV 22 (II 319, 9 Dind.) θυμὸν Plutarchi codd., θεσμὸν Badham; Rohde Psyche II⁶ 120 n. 1, οἶμον Kroll Philol. LIII 1894, 420 collato Hom. Hymn. in Mercurium 451 ἀγλαὸς οἶμος ἀοιδῆς.

Ἠθικὰ Πλουτάρχου· 27. Περὶ τοῦ εἶ τοῦ έν Δελφοῖς p. 391 d:

πέμπτον εἴ τις ἡδονὴ καθαρὰ καὶ πρὸς τὸ λυποῦν ἄκρατος, ἐνταῦθα λήγει τὸ Ὀρφικὸν ὑπειπών·

ἕκτηι δ᾽ ἐν γενεῆι καταπαύσατε θεσμὸν ἀοιδῆς.

“(Now some one, said he, being persuaded of these things and seeing them before Plato, consecrated to the God two E E, for a mark and symbol of the number of all things. And having perhaps further understood that good also appears in five kinds, of which the first is the mean, the second the commensurate, the third understanding, the fourth the sciences, arts, and true opinions in the soul,) and the fifth a certain pleasure, pure and unmixed with sorrow; he stops there, subjoining that of Orpheus:

‘In the sixth age (γενεῆι) stay your desire of singing.’ ”

(trans. various scholars. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, 1874.)

σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Πολιτείας Πλάτωνος II 100, 23 Kr.:

‘Ἕκτηι δ’ ἐν γενεῆι’

φησὶν Ὀρφεύς, τοὺς δημίους τοὺς κοσμικούς, οἳ τοὺς τυραννικῶς βεβιωκότας ἄγριοί τινες ὄντες καὶ ἀπαραίτητοι κολάζουσι διαλαμβάνοντες· οἷς ὑπέστρωται τὰ τῆς τείσεως δεσμωτήρια καὶ τὸ ἔσχατον και φρικωδέστατον τῶν ψυχῶν οἰκητήριον καὶ κολαστήριον ὁ Τάρταρος.

“ ‘In the sixth generation,’

says Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς), those peoples of the world, savages who have lived tyrannically, are punished by the inexorable overseers, each seizing his share. These (souls) are strewn below, paying penalty in prisons, the lowest and most horrible dwelling places of souls, and this is Tártaros, the house of correction.

Laudat ‘ἕκτηι δ’ ἐν γενεᾶι’ vel simile saepius Ἀπορίαι καὶ λύσεις περὶ τῶν πρώτων ἀρχῶν εἰς τὸν Πλάτωνος Παρμενίδην Δαμασκίου 53 (I 107, 23 Rue.), 199 (II 80, 15), 253 (II 123, 5), 278 (II 150, 6)

ἕκτον τοίνυν, πῶς καὶ κατ’ Ὀρφέα καὶ κατὰ τὰ λόγια τῆς ζωιογόνου θεοῦ ἐξῆπται ἡ φύσις, 381 (II 231, 26).

He often cites ‘and in the sixth age’ and similar Ἀπορίαι καὶ λύσεις περὶ τῶν πρώτων ἀρχῶν εἰς τὸν Πλάτωνος Παρμενίδην Δαμασκίου 53 (I 107, 23 Rue.), 199 (II 80, 15), 253 (II 123, 5), 278 (II 150, 6):

“The sixth (generation) therefore, how so, in both Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς) and the Oracles, is nature attached from the generative Goddess?”

The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Rhapsodic 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.

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.

SPELLING: HellenicGods.org uses the Reuchlinian method of pronouncing ancient Greek, the system preferred by scholars from Greece itself. An approach was developed to enable the student to easily approximate the Greek words. Consequently, the way we spell words is unique, as this method of transliteration is exclusive to this website. For more information, visit these three pages:

Pronunciation of Ancient Greek

Transliteration of Ancient Greek

Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos

PHOTO COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The many pages of this website incorporate images, some created by the author, but many obtained from outside sources. To find out more information about these images and why this website can use them, visit this link: Photo Copyright Information

DISCLAIMER: The inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) with the views of HellenicGods.org by the external sources from which they were obtained.

Further, the inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) by HellenicGods.org of the contents or views of any external sources from which they were obtained.

For more information: Inquire.hellenicgods@gmail.com

For answers to many questions: Hellenismos FAQ

© 2010 by HellenicGods.org. All Rights Reserved.

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT