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

SUMMARY: This fragment states that Orpheus said that the hairs on the face of Cronus are always black.

142. (245) Περὶ τῆς κατὰ Πλάτωνα θεολογίας Πρόκλου V 10:

τῶν δὲ θεολόγων τὸ ἀγήρων τῆι τάξει ταύτηι (sc. τῆι Κρονίαι) προσήκειν λεγόντων, ὡς οἵ τε βάρβαροί φασι, καὶ ὁ τῶν Ἑλλήνων θεωλόγος Ὀρφεύς. ---καὶ γὰρ οὗτος ἀεὶ μελαίνας τὰς τοῦ Κρονίου προσώπου τρίχας μυστικώς λέγει, καὶ μηδαμῶς γίγνεσθαι πολιὰς (v. fr. 130) --- θαυμάζω τὸν τοῦ Πλάτωνος ἔνθεον νοῦν τὰ αὐτὰ περὶ τοῦ θεοῦ τούτου τοῖς κατ' (καθ' Port.) ἴχνος αὐτοῦ πορευομένοις ἐκφαίνοντα. ἐν γὰρ τῆι Κρονίαι περιόδωι τὸ γῆρας ἀφιέναι φησὶ τὰς ψυχάς, ἐπὶ δὲ τὸ νέον ἀνακάμπτειν, καὶ τὸ πολιὸν μὲν ἀφαιρεῖν, τὰς δὲ τρίχας μελαίνας ἴσχειν. τῶν γὰρ πρεσβυτέρων (φησὶν sc. Plat. Polit. 270 d. e) αἱ λευκαὶ τρίχες ἐμελαίνοντο. τῶν δὲ γενειώντων αἱ παρειαὶ λειαινόμεναι, εὶς τὴν παρελθοῦσαν ὥραν καθίσταντο. ταῦτα μὲν ὁ Ἐλεάτης ξένος. ὁ δέ γε Ὀρφεὺς τὰ τούτοις ὅμοια ρερὶ τοῦ τεοῦ (sc. Κρόνου) διατάττεται·

— — — — — ὑπὸ Ζηνὶ Κρονίωνι

ἀθάνατον αἰῶνα καμεῖν, καθαροῖο γενείου

— — — διερὰς χαίτας εὐώδεας, οὐδὲ

— — ἠπεδανοῖο μιγήμεναι ἄνθεϊ λευκῶι·

— — — — — ἀλλ' ἐριθηλέα λάχνην.

From here it can be seen that the text needs to reconstructed:

-ᴗᴗ-ᴗᴗ-ᴗ ὑπὸ Ζηνὶ Κρονίωνι

ἀθάνατον <τ'> αἰῶνα λαχεῖν καθαροῖο γενείου

<καὶ> διερὰς χαίτας εὐώδεας, οὐδὲ <τι πάμπαν>

<γήραος> ἠπεδανοῖο μιγήμεναι ἄνθεϊ λευκῶι·

ἀλλ<ὰ ρερὶ κροτάφοισιν ἔχειν> ἐριθηλέα λάχνην.

“Since however, theologists assert that an exception from old age pertains to this order, as the Barbarians say, and Orpheus the theologist of the Greeks, (for he mystically says that the hairs of the face of Saturn (Κρόνος) are always black, and never become hoary) I admire the divinely inspired intellect of Plato which unfolds the same things concerning this God those who proceed in his steps. For he says that souls in the Saturnian period abandon old age, but return to youth, and remove from themselves hoariness, but have black hair. For he says that the white hairs of the more elderly become black; but the cheeks of those that have beards being rendered smooth, they are restored to the past season [of youth.] These things indeed are asserted by the Elean guest; similar to which are the assertions of Orpheus concerning this God:

“ ‘————————under Saturnian Jove

Men liv'd immortal; moist and fragrant hair

From the pure chin then sprouted, nor was mix'd

With the white flower that marks infirm old age;

But in its stead, a florid down appeared.’ ”

(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1816)

Herm. ap. Lobeck I 511; Duentzer 79 fragment IX; Mayer Gigant. u. Tit. 238; Vári Wien. Stud. XII 1890, 224.

Look at the possible Orphic influence in Ὀλυμπιονῖκαι Πινδάρου II 68 Schr.:

ὅσοι δ᾽ ἐτόλμασαν ἐστρὶς

ἑκατέρωθι μείναντες ἀπὸ πάμπαν ἀδίκων ἔχειν

ψυχάν, ἔτειλαν Διὸς ὁδὸν παρὰ Κρόνου τύρσιν

“But, whosoever, while dwelling in either world, have thrice been courageous in keeping their souls pure from all deeds of wrong, pass by the highway of Zeus unto the tower of Cronus,,,”

(trans. Sir John Sandys, 1915)

(ἣν ἔταξε τοῖς δικαίοις “he assigned her to the righteous.” schol. I 93, 16 Dr.).

Compare also in Πυθιόνικαι Πινδάρου[JV1] IV 291:

λῦσε δὲ Ζεὺς ἄφθίτος Τιτᾶνας.

“but Zefs (Ζεύς) had set free the Titánæs (Τιτᾶνες)...”

(trans. by the author)

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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