ORPHIC FRAGMENT 153
OTTO KERN
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SUMMARY: This fragment consists of a string of what are described as violations by Gods, using a literal translation of the mythology. It appears that the author does not know his mythology, for instance, he says that Apollo violated his own sister Artemis.
153. (308) The Martyrdom of Theodotus of Ancyra and the seven virgins, Acts of the Saints S. S. 18 Maii c. 24 d. e (IV p. 160 Boll.):
Ὀφεὺς γὰρ ὁ ὑμέτερος ποιητὴς λέγει, ὅτι Ζεὺς τὸν Κρόνον τὸν ἴδιον πατέρα ἐφόνευσε καὶ ἔσχε τὴν ἰδίαν μητέρα τὴν Ῥέαν, καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν γεννᾶται ἡ Περσεφόνη, ἣν καὶ αὐτὴν ἐμίανεν· ἔσχε δὲ καὶ τὴν ἰδίαν ἀδελφὴν Ἥραν γυναῖκα. καὶ Ἀπόλλων δὲ τὴν ἰδίαν ἀδελφὲν ἔσχεν Ἄρτεμιν, ἣν καὶ ἐμίανεν ἐν Δήλωι παρὰ τῶι βωμῶι. Καὶ ὁ Ἄρης δὲ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην. καὶ ὁ Ἥφαιστος τὴν Ἀθηνᾶν·
“For the poet Orphéfs (Ὀφεὺς) says that Zefs (Ζεύς) bloodied his own father Krónos (Κρόνος) and had his own mother Rǽa (Ῥέα), and out of them Pærsæphónî (Περσεφόνη) is born, and he defiled her; and he also he took his own sister Íra (Ἥρᾱ) as his wife. And Apóllôn (Ἀπόλλων) possessed his own sister Ártæmis (Ἄρτεμις), and violated her beside the altar in Dílos (Δήλος). And also Árîs (Ἄρης) had Aphrodítî (Ἀφροδίτη). And Íphaistos (Ἥφαιστος) had Athîná (Ἀθηνᾶ).”
(trans. by the author)
Lobeck I 593.
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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