HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC FRAGMENT 165

ORPHIC FRAGMENT 165

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: In this fragment, Nyx instructs Zeus to envelop all things in the aether.

165. (122) σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος I 28c (I 313, 31 Diehl):

τὰ τοίνυν ὅλα περιέχων ὁ Ζεὺς καὶ πάντα μοναδικῶς καὶ | νοερῶς κατὰ τούτους τους χρησμοὺς τῆς Νυκτὸς ὑφίστησι πάντα τὰ ἐγκόσμια, θεούς τε καὶ τὰς μοίρας τοῦ παντός. λέγει γοῦν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡ Νὺξ ἐρωτήσαντα·

πῶς δέ μοι ἕν τε τὰ πάντ' ἔσται καὶ χωρίς ἕκαστον;

αἰθέρι πάντα πέριξ ἀφάτωι λάβε, τῶι δ' ἐνὶ μέσσωι

οὐρανόν, ἐν δέ τε γαῖαν ἀπείριτον, ἐν δὲ θάλασσαν,

ἐν δὲ τὰ τείρεα πάντα τά τ' οὐρανὸς ἐστεφάνωται.

“Jupiter (Ζεύς) therefore, comprehending in himself wholes, produces in conjunction with Night (Νύξ) all things monadically and intellectually, according to her oracles, and likewise all mundane natures, Gods, and the parts of the universe. Night therefore says to him asking, how all things will be a certain one, and yet each be separate and apart from the rest:

‘All things receive inclosed [sic] on ev’ry side,

In æther’s wide ineffable embrace:

Then in the midst of æther place the heav’n;

In which let earth of infinite extent,

The sea, and stars, the crown of heav’n, be fixt [sic].’ ”

(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1820)

Verse 1 (πῶς δέ μοι ἕν...) is exactly the same in:

σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος 36 c (II 256, 21 Diehl),

σχόλιον Ὀλυμπιοδώρου επὶ Φαίδωνος Πλάτωνος C II οζ' p. 162, 30 Norv.

Verse 2 (αἰθέρι πάντα πέριξ --- 3 οὐρανόν) exactly the same in σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος I 207, 9 Diehl.

σχόλιον Σιμπλικίου επὶ περὶ Φυσικὴς τοῦ Ἀριστοτέλους IV coroll. de loco I 643, 27 Diels:

ἐπεὶ οὖν ἡ Ἀσσύριος θεολογία καὶ ὑπὲρ τόνδε τὸν κόσμον ἄλλο σῶμα θειότερον τὸ αἰθέριον παραδέδωκεν, οἶδε δὲ αὐτὸ καὶ Ὀρφεύς ἐν οἷς φησιν·

αἰθέρι πάντα πέριξ ἀφάτωι λάβε· τῶι δ' ἐνὶ μέσσωι οὐρανόν.

“Since then the Assyrian theology has also passed down, that beyond this world there is another divine body, the aithirial, and Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς) also knows this in these words when he says,

‘Encircle all things with the ineffable aithír (αἰθήρ); and in the middle set the sky!’ ”

(trans. by the author)

Herm. X vs. 5; Lobeck I 521 n. V; Holwerda 318.

Vs. 4 was taken from Ἰλιὰς Ὁμήρου 18.485.

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.

This logo is the principal symbol of this website. It is called the CESS logo, i.e. the Children of the Earth and the Starry Sky. The Pætilía (Petelia, Πετηλία) and other golden tablets having this phrase are the inspiration for the symbol. The image represents this idea: Earth (divisible substance) and the Sky (continuous substance) are the two kozmogonic substances. The twelve stars represent the Natural Laws, the dominions of the Olympian Gods. In front of these symbols is the seven-stringed kithára (cithara, κιθάρα), the the lyre of Apóllôn (Apollo, Ἀπόλλων). It (here) represents the bond between Gods and mortals and is representative that we are the children of Orphéfs (Orpheus, Ὀρφεύς).

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

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