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

SUMMARY: This group of fragments discuss the roles of:

the Graces (or Charities), daughters of Zeus and Eurynome (Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne);

and the Horae (the Seasons), daughters of Zeus and Themis (Eunomia, Dike, and Eirene).

181. σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος 40 a (III 118, 30 Diehl):

διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο καῖ οἱ θεολόγοι τὴν Εὐνομίαν ἐπέστησαν τῆι ἀπλανεῖ, τὸ ἐν αὐτῆι πλῆθος διακρίνουσαν καὶ ἕκαστον ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκείας διατη | ^{119 Diehl} ροῦσαν ἀεὶ τάξεως. διὰ τοῦτο δὲ ἄρα καὶ τὸν Ἥφαιστον ὑμνοῦντες τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ποιητὴν συνάπτουσιν αὐτῶι τὴν Ἀγλαΐαν ὡς ἀγλαΐζοντι πάντα τὸν οὐρανὸν διὰ τῆς τῶν ἄστρων ποικιλίας. και πάλιν τῶι μὲν πλανωμένωι τὴν <μὲν> Δίκην εφιστάσι των Ωρών ώς ὀφείλουσαν τὴν ἀνωμαλίαν κατὰ λόγον εἰς ὁμαλότητα περιάγειν, τὴν δὲ Θάλειαν τῶν Χαρίτων ως τὰς ζωὰς αὐτῶν ἀειθαλεῖς ἀποτελοῦσαν, τῶι δὲ ὑπὸ σελήνην τὴν μὲν Εἰρήνην ὡς τὸν πόλεμον τῶν στοιχείων ἐξιωμένην, τὴν δὲ Έὐφροσύνην (v. fragment 200) τῶν Χαρίτων ὡς ἑκάστοις ἐνδιδοῦσαν ῥαιστώνην τῆς κατὰ φύσιν ἐνεργείας.

“On this account likewise, theologists establish Eunomia in the inerratic sphere, who separates the multitude in it, and always preserves each of the stars in its proper order. Hence too, celebrating Vulcan (Ἥφαιστος) as the maker of the heavens, they conjoin him with Aglaïa, as adorning and giving splendor and hilarity to all heaven, through the variety of the stars. And again, of the Seasons, they place Dice (Δίκη) over the planetary region, because it is just that irregularity should be reduced to regularity according to reason; but of the Graces, Thalia, as always causing their lives to be consummately flourishing. They also give the superintendence of the sublunary region to Irene, as pacifying the war of the elements; but to Euphrosyne (v. fragment 200) of the Graces, as imparting to each of them facility of energy according to nature.”

(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1820)

Compare to Θεογονία Ἡσιόδου 901-909:

δεύτερον ἠγάγετο λιπαρὴν Θέμιν, ἣ τέκεν Ὥρας,

Εὐνουμίην τε Δίκην τε καὶ Εἰρήνην τεθαλυῖαν,

αἳ ἔργ᾽ ὠρεύουσι καταθνητοῖσι βροτοῖσι,

Μοίρας θ᾽, ᾗ πλείστην τιμὴν πόρε μητίετα Ζεύς,

Κλωθώ τε Λάχεσίν τε καὶ Ἄτροπον, αἵτε διδοῦσι

θνητοῖς ἀνθρώποισιν ἔχειν ἀγαθόν τε κακόν τε.

τρεῖς δέ οἱ Εὐρυνομη Χάριτας τέκε καλλιπαρῄους,

Ὠκεανοῦ κούρη, πολυήρατον εἶδος ἔχουσα,

Ἀγλαΐην τε καὶ Εὐφροσύνην Θαλίην τ᾽ ἐρατεινήν

“Next he (Ζεύς) married bright Themis who bore the Horae (Hours), and Eunomia (Order), Dikë (Justice), and blooming Eirene (Peace), who mind the works of mortal men, and the Moerae (Fates) to whom wise Zeus gave the greatest honor, Clotho, and Lachesis, and Atropos who give mortal men evil and good to have. And Eurynome, the daughter of Ocean, beautiful in form, bore him three fair-cheeked Charites (Graces), Aglaea, and Euphrosyne, and lovely Thaleia...”

(trans. Hugh G. Evelyn-White, 1914)

ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 43.2 The Órai (Ὧραι), daughters of Zefs (Ζεύς) and Themis (Θέμις):

Εὐνομίη τε Δίκη τε, καὶ Εἰρήνη πολύολβε

“Evnomía (Εὐνομία), Díkî (Δίκη), and Eirínî (Εἰρήνη), rich in blessings (πολύολβε).”

ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 60.2-3 The Kháritæs (Χάριτες), daughters of Zefs (Ζεύς) and Evrynómî (Εὐρυνόμη):

θυγατέρες Ζηνός τε καὶ Εὐρυνόμης βαθυκόλπου,

Ἀγλαΐη, Θαλίη τε, καὶ Εὐφροσύνη πολύολβε

“Daughters of Zefs and deep-bosomed (βαθυκόλπου) Evrynómî.

Aglaïa (Ἀγλαΐα), Tháleia (Θάλεια), and Efphrosýnî (Εὐφροσύνη), rich in blessings (πολύολβε).”

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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