ORPHIC FRAGMENT 193
OTTO KERN
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SUMMARY: According to this fragment, working the loom is an endless labor adorned with flowers.
193. Tzetzes, Exegeses in Iliad. 26, 18 Herm (Ὀρφέως·):
ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένην ἀτελῆ πόνον ἀνθεμόεσσαν
“Plying the loom, an endless labor adorned with flowers.”
(trans. by the author)
Herm. p. 511 n. 33; Lobeck I 550.
The verse is composed of two phrases from Homer:
Ἰλιὰς Ὁμήρου 1.31:
ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένην
“plying the loom”
and Ἰλιὰς Ὁμήρου 4.26 (compare to 57):
πῶς ἐθέλεις ἅλιον θεῖναι πόνον ἠδ' ἀτέλεστον.
“Would that you desire to make my toil in vain and without effect.”
For ἀτελῆ “endless” compare to fragment 192.
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.
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Pronunciation of Ancient Greek
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Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos
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