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

SUMMARY: This group of quotations discuss Persephone, how although she gives birth to the Eumenides and nine bright-eyed, flower-producing daughters, she remains a virgin.

197. (218) σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Κρατύλου Πλάτωνος 406 b p. 106, 5 Giorgio Pasquali:

ὅθεν δὴ καὶ ἡ Κόρη κατὰ μὲν τὴν Ἄρτεμιν τὴν ἐν ἑαυτῆι καὶ τὴν Ἀθηνᾶν παρθένος λέγεται μένειν, κατὰ δὲ τὴν τῆς Περσεφόνης γόνιμον δύναμιν καὶ προσιέναι καὶ συνάπτεσθαι τῶι τρίτωι δημιουργῶι καὶ τίκτειν, ὥς φησιν Ὀρφεύς·

ἐννέα θυγατέρας γλαυκώπιδας ἀνθεσιουργούς·

ἐπεὶ ἥ γε Ἄρτεμις ἡ ἐν αὐτῆι καὶ ἡ Ἀθηνᾶ τὴν παρθενίαν ἀεὶ τὴν αὐτὴν διασώιζουσι . . .

“Hence Core (Κόρη) also, according to the Diana (Ἄρτεμις) and Minerva (Ἀθηνᾶ) which she contains, is said to remain a virgin; but according to the prolific power of Proserpine (Περσεφόνη), she is said to proceed forth, and to be conjoined with the third Demiurgus, and to bring forth as Orpheus says,

‘nine azure-eyed, flower-producing daughters;’

“since the Diana and the Minerva which she contains preserve their virginity always the same.”

(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1816)

σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Κρατύλου Πλάτωνος 404 d p. 95, 10 Giorgio Pasquali:

διὸ καὶ Περσεφόνη καλεῖται μάλιστα τῶι Πλούτωνι συνοῦσα καὶ μετ' αὐτοῦ διακοσμοῦσα τὰ τελευταῖα τοῦ παντός, καὶ κατὰ μὲν τὰ ἄκρα παρθένος εἶναι λέγεται καὶ ἄχραντος μένειν, κατὰ δὲ τὸ μέσον ζεύγνυσθαι τῶι Ἅίδηι καὶ συναπογεννᾶν τὰς ἐν τοῖς ὑποχθονίοις Εὐμενίδας.

“Hence she is called Proserpine (Περσεφόνη), because she especially associates with Pluto, and together with him orderly distributes the extremities of the universe. And according to her extremities indeed, she is said to be a virgin and to remain undefiled: but according to her middle, to be conjoined with Hades (Ἅιδης), and to beget the Furies (Εὐμενίδες) in the subterranean regions.”

(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1816)

Lobeck I 544; Schuster 73 n. 4; Holwerda 329; Maaβ Orph. 187 n. 26; Malten Arch. Religionsw. XII 1908, 422.

ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 69.8 Εὐμενίδων Α (ἀΐδιοι Platt Journ. Philol. Lond. XXVI 1899, 229):

Ἀΐδεω χθόνιαι, φοβεραὶ κόραι αἰολόμορφοι

“(You dwell) under the earth of Aidîs (Ἅιδης), terrible form-changing maidens.”

(trans. by the author)

70.2-3 Εὐμενίδων Β:

ἁγναὶ θυγατέρες μεγάλοιο Διὸς χθονίοιο,

Φερσεφόνης τ’ ἐρατῆς κούρης καλλιπλοκάμοιο

“Chaste daughters of great earthy Zefs (Ζεύς),

and of the lovely girl Pærsæphónî (Περσεφόνη) with the beautiful locks of hair.”

(trans. by the author

v. also ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 29.6 Ὕμνος Περσεφόνης·

Εὐμενίδων γενέτειρα

“Mother of the Evmænídæs (Εὐμενίδες)”

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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