ORPHIC FRAGMENT 208

OTTO KERN

HellenicGods.org

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT

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


SUMMARY: In this fragment, Zeus gives Dionysus to the Gods as their king.

208. (190) σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Κρατύλου Πλάτωνος 396b p. 55, 5 Giorgio Pasquali:

καὶ ὁ Διόνυσος < add. Kroll> τελευταῖος θεῶν βασιλεὺς παρὰ τοῦ Διός· ὁ γὰρ πατὴρ ἱδρύει τε αὐτὸν ἐν τῶι βασιλείωι θρόνωι καὶ ἐγχειρίζει τὸ σκῆπτρον καὶ βασιλέα ποιεῖ τῶν ἐγκοσμίων ἁπάντων θεῶν·

κλῦτε, θεοί· τόνδ’ ὔμμιν ἐγὼ βασιλήα τίθημι

λέγει πρὸς τοὺς νέους θεοὺς (v. fragments 205 and 207) ὁ Ζεύς.

“[For Night (Νύξ) receives the sceptre from Phanes; Heaven (Οὐρανός) derives from Night, the dominion over wholes; ...]

“...and Bacchus (Διόνυσος) who is the last king of the Gods receives the kingdom from Jupiter (Ζεύς). For the father (Ζεύς) establishes him in the royal throne, puts into his hand the sceptre, and makes him the king of all the mundane Gods:

‘Hear me ye Gods, I place over you a king.’

“says Jupiter to the junior (νέος, younger) Gods (v. fragments 205 and 207).”

(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1816)

σχόλιον Ὀλυμπιοδώρου επὶ Φαίδωνος Πλάτωνος B δ’ p. 85, 9 William Norvin:

ὅτι τὰ μὲν περὶ μονάδος καὶ τριάδος ἀληθῶς εἴρηται, Τιτᾶνας δὲ τῶι Διονύσωι ἐπιβουλεύοντας ἄλλης εἶναι φήσομεν ἰδιότητος· οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀριθμὸς ἐναντιοῦται τῆι οἰκείαι μονάδι οὐδὲ ἀναιρεῖ αὐτήν, ἢ οὕτω γε καὶ ἑαυτόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὁ Ζεύς οὐ πρὸς τοὺς Τιτᾶνας λέγει, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τοὺς ἄλλους θεούς·

κλύτε, (θεοί, τόνδ’ ύμμιν εγώ)* βασιλῆα δίδωμι.

ἐπεὶ καὶ ὁ Διόνυσος ἐν μὲν τῶι θρόνωι τοῦ Διὸς ἀμέριστος ............... εἰς τοὺς Τιτᾶνας μερι ............ ρακῶς μεταμορφοῦται.

“That has truly been said concerning the monads and triads, and we would like to say that (the reason for) the Titanǽs (Τιτᾶνες) plotting against Diónysos (Διόνυσος) is of a different particular character; for not one number is in opposition to its familial monad and does not destroy this, or thus, also, itself, but also Zefs (Ζεύς) does not say to the Titanǽs, but (rather) to the other Gods:

‘Listen, oh Gods, this one I give to all of you as king.’

And since Diónysos (sits) on the throne of Zefs indivisible ...... (lost text)..... in the Titanǽs, you who share .....(lost text) ..... is transformed.”

(trans. by the author)

*There are no parenthesis in Norvin.

Lobeck I 552.


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

PHOTO COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The many pages of this website incorporate images, some created by the author, but many obtained from outside sources. To find out more information about these images and why this website can use them, visit this link: Photo Copyright Information

DISCLAIMER: The inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) with the views of HellenicGods.org by the external sources from which they were obtained.

Further, the inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) by HellenicGods.org of the contents or views of any external sources from which they were obtained.

For more information: Inquire.hellenicgods@gmail.com

For answers to many questions: Hellenismos FAQ

© 2010 by HellenicGods.org. All Rights Reserved.

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT

free hit counter
Web Analytics Made Easy - StatCounter