HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC FRAGMENT 226

ORPHIC FRAGMENT 226

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This fragment discusses the relationship between earth, water, and soul.

226. (230) Λόγος Στρώματα Κλήμεντος του Ἀλεξανδρέως VI 2, 17, 1 (II 435, 20 Staeh.):

Ὀρφέως δὲ ποιήσαντος·

ἔστιν ὕδωρ ψυχῆι, θάνατος δ’ ὑδάτεσ<σ>ιν ἀμοιβή,

ἐκ δὲ ὕδατος <μὲν> γαῖα, τὸ δ’ ἐκ γαίας πάλινὕδωρ·

ἐκ τοῦ δὴ ψυχὴ ὅλον αἰθέρα ἀλλάσσουσα·

Ἡράκλειτος ἐκ τούτων συνιστάμενος τοὺς λόγους ὧδέ πως γράφει (Diels I³ 85 fr. 36)·

ψυχῆισιν θάνατος ὕδωρ γενέσθαι, ὕδατι δὲ θάνατος γῆν γενέσθαι, ἐκ γῆς δὲ ὕδωρ γίνεται, ἐξ ὕδατος δὲ ψυχή.

“And Orpheus wrote:

‘In the soul is water, and death is a return to water;

from water comes earth, and back from earth again water,

now from that, the soul is altering the whole aithír (αἰθήρ);’

“Irákleitos (Ἡράκλειτος), combining the words from these verses, writes in this manner (Diels I³ 85 fr. 36):

‘For souls, death is to become water; and death for water to become earth; and from earth comes water; and from water, soul.’ ”

(trans. by the author)

Herm. XIX vs. 2; Lobeck I 336. II 949; Zeller Zeitschr. wiss. Theol. XLII 1899, 237 = Kl. Schr. II 157; Diels II³ 163 n. 9; Stemplinger Plagiat in der griech. Lit. 63. 73.

The Orphic verses are composed in imitation of Heraclitus (according to Kern).

(Clement of Alexandria however has a contrary opinion Λόγος Στρώματα Κλήμεντος του Ἀλεξανδρέως VI 2, 27, 1 [II 443, 10 Staeh.]:

σιωπῶ δὲ Ἡράκλειτον τὸν Ἐφέσιον, ὃς παρ’ Ὀρφέως τὰ πλεῖστα εἴληφεν

“I keep silent of Irákleitos [Ἡράκλειτος] of Ǽphæsos [Ἔφεσος], who had received most [of his philosophy] from Orphéfs [Ὀρφεύς].”

Diels Herakleitos² 32 v. test. nr. 251); compare Onomacriti fragment I (supra p. 55 test. nr. 191).

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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