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

SUMMARY: This fragment consists of four Orphic phrases, all about the soul of man, which is immortal and comes from Zeus.

228. Vettius Valens, Ἀνθολογία Liber IX 1 p. 330, 23 Kr. (v. also Catalog. cod. astrolog. Graec. V 2, 49):

καθὼς καὶ ὁ θειότατος Ὀρφεὺς λέγει·

a ψυχὴ δ’ ἀνθρώποισιν ἀν’ αἰθέρος ἐρρίζωται.

καὶ ἄλλως·

b ἀέρα δ’ ἕλκοντες ψυχὴν θείαν δρεπόµεσθα.

ἄλλως·

c ψυχὴ δ’ ἀθάνατος καὶ ἀγήρως ἐκ Διός ἐστιν.

ἄλλως·

d ψυχὴ δ’ ἀθάνατος πάντων, τὰ δὲ σώµατα θνητά.

“Just as also the divine Orphéfs says:

a ‘The soul is firmly fixed in men through the aithír (αἰθήρ).’

“and another:

b ‘And as we breathe in the air we reap the divine soul.’

“another:

c ‘And the soul is immortal and unaging, and is from Zefs (Ζεύς).’

“another:

d ‘Of all things the soul is immortal, but the bodies are subject to death.’ ”

(trans. by the author)

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.

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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