ORPHIC FRAGMENT 229
OTTO KERN
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SUMMARY: This fragment proclaims the possibility of the end of the circle of rebirths and freedom from misery.
229. σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος 42 c. d (III 297, 3 Diehl)
τὴν οὖν πρώτην ἕξιν κατὰ τὴν σχέσιν άφεῖσα τὴν πρὸς πᾶσαν τὴν γένεσιν καὶ τὸ ἄλογον τὸ ποιοῦν αὐτὴν γενεσιουργόν, λόγωι μὲν κρατοῦσα τὸ ἄλογον, νοῦν δὲ χορηγοῦσα τῆι δόξηι, πᾶσαν δὲ τὴν ψυχὴν εἰς τὴν εὐδαίμονα περιάγουσα ζωὴν ἀπὸ τῆς περὶ τὴν γένεσιν πλάνης, ἧς ϰαὶ οἱ παρ’ Ὀρφεῖ τῶι Διονύσωι ϰαὶ τῆι Κόρηι τελούμενοι τυχεῖν εὔχονται·
κύκλου τ’ ἂν λήξαι καὶ ἀναπνεύσαι κακότητος.
“Dismissing therefore, her (the soul) first habit which subsists according to an alliance to the whole of generation, and, laying aside the irrational nature which connects her with generation, likewise governing her irrational part by reason, and extending opinion to intellect, she will be circularly led to a happy life, from the wanderings about the regions of sense; which life those that are initiated by Orpheus in the Mysteries of Bacchus (Διόνυσος) and Proserpine (Κόρη), pray that they may obtain...”
(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1820)
‘the cessation of the circle (of births) and respite from misery.’
(trans. by the author)
These words precede the above: σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος III 296, 7:
μία σωτηρία τῆς ψυχῆς αὕτη παρὰ τοῦ δημιουργοῦ προτείνεται τοῦ κύκλου τῆς γενέσεως ἀπαλλάττουσα καὶ τῆς πολλῆς πλάνης καὶ τῆς ἀνηνύτου ζωῆς, ἡ πρὸς τὸ νοερὸν εἶδος τῆς ψυχῆς ἀναδρομὴ καὶ ἡ φυγὴ πάντων τῶν ἐκ τῆς γενέσεως ἡμῖν προσπεφυκότων.
“The one salvation of the soul herself, which is extended by the Demiurgus, and which liberates her from the circle of generation, from abundant wandering, and an inefficacious life, is her return to the intellectual form, and a flight from every thing which naturally adheres to us from generation.”
(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1820)
He has the Orphic verses this way: κύκλου τε λήξαι καὶ ἀναπνεῦσαι κακότητος in Rohde; and κύκλου τ’ αὖ λήξαι καὶ ἀναπνεῦσαι κακότητος in Gale (Lobeck).
Lobeck II 798. 800; Rohde Psyche II6 124 n. 1; 130 n. 3; N. Heidelb. Jahrb. VI 1895, 5 = Kl. Schr. II 298 (ad Maassii Orpheus 96).
The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.
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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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