ORPHIC FRAGMENT 231

OTTO KERN

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SUMMARY: According to this fragment, Orpheus taught that three hundred years was the perfect or complete period of time for the purification of human souls between lives.

231. σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Πολιτείας Πλάτωνος II 173, 12 Guilelmus Kroll:

καὶ μὲν Πλάτων διὰ τοιαύτας αἰτίας ἀποδίδωσι τὴν χιλιάδα ταῖς ὑπὸ τῶι Πλούτωνι ψυχαῖς, ὁ δὲ Ὀρφεὺς διὰ τριακοσίων αὐτὰς ἐτῶν ἀπὸ τῶν τόπων ἄγει τῶν ὑπὸ γῆς καὶ τῶν ἐκεῖ δικαιωτηρίων αὖθις εἰς γένεσιν, σύνθημα καὶ οὗτος ποιούμενος τὰς τρεῖς ἑκατοντάδας τῆς τελείας περιόδου τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων ψυχῶν καθαιρομένων, ἐφ’ οἷς ἐβίωσαν ἐπιστρεφόμεναι τὴν γένεσιν.

“And indeed, Plátôn (Πλάτων), for such reasons, renders a thousand years to the souls which have become subject to Ploutôn (Πλούτων), but Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς), after just three hundred years, carries (the souls) away from the underworld and prisons and brings them back again to generation, also making three hundred a symbol of the perfect period for the purification of human souls, for how they lived, turning around through generation.”

(trans. by the author)

Dieterich Nekyia 116 ss.

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.

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Pronunciation of Ancient Greek

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Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos

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