ORPHIC FRAGMENT 261

OTTO KERN

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


SUMMARY: This fragment is from Tzetzes’ commentary on the Iliad in which he quotes from the Dodekaeteris.

261. (22) ἐξήγησις ἐπὶ Ἰλιὰς Ὁμήρου τοῦ Ἰωάννου Τζέτζου 127, 4 Herm.:

ὁ παλαιὸς γὰρ Ὀρφεύς, ἀφ’ οὗπερ ὁ ἐμὸς χρυσοῦς Ὅμηρος ὡς ἀνθεμουργὸς μέλισσα πολλὰ (Abel; Ὅμηρος πολλὰ ἀνθεμουργὸν μέλισσαν Herm.) ἄνθη ἐπῶν ἀπεδρέψατο, ἐν ταῖς ἑαυτοῦ Δωδεκαετηρίσιν οὐ νήδυμόν φησιν, ἀλλὰ ἥδυμον (Ὀδύσσεια Ὁμήρου ν 79 ἥδυμος ὕπνος) λέγων οὑτωσί·

ὧδε γὰρ ἂν µίµνοι καθαρός τε <καὶ> ἔµπεδος οἶνος

ἥδυµος εὐώδης τε· καλὸν δ᾽ ἔτος ἐστὶ φυτείηι.

“For the ancient Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς), from whom my golden Ómiros (Ὅμηρος), as the bee working in flowers, plucked many flowers of poetry, in his Dôdækaætîrís (Δωδεκαετηρίς) does not say nídymon (νήδυμον “sweet”), but ídymon (ἥδυμον also “sweet,” but a slightly different word; Ὀδύσσεια Ὁμήρου ν 79 ἥδυμος ὕπνος “sweet sleep”), saying in this way:

‘For, thus, the wine would remain pure and steadfast,

sweet and fragrant; and it is a good year to plant.’ ”

(trans. by the author)

Herm. 512 n. 34; Christian Lobeck Aglaophamus I 424; Franz Boll Sphaera 330 n. 1; Josef Heeg 21. 29 fr. 10.


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.