HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC FRAGMENT 280

ORPHIC FRAGMENT 280

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 Hesiod’s Works and Days in which he quotes the first ten lines of the Works of Orpheus.

280. (11) ἐξήγησις τοῦ Ἰωάννου Τζέτζου εἰς τὰ Ἔργα καὶ τὰς Ἡμέρας τοῦ Ἡσιόδου· προοίμιον 17 Compare to the first quotation of the preface to III. Γεωργία:

εἰ δὲ γεωπονίης σε φιλομβρότου ἵμερος αἱρεῖ

καί τ’ ἐπὶ χρυσείης γενεῆς ἐντύνεαι ἔργα,

γαῖαν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄγων εὐκαμπὲς ἄροτρον,

ἢ γυροῖς ἔνι κλῆμα Μεθυμναίου λελίησαι

κατθέμεναι, καὶ λαρὸν ὀπώρης^[1] εἶδαρ ἑλέσθαι 5

|^{21 Gaisf.} ἱμείρεις σκαπάνηι τε λαχήμεναι ἄμβροτον αἶαν·

αὐτίκα δή τοι πᾶσαν ἐτητυμίην καταλέξω,

ὅππως ἄν πανδῖα Σεληναίη πεπίθοιτο,

ὄμπνιά σοι Δήμητρος ἀερσινόοιο τε Βάκχου

δῶρ’ ἀναπεμπέμεναι καὶ ἐπηετανὸν ὄλβον ὀπάζειν.

καὶ τῶν μὲν Ἔργων Ὀρφέως οὕτως ἐστὶν ἡ ἀρχή.

“ ‘If the desire for farming, beloved by mortals, overtakes you,

and you equip yourself for the tilled lands of the golden treasures of family,

advancing the curved plow upon the fruitful earth,

or if you desire to plant a vine-cutting of the Wine-God (Μεθυμναῖος) in the trenches,

and to obtain for yourself the delicious food of autumn^[1],

|^{21 Gaisf.} and if wish to dig the divine earth with a spade,

I will now tell you the whole truth,

in order that the all-divine Moonlight is persuaded^[2],

the bountiful fruit of Dîmítîr (Δημήτηρ) and of mind-soaring Vákkhos (Βάκχος) are for you,

sending up gifts and granting abundant happiness.’

“And thus is the beginning of the Works of Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς).”

(trans. by the author)

Translator’s Notes:

[1] See LSJ for subtleties of ὀπώρα.

[2] Very confusing: “all-divine” (πανδῖα) is nominative plural, but “Moonlight” (Σεληναίη) is nom. singular and is actually an adjective, but I have seen Σεληναίη translated as a substantive. The verb (πεπίθοιτο) is 3^rd person singular optative middle aorist.

Christian Lobeck Aglaophamus I 414; Josef Heeg Die Angeblichen Orphischen Ἔργα καὶ Ἡμέραι p. 46.

For the beginning, εἰ δὲ γεωπονίης, compare to the beginning of the poem Περὶ σεισμῶν (Orphic fragment 285) φράζεο δὴ καὶ τόνδε λόγον, τέκος “Consider also this account, my child.” Josef Heeg Die Angeblichen Orphischen Ἔργα καὶ Ἡμέραι p. 49. 68. Περί Καταρχών τοῦ Μαξίμου τοῦ Ἐφεσίου 456-465 clearly uses the same verses (see Arthur Ludwich Maximi et Ammonis p. 36), which he seems to have borrowed from Orpheus’ poem (compare to fragments 281-284 and Josef Heeg 51. Vs. 6 is observed quoted in Maximus vs. 461 λαχαινέμεν and vs. 7 Maximus 462 τοι καὶ as δή τοι in Tzetzes.

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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