HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC FRAGMENT 287

ORPHIC FRAGMENT 287

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This fragment consists of five verses on astronomy attributed to Orpheus.

287. In Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1056; Franz Boll Sphaera: Neue griechische Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der Sternbilder 34, Josef Heeg in Catalogus Codicum Astrologorum V 3 p. 43 f. 155^v-156^v (παρεξεβλήθησαν κεφάλαια διάφορα σοφῶν πολλῶν ἀπὸ διαφόρων βιβλίων ἀποδεικνύοντα τὸ εἶναι καλὴν καὶ μὴ ἐναντίαν τὴν σύνοδον τοῦ Διὸς [Ἄρεως, Josef Heeg in Diss.] καὶ τοῦ Κρόνου “Chief differing points were rejected from many different learned books, showing that the conjunction of Jupiter [Mars, Josef Heeg in his dissertation] and Saturn is favorable and not the opposite.”).

Verses published by Josef Heeg in Die Angeblichen Orphischen Ἔργα καὶ Ἡμέραι (Inaugural Dissertation) p. 59 entitled τοῦ Ὀρφέως:

εἰς δὲ Κρόνου Πυρόεις τόπον αἴσιός ἐστιν ἀμείβων.

ἔνθα γὰρ ἠμαύρωσε Κρόνου θυμαλγέα πάντα.

καὶ κακὸς εἰς ἀγαθὸν τρέπεται‧ πάσας γὰρ ἀνίας

καὶ νούσους κατέπαυσεν‧ ἄγει δ’ ὄλβον τε δόμοισι

νίκην τ’ εὐφροσύνην τε φέρει <καὶ> κῦδος ἀνέξει.

“When Mars (Πυρόεις) passes into the region of Saturn, it is auspicious.

For there it weakens all the distressing influence of Saturn.

And bad is turned into good: for all sorrows

and diseases are laid to rest: it brings happiness into homes;

it brings victory and merriment and will raise up glory.”

(trans. by the author)

This paraphrase follows in the dissertation on p. 59:

νοοῦνται δὲ ταῦτα οὕτως. ὁ Ἄρης ἀγαθὸς εἰς Κρόνον ἐρχόμενος· πάντα γὰρ τὰ ὑπὸ Κρόνου λυπρὰ ἐξήλειψε· καὶ τὰς νόσους ἔπαυσε, πλοῦτον δὲ καὶ νίκην εὐφροσύνην τε καὶ δόξαν αὔξει.

“These verses are meant in this way: Mars going into the path of Saturn is good; for all the painful things under Saturn are wiped out; and it brings an end to diseases, and it also increases wealth, merriment, and glory.”

(trans. by the author)

Compare to Orphic fragment 286 p. 289.

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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