ORPHIC FRAGMENT 289

OTTO KERN

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SUMMARY: This fragment, from the Souda, makes a tiny reference to something Orpheus said in the Net.

289. (9) Σοῦδα (Adler # iota 578)·

ἵππος Νισαῖος· μεταξὺ τῆς Σουσιανῆς καὶ τῆς Βακτριανῆς τόπος ἐστὶ Καταστιγώνα, ὅπερ Ἑλλάδι γλώσσηι Νῖσος καλεῖται· ἐνταῦθα ἵπποι διάφοροι γίνονται. οἳ δὲ ἀπὸ Ἐρυθρᾶς θαλάσσης· εἶναι δὲ ξανθὰς πάσας. ὁ δὲ Ἡρόδοτος (III 106. VII 40) τῆς Μηδίας εἶναι τὸν τόπον Νίσαιον. ὁ δὲ Πολέμων (fr. 98 FHG III 147) κακῶς φησι λευκὸν ἵππον Νισαῖον· ἐν δὲ Δικτύωι Ὀρφεὺς λέγει, ὅτι ἡ Νίσα τόπος ἐστὶν ἐν Ἐρυθρᾶι κείμενος.

The Souda:

“The Nisaion* horse: A place between the territory of Sousa (Σοῦσα) and Vaktrianí (Bactria, Βακτριανὴ) is Katastigóhna (Catastigona, Καταστιγώνα), which in the Greek language is called Nísos (Νῖσος); remarkable horses are (found) there. But (they are) from the Red Sea: and they are all tawny. Iródotos (Ἡρόδοτος) says (Ἱστορίαι Ἡροδότου 3.106 and 7.40) that the Nisaion region is in Mîdía (Media, Μηδία). Polǽmôn (Πολέμων; fr. 98 FHG III 147) wrongly says the Nisaion horse is white; Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς) says in the Net (Δίκτυον), that Nísa (Νίσα, spelling?) is a place located on the Red Sea.”

*Translator’s Note: William Smith’s Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography refers to the Nisaei Campi or the Nisaean Plain in the mountain district of Media, “famous for the production of a celebrated breed of horses.”

Herm. LIV; Christian Lobeck Aglaophamus I 465; Bernhard Ludwig Giseke Das Verzeichnis der Werke des Orpheus bei Suidas. Rhein. Mus. VIII 1853 p. 117; Hermann Diels Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker II3 164 n. 1 a.

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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