HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC FRAGMENT 289

ORPHIC FRAGMENT 289

OTTO KERN

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

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.

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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