HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC FRAGMENT 290

ORPHIC FRAGMENT 290

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This fragment is from the Corinthian Oration of Favorinus (or Dio Chrysostom) which quotes an inscription of Orpheus said to have been carved into the Argo by Jason.

290. (10) [Favorinus] Corinthian Oration; among the orations of Dio Chrysostom XXXVII 15 (II 20, 14 Arn.):

ἐγένετο δὲ καὶ νεῶν ἅμιλλα, καὶ Ἀργὼ ἐνίκα, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα οὐκ ἔπλευσεν, ἀλλ᾿ αὐτὴν ἀνέθηκεν ὁ Ἰάσων ἐνταῦθα (sc. ἐν Κορίνθωι) τῶι Ποσειδῶνι, καὶ τὸ ἐπίγραμμα ἐπέγραψεν, ὃ λέγουσιν Ὀρφέως (ὀρφέος M) εἶναι·

«Ἀργὼ τὸ σκάφος εἰμί, θεῶι δ' ἀνέθηκεν Ἰάσων,

Ἴσθμια καλλικόμοις στεψάμενον πίτυσιν.»

“And there was also a boatrace, in which Argo was the winner, and after that she sailed no more, but Jason dedicated her there to Poseidon, and he carved on her a couplet, which men say is the work of Orpheus:

‘I am the good ship Argo, to God by Jason devoted,

Victor in Isthmian Games, crownèd with Nemean pine.’ ”

(trans. H. Lamar Crosby, 1946)

Herm. XV; Christian Lobeck Aglaophamus I p. 366; Theodor Bergk Poetae lyrici graeci (PLG) II⁴ p. 357; Edward Cougny Epigrammatum anthologia Palatina III 1 n. 1; Theodor Preger Inscriptiones Graecae Metricae 57 n. 69, which attributes the inscription to approximately the 1^st century. Another inscription having been fabricated about a most celebrated ship was exposed in the Friburg (Freiburg?) Papyrus 10c W. Aly Sitzungsberichte der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften 1914, 2 p. 58 n. 4 II.

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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