ORPHIC FRAGMENT 30
OTTO KERN
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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.
SUMMARY: This fragment states the Zeus is the Aether, and is both father and son; Rhea is both the mother of Zeus as well as his daughter.
30. Χρύσιππος ὁ Σολεύς quoted in Περί Ευσεβείας Φιλοδήμου τοῦ Γαδαρέως; Philodem Über Frömmigkeit Theodor Gomperz 80, 16 (Herman Diels Doxographi Graeci 547 b 16) = Stoicorum Veterum Fragmenta Hans von Arnim II 316 n. 1078:
ἐν δὲ τῶι δευτέρ<ωι> (sc. περὶ Θεῶν) τά τε εἰς Ὀρφέα κ<αὶ> Μουσαῖον ἀναφερ<όμ>ενα καὶ τὰ παρ’ <Ὁ>μήρωι καὶ Ἡσιόδω<ι> καὶ Εὐριπίδη<ι> καὶ ποιηταῖς ἄλλοις, <ὡς> καὶ Κλεάνθης (fr. 539 Arnim), <π>ειρᾶται σ<υ>νοικειοῦν ταῖς δόξαις αὐτῶν. ἅπαντα <τ’> ἐστὶν αἰθήρ (= Ζεύς), ὁ αὐ<τ>ὸς ὢν καὶ πατὴρ καὶ υἱός, <ὡς> κἀν τῶι πρώτω<ι> μὴ μάχεσθαι τὸ τὴν Ῥέ<α>ν καὶ μητέρα <τοῦ> Διὸς εἶται καὶ θ<υγα>τέρα. τὰς δ’ αὐτὰς πο<ι>εῖται σ<υ>νοικει<ώσε>ις κἀν τῶ<ι> περὶ <Χ>αρίτων <ἐν ὧι τ>ὸν Δία νόμον φησὶν εἰναι καὶ τὰς Χάριτας τὰς ἡµετέ<ρ>ας καταρχὰς κα<ὶ> τὰς ἀνταπ<ο>δόσεις τῶν εὐε<ργ>εσιῶ<ν>.
Reconstructed for clarity:
ἐν δὲ τῷ δευτέρῳ (sc. περὶ Θεῶν) τά τε εἰς Ὀρφέα καὶ Μουσαῖον ἀναφερόμενα καὶ τὰ παρ’ Ὁμήρῳ καὶ Ἡσιόδῳ καὶ Εὐριπίδῃ καὶ ποιηταῖς ἄλλοις, ὡς καὶ Κλεάνθης, πειρᾶται συνοικειοῦν ταῖς δόξαις αὐτῶν. ἅπαντα τ' ἐστὶν αἰθήρ (= Ζεύς), ὁ αὐτὸς ὢν καὶ πατὴρ καὶ υἱός, ὡς κἀν τῷ πρώτῳ μὴ μάχεσθαι τὸ τὴν Ῥέαν καὶ μητέρα τοῦ Διὸς εἶται καὶ θυγατέρα. τὰς δ’ αὐτὰς ποιεῖται συνοικειώσεις κἀν τῷ περὶ Χαρίτων ἐν ᾧ τὸν Δία νόμον φησὶν εἰναι καὶ τὰς Χάριτας τὰς ἡµετέρας καταρχὰς καὶ τὰς ἀνταποδόσεις τῶν εὐεργεσιῶν.
“And in the second book (sc. On the Gods), he attributed these things to both Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς) and Mousaios, along with Ómiros (Ὅμηρος), Isíodos (Ἡσίοδος), Evripídîs (Εὐριπίδης), and other poets, as also Klæánthîs (Κλεάνθης; fr. 539 Arnim) attempts to associate them together by their views. For all is Aithír (αἰθήρ = Ζεύς), who himself is both father and son, so that in the first (book), he does not dispute that Rǽa (Ῥέα) is enthroned as both the mother of Zefs (Ζεύς) and daughter. And he makes these correlations in what he says about the Kháritæs (Χάριτες), that they are Zefs and law, and that the Kháritæs are our bases and the rewards of good deeds.”
(trans. by the author)
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.
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