ORPHIC FRAGMENT 37

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: Fragment 37 states that according to the Orphic theogony, Time (Χρόνος) produced Eros and all the souls, differing from the Theogony of Hesiod.


37. (67) σχολιαστής επί Ἀπολλωνίου Ῥοδίου III 26 p. 451, 3 ex Apollodoro Περὶ θεῶν (Wendel Abhdl. Ges. d. Wiss. Goett. XVII 2, 1920, 63) Ἴβυκος (the poet; fr. 31 Bergk4)

. . . ὁ δὲ Ἡσίοδος1 (Θεογονία Ἡσιόδου 120) ἐκ Χάους λέγει τὸν Ἔρωτα. ἐν δὲ τοῖς εἰς Ὀρφέα Χρόνου·2

αὐτὰρ Ἔρωτα Χρόνος καὶ πνεύματα πάντ' ἐτέκνωσε.


“But Isíodos (Θεογονία Ἡσιόδου 120) reckons that Ǽrôs (Ἔρως) (arises) from Kháos, but for Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς) it is from Time (Χρόνος):

‘yet Time has produced Ǽrôs and all the souls.’ ” (trans. by the author)

1. Ἴβυκος δὲ καὶ Ἡ. Bergk.

2. Χρόνου et Χρόνος Zoëga, χρόνου et χρόνος L.

Herm. XXII; Lobeck I 482; Zoëga Abhdlgn. 229; Kroll Philol. LIII 1894, 561.

Orph. Argon. 13:

καί Χρόνον ὡς ἐλόχευσεν απειρεσίοισιν ὑπὸ κόλποις

Αἰθέρα καί διφυῆ περιωπέα κυδρὸν Ἔρωτα,

Νυκτός ἀειγνήτης πατέρα κλυτόν, (ὅν ῥα Φάνητα)

“and Time, who brought forth from his boundless wombs

Aithír (Αἰθήρ), and two-sexed wide-seeing, illustrious Ǽrôs (Ἔρως),

glorious father of eternal Nyx, (namely Phánîs [Φάνης])” (trans. by the author)

v. test. nr. 224 et infra c. 3 et 4 de Chrono. Ad πνεύματα cf. imprimis Εὔδημος apud Ἀπορίαι καὶ λύσεις περὶ τῶν πρώτων ἀρχῶν εἰς τὸν Πλάτωνος Παρμενίδην Δαμασκίου I 321 Rue. from Πεντέμυχος Φερεκύδου (Kern. fr. I; Diels II3 201 n. 8):

τὸν δὲ Χρόνον ποιῆσαι ἐκ τοῦ γόνου αὐτοῦ (scilicet Ζάντος Kern De Theogon. 85. 98; ἑαυτοῦ cod.) πῦρ καὶ πνεῦμα καὶ ὕδωρ,

“And Time, from his own seed, created fire and breath and water.” (trans. by the author)

Lead totenpass from Cuma(e) IG XIV 872, 4:

δαίμονες καὶ πνεύματα οἱ ἐν τῶι <τό>πῳ τοῦτῳ θηλυκῶν καὶ ἀρρενικ<ῶν>, ἐξορκίζω ὑμᾶς τὸ ἅγιον ὄνομ<α>,

“Daimons and winds in this region, feminine and masculine, I beseech you by the holy name.” (trans. by the author)

Pap. mag. Paris. Suppl. 574 IV saec. p. Chr. (Dieterich Mithrasliturgic 96. 116 ss., Leisegang Der Heilige Geist I 254).


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.

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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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