ORPHIC FRAGMENT 70

OTTO KERN

HellenicGods.org

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT

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

SUMMARY: Orphic fragment 70 states that Time begot an Egg in the Aether.

70. (53) ἀπορίαι καὶ λύσεις περὶ τῶν πρώτων ἀρχῶν Δαμασκίου 55 (I 111, 17 Rue):

καὶ γὰρ Ὀρφεύς·

ἔπειτα δ' ἔτευξε μέγας Χρόνος ¹ Αἰθέρι δίωι ὠεὸν ἀργύφεον.

| ^{112 Rue.} τὸ γὰρ ἕτευξε δηλοῖ τι τεχνητόν, ἀλλ' οὐ γέννημα· τὸ δὲ τεχνητόν, ἀλλ' οὐ γέννημα,² πάμμικτόν ἐστιν ἐκ δυεῖν τοὐλάχιστον, ὕλης καὶ εἴδους. ἢ τῶν τούτοις ἀναλογούντων.

“Indeed also Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς) (says):

‘And thereupon mighty Khrónos (Time) wrought (ἕτευξε) a silvery egg in the heavenly Aithír.’

“For this word “wrought” (ἕτευξε) reveals that it is a product of craft, not the offspring of another, and (that it is) artificial, not a creation; it is mixed from two (factors) at the least, earth and form, or that which is analogous to these.”

(trans. by the author)

1. Κρόνος M; corr. Zoëga et Lob. 2. ἄλλου γέννημα E, ἄλλου γέννα M.

ὠεὸν (ὦ ἐὸν codd.) ἀργύφεον (“silvery egg”) of Orpheus he commends also in σχόλιον Σιμπλικίου επὶ περὶ Φυσικὴς τοῦ Ἀριστοτέλους 1 3 p. 187 a 1 (I 147, 1 Diels); v. σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος I 30 c. d (1 428, 8 Diehl):

ταὐτὸν τό τε Πλάτωνος ὂν καὶ τὸ Ὀρφικὸν ὠιόν.

“the “being” of Plato and the Orphic egg (are identical).” (trans. by the author)

Ἀχιλλέως Τατίου Εἰσαγωγὴ εἰς τὰ Ἀράτου φαινόμενα 4 p. 33, 17 Maaβ (Diels II³ 172 n. 12 v. de fonte [an Posidonius?] R. Reeh De Varrone et Suetonio quaestion. Ausonianae Diss. Hal. 1916, 40):

τὴν δὲ τάξιν, ἣν δεδώκαμεν τῷ σφαιρώματι, οἱ Ὀρφικοὶ λέγουσι παραπλησίαν εἶναι τῇ ἐν (Maaβ] τὴν ἐν V; om. M) τοῖς ὠιοῖς· ὃν γὰρ ἔχει λόγον τὸ λέπυρον ἐν τῷ ὠιῶι, τοῦτον [ἔχειν add. M] ἐν τῷ παντὶ ὁ οὐρανός (τὸν οὐρανὸν VM: em. Maaβ), καὶ ὡς ἐξήρτηται (ἐξερύηται V) τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κυκλοτερῶς ὁ (om. V) αἰθήρ, οὕτω τοῦ λεπύρου ὁ ὑμήν.

“And the form we have given to the sphere, the Orphics say resembles eggs; for it possesses an analog to the shell of the egg, this in reference to all the sky, and thus the aithír (αἰθήρ) is attached to the sky circling around it, (thereby), likewise, the membrane (is attached) to the shell.” (trans. by the author)

ibidem 6 p. 37, 8:

σχῆμα δὲ κόσμου οἳ μὲν κωνοειδές [εἶπον add. M], οἳ δὲ σφαιροειδές, οἳ δὲ ᾠοειδές, ἧς δόξης ἔχονται οἱ τὰ Ὀρφικὰ μυστήρια τελοῦντες. σαφηνείας δὲ ἕνεκα πιθανῆς παρελήφθη τοῦ ᾠοῦ ἡ (om. V) εἰκών.

“And indeed, some say the shape of the universe (κόσμος) is conical, and some spherical, and others egg-shaped, completing the opinion they hold in the Orphic Mysteries. And for the sake of plausible clarity, (the shape) was ascertained to be of the egg.” (trans. by the author)

Zoëga Abhdlgn. 229; Lob. I 474; Kern De Theogen. 10; Gruppe Suppl. 726 n.; Holwerda 304.

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.

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

PHOTO COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The many pages of this website incorporate images, some created by the author, but many obtained from outside sources. To find out more information about these images and why this website can use them, visit this link: Photo Copyright Information

DISCLAIMER: The inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) with the views of HellenicGods.org by the external sources from which they were obtained.

Further, the inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) by HellenicGods.org of the contents or views of any external sources from which they were obtained.

For more information: Inquire.hellenicgods@gmail.com

For answers to many questions: Hellenismos FAQ

© 2010 by HellenicGods.org. All Rights Reserved.

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT