HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC FRAGMENT 73

ORPHIC FRAGMENT 73

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: Phanes, the son of Aether, is identical with Protogonus (the Firstborn) and Phaethon.

73. (57) Lactantius, Institutiones Divinae I, 5, 4-6 p. 13, 13 Brandt.:

Orpheus, qui est vetustissimus poetarum, et aequalis ipsorum deorum, siquidem traditur inter Argonautas cum Tyndaridis et Hercule navigasse, deum verum et magnum, πρωτόγονον, appellat, quod ante ipsum nihil sit genitum, sed ab ipso sint cuncta generata. eundem etiam Φάνητα nominat, quod cum adhuc nihil esset, primus ex infinito apparuerit et extiterit. cuius originem atque naturam quia concipere animo non poterat, ex aëre immenso natum esse dixit:

Πρωτόγονος Φαέθων περιμήκεος Αἰθέρος υἱός.

aliut enim amplius quod diceret non habebat.

“Orpheus, who is the most ancient of the poets, and coeval (contemporary) with the Gods themselves — since it is reported that he sailed among the Argonauts together with the sons of Tyndarus and Hercules, — speaks of the true and great God as the first-born, because nothing was produced before Him, but all things sprung from Him. He also calls Him Phanes because when as yet there was nothing, He first appeared and came forth from the infinite. And since he was unable to conceive in his mind the origin and nature of this Being, he said that He was born from the boundless air:”

“ ‘The first-born, Phaethon, son of the extended air;’ (trans. William Fletcher, 1886)

“ ‘First-born Phaǽthôn (Φαέθων), son of towering Aithír (Αἰθήρ);’ (trans. by the author)

“for he had nothing more to say.” (trans. William Fletcher, 1886)

Herm. 465 n. 2; Lobeck I 480; J. Th. Struve Fragm. Graec. apud Lactantius examin. in progr. gymn. Regimontani 1822 = Op. sel. I 1854, 124.

See περικαλλέος Αἰθέρος υιός (“son of very beautiful Aithír” trans. by the author) fr. 74.

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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