ORPHIC FRAGMENT 80
OTTO KERN
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SUMMARY: In the Orphic verses, there are the names Phanes, and also Ericepaeus, who swallowed all the Gods, but it was different than when Cronus swallowed his sons.
80. Pseudo-Nonnos Abbas, ad Gregorii Orationem in Iulianum I 141 n. 78 (Migne 36, 1028) ~ Suid. s. Φάνης:
Περὶ Φάνητος καὶ Ἠρικεπαίου.
ἐν τοῖς Ὀρφικοῖς ποιήμασιν εἰσηνέχθη τὰ δύο ταῦτα ὀνόματα μετὰ καὶ ἄλλων πολλῶν· ὧν τὸν μὲν Φάνητα εἰσφέρει αἰδοῖον ἔχοντα ὀπίσω περὶ τὴν πυγήν. λέγουσι δὲ αὐτὸν ἔφορον εἶναι τῆς ζωιογόνου δυνάμεως· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἠρικαπαῖον λέγουσιν ἑτέρας ἔφορον εἶναι δυνάμεως. περὶ δὲ τοῦ ὁ πάντας καταπίνων θεούς (Or. XXXI 16; Kern De Theogon. 44), οὐ λέγει περὶ τοῦ Ἠρικεπαίου, αλλὰ περὶ τοῦ Κρόνου. λέγεται γὰρ οὗτος, οὓς ἔτεκεν υἱούς, πάλιν καταπιεῖν, καὶ ἐμέσαι οὓς ἤδη κατέπιε. λέγεται λίθον καταπιεῖν ἀντὶ τοῦ Διὸς καὶ τοῦ λίθου κατελθόντος ἐμέσαι πάντας.
“On Phánîs (Φάνης) and Irikæpaios (Ἠρικεπαῖος)
In the Orphic verses, this pair of names was brought forward along, also, with many others. Indeed, of these he introduces Phánîs as “he who bears the genitals (αἰδοῖον) behind, near the buttocks (πυγή).” They say that this one is the guardian of the generative power. In a similar way also, they say that Irikæpaios is the ruler of another strength. But concerning his swallowing all the Gods (Or. XXXI 16; Kern De Theogon. 44), he does not say about Irikæpaios what is said of Krónos (Κρόνος). For he says that Krónos brought sons into the world, swallowed them back, and vomited the ones he swallowed. He is said to have swallowed down a stone instead of Zefs (Ζεύς), and from swallowing down the stone to have vomited all of them up again.” (trans. by the author)
Lobeck I 491; Zoëga Abhdlg. 264; Beth Wien. Stud. XXXIV 1912, 288 n. 1.
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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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