HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC FRAGMENT 87

ORPHIC FRAGMENT 87

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This is the Orphic hymn to Protogonus in which he is called egg-born, Phanes, Priapus, Antauges, and various epithets.

87. ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 6. Πρωτογόνου ^[1]

θυμίαμα, σμύρναν.

Πρωτογόνον καλέω διφυῆ, μέγαν, αἰθερόπλαγκτον,

ὠιογενῆ ^[2], χρυσέαισιν ^[3] ἀγαλλόμενον πτερύγεσσιν,

ταυροβόαν ^[4], γένεσιν μακάρων θνητῶν τ’ ἀνθρώπων,

ὅς τε πολύμνηστον, πολυόργιον εὕρηκε παιᾶν ^[5]

ἄρρητον, κρύφιον. ῥοιζήτορα, παμφαὲς ἔρνος· 5

ὄσσων ὃς σκοτόεσσαν ἀπημαύρωσας ὁμίχλην,

πάντῃ δινηθεὶς πτερύγων ῥιπαῖς κατὰ κόσμον·

λαμπρὸν ἄγων φάος ἁγνόν, ἀφ’ οὗ σε Φάνητα κικλήσκω,

ἠδὲ Πρίηπον ἄνακτα καὶ Ἀνταύγην ἑλίκωπον.

ἀλλά, μάκαρ, πολύμητι, πολυσπόρε, βαῖνε γεγηθὼς 10

ἐς τελετὴν ἁγίαν ^[6] πολυποίκιλον ὀργιοφάνταις.

6. Prôtogónos (Πρωτογόνος) ^[1]

Incense, Myrrh.

“I call two-natured, mighty, aithír-roaming Protogónos,

egg-born, taking delight in your golden wings,

with the bellow of a bull, origin of happy Gods and mortal men,

who devised the much-remembered paián celebrated with many holy rites.

unutterable, cryptic. Whirling, radiant scion; 5

you dispersed the dark mist which was before your eyes,

in every way you were roaming about in the world with the flapping of your wings,

bringing a pure, radiant light; as a result of which, I call you Phánîs (Φάνης),

and Lord Príapos (Πρίαπος) and lovely-eyed Antávyîs (Ἀνταύγης).

But, happy one, cunning and fertile; come, rejoicing,

to the sacred rite overflowing with priests of the Mysteries.”

(trans. by the author)

NOTES:

[1] This Greek text is slightly different from other versions.

[2] ὠογενῆ in other versions of the text.

[3] χρυσέησιν in other versions of the text.

[4] ταυρωπόν in other versions of the text.

[5] In other versions of the text, there is a mostly different line:

σπέρμα πολύμνηστον, πολυόργιον, Ἠρικεπαῖον,

“much-remembering seed, honored with many rituals, Irikæpaios” (trans. by the author)

[6] ἁγίην in other versions of the text.

Compare in Herm. XXIV 1889, 501, where from the Rhapsodies Kern has compiled passages that assert the same.

For verse 1 compare ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 52.6 Τριετηρικοῦ:

πρωτόγον', ἠρικεπαῖε, θεῶν πάτερ ἠδὲ καὶ υἱέ

“Protogónos, Irikapaios, father and son of Gods.”

(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.

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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