HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT

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

SUMMARY: This fragment discusses three rivers of the underworld and Oceanus.

123 (155) σχόλιον Ὀλυμπιοδώρου επὶ Φαίδωνος Πλάτωνος C III οςʹ p. 202, 12 Norv.:

ὅτι οἱ παραδιδόμενοι τέσσαρες ποταμοὶ κατὰ τὴν Ὀρφέως παράδοσιν τοῖς ὑπογείοις ἀναλογοῦσι τέσσαρσι στοιχείοις τε καὶ κέντροις κατὰ δύο ἀντιθέσεις, ὁ μὲν γὰρ Πυριφλεγέθων τῶι πυρὶ καὶ τῆι ἀνατολῆι, ὁ δὲ Κωκυτὸς τῆι γῆι καὶ τῆι δύσει, ὁ δὲ Ἀχέρων ἀέρι τε καὶ μεσημβρίαι. τούτους μὲν Ὀρφεύς οὕτω διέταξεν, αὐτὸς δὲ τὸν Ὠκεανὸν τῶι ὕδατι καὶ τῆι ἄρκτωι προσοικειοῖ.

“The four rivers that come down to us through the transmission of Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς) in the subterranean regions, are analogous to the four elements, and to the center according to two opposing fields, in fact the Pyriphlæyǽthôn (Πυριφλεγέθων) River is analogous to Fire in the East, the Kôkytós (Κωκυτός) to Earth in the West, and the Akhǽrôn (Ἀχέρων) to Air in the Southern regions. It was indeed Orphéfs who arranged them in this way, and he assigns (the river) Ôkæanós (Ὠκεανός) to Water and to the North.”

(trans. by the author)

Compare CIII λβʹ p. 192, 21 Norv. and the same in Μετεωρολογικά Ἀριστοτέλους II 2 p. 355 b 20 (141, 26 Stueve) and in the σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Τιμαίου Πλάτωνος 32 b (II 49, 9 ss. Diehl).

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