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Bibliotherapy

An Orphic Fragment – ‘To Zeus’

A representation of the god Zeus (Jupiter) from Nicomedia in Bithynia, now at the İstanbul Archaeological Museum.

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Another sharing from the Blue House of Via-HYGEIA, an Orphic fragment found in in Delisle de Sales’ ‘De la Philosophie Naturelle’, T. VI. Page 388. Quoted from Pseudo Aristotle’s ‘Letter to Alexander, on the system of the world’, chap 7. art. 1. Athanase Lynxe tells us that this fragment can also be found in Kern’s work: ’Orphicorum fragmenta’, page 91.

 

 

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Original Greek

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English translation

by Via-HYGEIA

‘Zeus is the first, Zeus is the last with his immaculate lightning.

‘Zeus is the head, Zeus is the middle, and from Zeus all is accomplished.

Zeus is the foundation of the earth and the starry heaven.

Zeus is male, Zeus is an immortal nymph.

Zeus is the breath of everything, Zeus is the surge of the tireless fire.

Zeus is the root of the sea, Zeus is the first-born of all.

Because, after having hidden them again in his joyful light,

He made them ascend in his sacred heart, producing concern.’

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French translation

from the original Greek

by Athanase Lynxe

‘Zeus est le premier, Zeus est le dernier avec sa foudre blanche.

Zeus est la tête, Zeus est le milieu, et de Zeus tout est accompli.

Zeus est le fondement de la terre et du ciel étoilé.

Zeus est mâle, Zeus est nymphe immortelle.

Zeus est le souffle de tout, Zeus est l’élan du feu infatigable.

Zeus est la racine de la mer, Zeus est le soleil et la lune.

Zeus est roi, Zeus est le prince premier-né de tous.

Car après les avoir tous recachés dans la lumière très joyeuse,

Il les fit monter de son cœur sacré, produisant des soucis.’

‘Zeus’. From ‘Prière sur l’Acropole’ by Ernest Renan ; color Illustrations by Serge de Solomko. Ferroud Brothers Publishing Co., Paris 1920.

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An Orphic Fragment – ‘To Zeus’

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