Good Works Translation from Ancient Greek

This page translates Kern fragments 185-186 from the Orphic Sacred Discourses in Twenty-Four Rhapsodies. The group continues the Athena sequence after Aphrodite and Eros: Proclus reads Athena's names as powers of prudence and completion, links her rhythmic dance to the Kourete order, and preserves Orphic notices of the first Kouretes crowned with olive and guided by Kourete divinity.

Translation

Kern Fr. 185 — Athena Leads the Kouretes

Proclus, commenting on Plato's Cratylus, says that Socrates hymns Athena's prudent power through the name Pallas, and her perfecting power through the name Athena. Through motion he shows forth the rhythmic dance. Athena gave a share of this dance first to the Kourete order, and secondarily to the other gods. For, according to this power, the goddess is leader of the Kouretes, as Orpheus says.

Kern Fr. 186 — The First Kouretes and the Olive Branch

Proclus says that the first Kouretes are dedicated to Athena's order in other ways as well, and are said to be crowned with the olive branch, as Orpheus says.

In another passage, Proclus says that Kourete divinity is present with them. In intellect it shines the undefiled upon them; in motion, the unbending; and to all of them it grants implacable power. By this power, while remaining themselves, they guide the wholes.

Colophon

This Good Works translation was made from Otto Kern's Orphicorum fragmenta (Berlin: Weidmann, 1922), frr. 185-186, in the section headed "Hieroi logoi en rhapsodiais ka'." Kern's numbering is retained.

The source witness translated here is Proclus as printed by Kern.

Source Text

Kern Fr. 185 — Proclus

Proclus, Commentary on Plato's Cratylus:

νῦν οὖν ὁ Σωκράτης τὴν μὲν φρονητικὴν διὰ τοῦ τῆς Παλλάδος ἀνυμνεῖ ὀνόματος, τὴν δὲ τελεσιουργὸν διὰ τοῦ τῆς Ἀθηνᾶς. τὴν οὖν ἔνρυθμον χορείαν διὰ τῆς κινήσεως ὑποφαίνει, ἧς καὶ μεταδέδωκεν πρωτίστη μὲν τῆι Κουρητικῆι τάξει, δευτέρως δὲ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις θεοῖς· ἔστι γὰρ ἡ θεὸς κατὰ ταύτην τὴν δύναμιν ἡγεμὼν τῶν Κουρήτων, ὡς φησιν Ὀ.

Kern Fr. 186 — Proclus

Proclus, Commentary on Plato's Republic:

καὶ γὰρ οἱ πρώτιστοι Κούρητες τά τε ἄλλα τῆι τάξει τῆς Ἀθηνᾶς ἀνεῖνται καὶ περιεστέφθαι λέγονται τῶι θαλλῶι τῆς ἐλαίας, ὡς φησιν Ὀ.

Proclus, Commentary on Plato's Timaeus:

ἢ καὶ ὅτι σύνεστιν αὐτοῖς Κουρητικὴ θεότης, τῆι μὲν νοήσει τὸ ἄκραντον ἐπιλάμπουσα, τῆι δὲ κινήσει τὸ ἀκαμπές, ἀμείλικτον δὲ ὅλοις αὐτοῖς χορηγοῦσα δύναμιν, δι᾽ ἣν ἑαυτῶν ὄντες τὰ ὅλα ποδηγετοῦσιν.