Good Works Translation from Ancient Greek and Latin

This page translates Kern fragments 249-270 from the Astrologica section of Otto Kern's Orphicorum fragmenta. These fragments belong to the Dodecaeterides, the Orphic twelve-year cycle. The witnesses are Tzetzes, Censorinus, Plutarch, a Greek dodecaeteris text edited from astrological manuscripts, a scholion on Lycophron, and related farming excerpts.

Translation

Kern Fr. 249 — The Opening of the Dodecaeterides

Tzetzes says that the beginning of the Dodecaeterides was this:

Come now.
Spread open for me
your ears
and clean hearing.

Hear the whole order,
as much as Daimon
marked out
from one night
and likewise
from one day.

Kern Fr. 250 — The Chaldaean Cycle and the Great Year

Censorinus says:

For this reason, in Greece, many sacred rites are celebrated with the highest solemnity at this interval of time. At Delphi too the games called the Pythia were once completed after the eighth year.

Next after this magnitude is the one called the dodecaeteris, made from twelve turning years. This has the name "Chaldaean year." Astrologers adapt it not to the courses of the sun and moon, but to other observations, because they say that within it storms, fertility and barrenness of crops, diseases, and healthy seasons go round in a cycle.

Censorinus then speaks of another year, which Aristotle calls "greatest" rather than merely "great": the year completed by the orbits of the sun, moon, and the five wandering stars, when they are brought back together to the same sign where they once were. The winter of that year is the great flood, which the Romans call diluvio, and its summer is ekpyrosis, the burning of the world. At alternate times the world seems now to catch fire, now to turn into water.

Among the reckoners of this year, Censorinus says, Orpheus gave it as one hundred and twenty turning years.

Plutarch says that Cleombrotus had heard many people and had seen the Stoic conflagration, like the verses of Heraclitus and Orpheus, being dragged in and joined to Hesiod.

Kern Fr. 251 — Zeus in Aries

When Zeus goes around in Aries, the year he rules is warlike from the beginning, yet very all-bearing, bringing every sort of food. Human beings will fall, but four-footed animals will thrive everywhere.

Kern Fr. 252 — Zeus in Taurus

When Zeus goes around in Taurus, the year is burdened from the beginning. Late crops will then bear fruit more strongly.

Kern Fr. 253 — Zeus in Gemini

When Zeus goes around in Gemini, grain alone will grow. A dry season will burn up the seeds. The vine and fig tree will increase in fruit.

Kern Fr. 254 — Zeus in Cancer

When Zeus goes around in Cancer, four-footed animals will not thrive. A five-month winter will hold its length. There will be falls and plague, and a multitude of four-footed animals will perish. Cancer consumes the year of Gemini.

Kern Fr. 255 — Zeus in Leo

When Zeus goes around in Leo, the year was marked from the beginning as all-bearing. It will grow rich in wine and in every olive crop. Yet there will be an uprising of wild beasts. It is a season of four-footed animals; for mortals there are months of strife. The olive fruit will be pressed for oil; so the year bears fruit, and the vine pours out its wine.

Kern Fr. 256 — Zeus in Virgo

When Zeus goes around in Virgo, her year is productive of plague, and especially of cattle distress. It brings tightness and distress among human beings. It takes fodder from the four-footed animals. Thunderbolt-bearing clouds will burn up the seeds, and falls of human beings will come in common, three against two.

Kern Fr. 257 — The Sixth Year

Tzetzes says that Homer was more a pupil of Orpheus than of Pronapides, since he found some of Orpheus' verses and either channeled them whole into his own poetry, tore others away by halves, paraphrased others, or changed them in other ways. He gives this Orphic line:

The sixth year:
no one marked it out,
nor did anyone
bind it fast.

Kern Fr. 258 — Zeus in Libra

When Zeus goes around in Libra, there will be a raising-up of cattle. Four-footed animals will thrive, and for mortals on earth there will be cut, all-bearing fodder.

Kern Fr. 259 — Zeus in Scorpio

When Zeus goes around in Scorpio, grain and olive oil come to be. All other things will not thrive. Lambs will bear. To the unfruitful, give food.

Kern Fr. 260 — Zeus in Sagittarius

When Zeus goes around in Sagittarius, the year is warlike from the beginning. In days of harvest all chariots will fall, and plague will subdue the abundance of fruit.

Kern Fr. 261 — The Good Planting Year

Tzetzes says that the old Orpheus, in his own Dodecaeterides, did not say "sweet-sleeping" but "sweet," speaking this way:

Thus the clean earth would remain firm,
and the wine,
sweet and fragrant.

The year is good
for planting.

Kern Fr. 262 — Zeus in Capricorn

When Zeus goes around in Capricorn, the earth will bring wine like water, and the first-born things of the earth will then bear fruit. Never mix unripe fruit into the earth. Thunderbolt-bearing mist will wither all things, and the cold of hoarfrost will destroy the fruits.

Kern Fr. 263 — Zeus in Aquarius

Tzetzes says that Orpheus commands everything mathematically, as in this example:

When Zeus goes around in Aquarius,
do not sail.

For then the sea
is very harsh.

Kern Fr. 264 — The Scorching Year

That year will cast down with scorching heat. The season will be dry, and it will wither all the seeds. A great plague will come upon everything.

Kern Fr. 265 — Zeus in Pisces

In the year when Pisces rule, they will fill all things very well.

Kern Fr. 266 — Marriage Under Pisces

In the same year, when Zeus is in Pisces, it is good to make marriages.

Kern Fr. 267 — Lord, Tyrant, or King

A scholion on Lycophron says that koiranos means dictator, tyrannos means a sole-ruling monarch, and basileus is one who rules lawfully and justly. It says that Orpheus shows their difference in the Dodecaeterides:

There will be some man,
whether lord,
or tyrant,
or king,

who at that time
will go
to steep heaven.

Kern Fr. 268 — Demeter Separating Fruit and Chaff

Tzetzes says Homer drew the following from Orpheus:

To winnow wheat
and ears of grain
on the threshing-floors,

as men are winnowing,
when fair Demeter,
with rushing winds,
separates fruit
from chaff.

Kern Fr. 269 — Bees

Tzetzes also quotes this:

Work the hives
of close-thronging bees.

Kern Fr. 270 — Winter From Heaven

Tzetzes says these verses were altered from Orpheus:

Many things from heaven,
and many fitted things
out of the clouds,

then rush upon oaks
and other trees,
upon mountains
and cliffs,
and upon land-working men:

things hardened by frost,
things that will be
without change.

For in this way
they wear down
the beasts
in the mountains,
and no man
can come forth
from his halls,
his limbs overcome
by wretched cold.

Beneath the frost,
the earth groans.

Colophon

This Good Works translation was made from Otto Kern's Orphicorum fragmenta (Berlin: Weidmann, 1922), frr. 249-270, in the Astrologica section headed "Dodecaeterides." Kern's numbering is retained.

The source witnesses translated here are Tzetzes, Chiliades and commentaries; Censorinus, On the Birthday; Plutarch, On the Failure of Oracles; the Greek Dodecaeteris printed by Boll from Vatican, Munich, and Modena astrological manuscripts; a scholion on Lycophron; and related Orphic farming lines as printed by Kern.

Source Text

Kern Frr. 249-270 — Dodecaeterides

Kern fr. 249:

δεῦρο νῦν οὔατά μοι καθαρὰς ἀκοάς τε πετάσσας
κέκλυθι τάξιν ἅπασαν, ὅσην τεκμήρατο Δαίμων
ἐκ τε μιῆς νυκτὸς ἠδ' ἐξ ἑνὸς ἤματος αὕτως.

Kern fr. 250, Censorinus:

huic anno Chaldaico nomen est, quem genethliaci non ad solis lunaeque cursus sed ad observationes alias habent accommodatum, quod in eo dicunt tempestates, frugumque proventus ac sterilitates, item morbos salubritatesque circumire.

Hunc Aristarchus putavit esse annorum vertentium IICCCCLXXXIIII, Aretes Dyrrhachinus VDII, Heraclitus et Linus XDCCC, Bion X̄DCCCLXXXIIII, Orfeus CXX, Cassandrus tricies sexies centum milium.

Kern fr. 251:

Διὸς Κριὸν περιπολεύοντος τὸ ἔτος ὅπερ αὐτὸς κυριεύσει ὑπάρχει πολεμικὸν ἀπ' ἀρχῆς, πάμφορον πάνυ, παντοίας τροφὰς ἐπιφέρον· πτώσεις δὲ ἀνθρώπων καὶ τετράποδα θάλψουσι πάντα.

Kern fr. 252:

Διὸς Ταῦρον περιπολεύοντος τὸ ἔτος ὅπερ αὐτὸς κυριεύσει κατομβρήριμόν ἐστιν ἀπ' ἀρχῆς καὶ τὰ ὄψιμα τότε μᾶλλον οἴσουσι καρπόν.

Kern fr. 253:

Διὸς Διδύμους περιπολεύοντος τὸ ἔτος ὅπερ αὐτὸ ἔχει τὴν κυριότητα μόνος σῖτος γενήται· αὐχμηρὸς δὲ καιρὸς καὶ τὰ σπέρματα κατακαύσει· ἄμπελος καὶ συκῆ αὐξήσεται καρπῶν.

Kern fr. 254:

Διὸς Καρκίνον περιπολεύοντος τὸ ἔτος αὐτοῦ τετράποδα οὔποτε θάλψουσι· πενταμηνιαῖος ὁ χειμὼν κρατήσει τὸ μῆκος· πτώσεις δὲ καὶ λοιμός, τετραπόδων πλῆθος ὀλεῖται· καὶ τὸ τῶν Διδύμων ἔτος Καρκίνος καταπίνει.

Kern fr. 255:

Διὸς Λέοντα περιπολεύοντος τὸ ἔτος αὐτοῦ ὅπερ κυριεύσει ὡρίσθη ἀπ' ἀρχῆς πάμφορον· πλουτήσει ἐν οἴνῳ καὶ ἐλαίῳ παντί, ἀλλὰ τῶν θηρίων τότε ἐπάνοδος ἔσται· ὥρα τετραπόδων· βροτοῖς δὲ μῆνες ἐρίδων· ἐλαίας ὁ καρπὸς ἀλεῖται· οὕτω καρποφορεῖ, καὶ ἄμπελος ἐκχελύσει τὸν οἶνον.

Kern fr. 256:

Διὸς Παρθένον περιπολεύοντος τὸ αὐτῆς ἔτος λοιμοῦ ὑπάρχει ποιητικόν, βοῶν δὲ μάλιστα, ἀνθρώπων στενώσεις· τετραπόδων βρώματα λήψεται· καὶ κεραυνοβόλοι νεφέλαι τὰ σπέρματα κατακαύσουσι· πτώσεις δὲ ἀνθρώπων ἐπικοίνως τρεῖς ἐπὶ δύο.

Kern fr. 257:

ἕκτον ἔτος· τὸ μὲν οὔτις ἐπέφρασεν οὐδ' ἐνέδησεν.

Kern fr. 258:

Διὸς Ζυγὸν περιπολεύοντος τὸ ἔτος ὅπερ αὐτὸς κυριεύσει βοῶν τότε ἀνάστασις ἔσται· τετράποδα θάλψουσι· βροτοῖς ἐπὶ γῆς κομμέντα πάμφορα.

Kern fr. 259:

Διὸς Σκορπίῳ περιπολεύοντος τὸ ἔτος ὅπερ αὐτὸς κυριεύσει σῖτος καὶ ἔλαιον γίνεται· τὰ δ' ἄλλα πάντα οὔποτε θάλψουσι· ἄρνες καρποφορήσουσι· τοῖς ἀκάρποις βρώματα δοῦναι.

Kern fr. 260:

Διὸς Τοξότην περιπολεύοντος τὸ ἔτος ὅπερ αὐτὸς κυριεύσει πολεμικόν ἐστιν ἀπ' ἀρχῆς· καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις θερισμοῦ τὰ ἅρματα πάντα πεσεῖται· καὶ τῆς εὐθηνίας τοῦ καρποῦ λοιμὸς ὑποτάσσει.

Kern fr. 261:

ὧδε γὰρ ἂν μίμνοι καθαρῆς τε γαίης ἔμπεδος οἶνος
ἡδύμος εὐώδης τε· καλὸν δ' ἔτος ἐστὶ φυτείῃ.

Kern fr. 262:

Διὸς Αἰγόκερωτα περιπολεύοντος τὸ ἔτος ὅπερ κρατήσει ἡ γῆ οἶνον οἴσει ὡς ὕδωρ· καὶ τὰ πρωτογενῆ τῆς γῆς τότε οἴσουσι καρπόν, ὄμημον δὲ καρπὸν γαίᾳ μήποτε μείξῃς· κεραυνοβόλος δὲ ὁμίχλη τὰ πάντα μαρανεῖ· καὶ τὸ κρύος τῆς πάχνης ὀλέσει καρπούς.

Kern fr. 263:

Διὸς Ὑδροχόον περιπολεύοντος μὴ πλώσῃς· χαλεπὴ γὰρ τότε λίαν ἐστὶν ἡ θάλασσα.

Kern fr. 264:

τὸ δ' αὐτοῦ ἔτος ἥλιος καύσωνι ῥίψει· αὐχμηρὸς γὰρ καιρὸς γενήται· καὶ τὰ σπέρματα πάντα μαρανεῖ· λοιμὸς γὰρ γενήται μέγας εἰς πάντα.

Kern fr. 265:

τὸ ἔτος ὅπερ οἱ Ἰχθύες κυριεύσουσιν εὖ μάλα τὰ πάντα ἀναπληρώσουσιν.

Kern fr. 266:

τοῦ αὐτοῦ Διὸς ἐν Ἰχθύσιν ὄντος καλὸν γάμους ποιεῖν.

Kern fr. 267:

ἔστι δ' ἂν τις ἀνὴρ ἢ κοίρανος ἠὲ τύραννος
ἢ βασιλεύς, ὃς τῆμος ἐς οὐρανὸν ἵξεται αἰπύν.

Kern fr. 268:

ἀηκάζειν πυρούς τε καὶ ἀστάχυας κατ' ἀλωάς
ἀνδρῶν λικμώντων, ὅτε τε ξανθὴ Δημήτηρ
κρίνῃ ἐπειγομένων ἀνέμων καρπὸν τε καὶ ἄχνας.

Kern fr. 269:

σμήνεα δ' ἐργάζοιο μελισσάων ἀδινάων.

Kern fr. 270:

πολλαὶ δ' οὐρανόθεν καὶ ἐπαρτίες ἐκ νεφελάων
τῆμος ἐπορνύνται φηγοῖς καὶ δένδρεσιν ἄλλοις
οὔρεσί τε σκοπέλοις τε καὶ ἀνθρώποις ἐριβώλοις
πηγνύλιδες καὶ ἔσονται ἀμείδιες· αἵδε γὰρ οὕτως
τρύζουσιν καὶ θῆρας ἐν οὔρεσιν, οὐδέ τις ἀνδρῶν
προβλώσκειν μεγάρωθεν δύναται κατὰ γυῖα δαμασθείς
ψύχει λευγαλέῳ· πάχνῃ δ' ὑπὸ γαῖα μύμυκε.