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The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

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ADDITIONAL NOTES. 175<br />

intellect, or <strong>of</strong> that which unfolds into light (EK#~YTO~IKOS<br />

vous), or <strong>of</strong> that which connectedly contains (auvs~~i~os<br />

vavs), or <strong>of</strong> that which imparts perfection16 (reX~aiovpyos<br />

vovs), Saturn will be as the dianoetic part to all these.<br />

For he produces united intellection into multitude, and fills<br />

himself wholly with excited intelligibles. Whence also he<br />

is said to be the leader <strong>of</strong> the Titannic race, and the source<br />

<strong>of</strong> all-various separation and diversifying power. And<br />

perhaps Plato here primarily delivers tw<strong>of</strong>old interpreta-<br />

tions <strong>of</strong> the name <strong>of</strong> the Titans, which Iamblicus and Ame-<br />

lius afterwards adopted. For the one interprets this name<br />

from the Titans extending their powers to all things; but<br />

the other from something inseetile (rapa TO rc aropov), be-<br />

cause the division and separation <strong>of</strong> wholes into parts<br />

receives its beginning from the Titans. Socrates therefore<br />

now indicates both these interpretations, by asserting <strong>of</strong> the<br />

king <strong>of</strong> the Titans that he is a certain great dianoetic power.<br />

For the term great is a symbol <strong>of</strong> power pervading to all<br />

things ; but the term a certain, <strong>of</strong> power proceeding to the<br />

most partial natures.<br />

<strong>The</strong> name Saturn is now triply analysed; <strong>of</strong> which the<br />

first asserting this God to be the plenitude <strong>of</strong> intellectual<br />

good, and to be the satiety <strong>of</strong> a divine intellect, from its<br />

conveying an image <strong>of</strong> the satiety and repletion which are<br />

reprobated by the many, is ejected as insolent. <strong>The</strong> second<br />

also, which exhibits the imperfect and the puerile, is in like<br />

manner rejected. But the third, which celebrates this God<br />

as full <strong>of</strong> purity, and as the leader <strong>of</strong> undefiled intelligence,<br />

and an undeviating life, is approved. For king Saturn is<br />

intellect, and the supplier <strong>of</strong> all intellectual life ; but he is<br />

an intelligible exempt from coordination with sensibles,<br />

immaterial and separate, and converted to himself. He<br />

likewise converts his progeny, and after producing them<br />

15 Of these intellects the first is Phanen, the second Heaven, the third<br />

Earth, and the fourth the Subcelestial Arch, which is celebrated in the<br />

Ph~drus, viz. vovs VO~TOS o Gavqs, e~$avropi~os vovs o Oupavos, UVYEKTLKOS<br />

vous rl yq, rchea~oupyoc 6e VGVS 7 vrr'ovpavbos a$cs.

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