The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

ADDITIONAL NOTES. 195
s
with Saturn, she is Rhea, but that by emitting and generating
Jupiter, she is Ceres. For thus he speaks,
i.e. The goddess who was Bhea, when she bore Jove became
Ceres.
But Hesiod says that Ceres is the daughter of Rhea. It
is however evident that these theologists harmonize : for
whether this goddess proceeds from union with Saturn to
a secondary order, or whether she is the first progeny of
Rhea, she is still the same. Ceres, therefore, thus sub-
sisting, and receiving the most ancient and ruling order
from the whole vivific Rhea (77s ohqs ~woyovov peas), and
comprehending the middle centres of whole vivification
(77s OATS {uoyovias), she fills all supermundane natures
with the rivers of all-perfect life, pouring upon all things
vitally, indivisibly, and uniformly.
Prior however to all this, she unfolds to us the demiurgic
intellect (Jupiter), and imparts to him the power of vivify-
ing wholes. For as Saturn supplies her from on high with
the cause of being ; so Ceres from on high, and from her
own prolific bosoms, pours forth vivification to the demi-
urgus. But possessing herself the middle of all vivific
deity, she governs the whole fountains which she contains,
and comprehends the one bond of the first and last powers
of life. She stably convolves too, and contains all secon-
dary fountains. But she leads forth the uniform causes of
prior natures to the generation of others. This goddess
too comprehends Vests and Juno: in her right hand parts
Juno, who pours forth the whole order of souls ; but in her
left hand parts Vesta, who leads forth all the light of
virtue. Hence Ceres is with great propriety called by
32 This Orphic fragment is not to be found in Gesner's or Hermann's
collection of the Orphic remains.