Structure and Symbol in Heraclitus and Parmenides Towards A Reconstruction of An Archaic Logic

I
71 -4 4
PRIER, J r . , Raymond A dolph, 1939-

STRUCTURE AND SYMBOL IN HERACLITUS AND PARMEN
IDES: TOWARDS A RECONSTRUCTION OF AN ARCHAIC
LOGIC. [ P o r tio n s o f T ex t i n G reek and German}.
Y ale U n i v e r s i t y , P h .D ., 1970
Language and L i t e r a t u r e , c l a s s i c a l
University Microfilms, A XEROXCompany, Ann Arbor, Michigan
© 1971
RAYMOND ADOLPH PRIER, J r .
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

STRUCTURE AND SYMBOL IN HERACLITUS AND PARMENIDES:
TOWARDS A RECONSTRUCTION OF AN ARCHAIC LOGIC
Raymond A dolph P r i e r ' ,.
A D i s s e r t a t i o n P r e s e n te d t o t h e F a c u lty o f t h e
G ra d u a te S c h o o l o f Y ale U n iv e r s ity
i n C andidacy f o r t h e D egree o f
D o c to r o f P h ilo s o p h y
1970
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

SUMMARY
T h is d i s s e r t a t i o n exam ines s p e c i f i c a r c h a ic sy m b o lic and '
s t r u c t u r a l phenom ena w hich i t t r a c e s i n t h e H om eric Hymns, H e sio d ,
H e r a c l i t u s , P a rm e n id e s , and P r o ta g o r a s . The s p e c i f i c sym bols and
s t r u c t u r e a r e t r e a t e d a s l o g i c a l phenomena and a r e u s e d t o r e v e a l an
u n d e r ly in g t h i r d te rm t h a t u n i f i e s t h e o p p o s itio n s t h a t a r e fu n d a m e n ta l
t o a r c h a ic t h i n k i n g . The f i r s t c h a p te r in tr o d u c e s and d e f in e s t h e
p ro b le m a n d e n d e a v o rs t o d e s c r ib e c e r t a i n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t r a i t s o f
a r c h a ic t h i n k i n g . The sec o n d d e a l s w ith an a r e a o f m ix tu re o r p a r t i a l
i d e n t i t y t h a t r e g u l a t e s t h e m eaning o f a r c h a i c o p p o s itio n a s i t a p p e a rs
i n t h e H om eric Hymns. S p e c i f i c i n s t a n c e s o f sym bol and s t r u c t u r e a r e
exam ined i n t h e Hymns and H e sio d . The t h i r d and f o u r t h c h a p te r s
r e p r e s e n t an a tte m p t t o draw t h e th o u g h t p a t t e r n s o f H e r a c l i t u s and
P arm en id es m ore c l o s e l y t o g e t h e r th a n h a s h e r e t o f o r e b e e n c o n s id e re d
p o s s ib le . The argum ent p o s i t s t h e i n f l u e n c e o f a g iv e n e p ic and
l y r i c t r a d i t i o n i n t h e u s e o f la n g u a g e an d i d e a s — e s p e c i a l l y i n
sy m b o lic and s t r u c t u r a l te r m s . The l a s t c h a p te r i s an a tte m p t t o
s p e c u la te on t h e pow er o f a r c h a ic p a t t e r n s i n l a t e r th o u g h t. The
d i s s e r t a t i o n i n d i c a t e s i n c o n c lu s io n t h a t sy m b o lic and s t r u c t u r a l
a n a l y s i s s h o u ld b e a tte m p te d w ith P l a t o i n o r d e r t o u n d e r s ta n d t h e
a r c h a ic t r a i t s i n h i s th o u g h t. An e x a m in a tio n o f r e l e v a n t s c h o la r s h ip
■„ s i n c e S cil.clcrm ach ex ' and Htfgei i s in c lu d e d a t n e c e s s a r y ju n c tu r e s i n
t h e d i s s e r t a t i o n — i n p a r t i c u l a r w ith r e g a r d t o t h e c o n t r o v e r s ie s t h a t
s u rro u n d t h e b a s i c i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f H e r a c lit u s and P a rm e n id e s.
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n prohib ited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

l a Memory o f
A.M. D ale
6 l? Spot p,6p t o t , ia v a p to ro q
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

*
CONTENTS
Preface.............................................. p. iv
I. The Archaic Configuration of Mind p. 1
II* Structure and Symbol in the Homeric Hymns andHesiod*... -?. 5^
III. Structure and Symbol in Heraclitus........... ........ p. 123
IV* Structure and Symbol in Parmenides.................... p. 188
V. An Inquiry into the CharacteristicQualities of

Protagorean Thought: a Conclusion.................... P* 2U2
B ib lio g r a p h y * ........ P* 259
* '•

PREFACE:
I h a v e w r i t t e n t h i s e s s a y t o s u g g e s t a new c r i t e r i o n o f
judgm ent f o r C l a s s i c a l P h ilo lo g y and t o e x p l i c a t e i n some s m a ll way
& mode o f th o u g h t s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t fro m o u r own. T hese two
p u rp o s e s m erge i n t o one i n so f a r a s "both come a b o u t from my own
s h a rp d is a g re e m e n t w ith c e r t a i n p r e v a i l i n g a t t i t u d e s to w a rd s t h e s o -
c a lle d p re -S o c ra tic s . T hese u n f o r tu n a t e a t t i t u d e s a r e c h a r a c t e r i z e d ,
a s I s e e th e m , b y s tr o n g r e l a t i v i s t i c and m a t e r i a l i s t i c p re m is e s —
h id d e n f o r t h e m o st p a r t — t h a t r e s u l t i n a b s u r d d ic h o to m ie s b etw een
t h e One and t h e Many and o p p o s itio n a l phenom ena o f a l l s o r t s . T hese
m odem d ic h o to m ie s d id n o t e x i s t i n t h e e a r l i e r G reek w o rld i n any
p re d o m in a n t fo rm , b u t C l a s s i c a l P h ilo lo g y i n t h e m id d le o f t h e
t w e n tie th c e n tu r y h a s assum ed o th e rw is e and h a s , c o n s e q u e n tly ,
s e v e r e ly l i m i t e d i t s e l f and i t s f u t u r e b y a d o p tin g a n arro w and
u n n e c e s s a r ily r i g i d c r i t e r i o n o f judgm ent t h a t m is r e p r e s e n ts th e
l i t e r a r y e v id e n c e a t h a n d . Beyond a ck n o w led g in g t h a t A r i s t o t l e
r e v e a le d l i t t l e o f t h e r e a l w o rth o f t h e p r e - S o c r a t i c s , m odem
C l a s s i c a l P h il o lo g y shows o n ly m om entary g r a s p s o f t h e p e r i o d b etw een
Homer and t h e P l a t o n i c r e v o l u t i o n .
l^y w o r k - in t h e f i e l d h a s i n d i c a t e d t o me t h a t i t i s n o t
w ith p a r t i c u l a r men t h a t I am i n d is a g re e m e n t so much a s w ixn a
c r i t e r i o n o f ju d g m en t t h a t h a s b e e n i n s u f f i c i e n t l y th o u g h t th ro u g h .
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n prohib ited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

The co m p reh en sio n o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e i s t h e r e . What i s l a c k i n g i s a
m ethod o f e x p r e s s in g w h a t i s s e e n . I o f f e r t h i s e s s a y a s an a tte m p t
a lo n g th e s e l i n e s .
The m ethod I s h a l l u s e was c o n c e iv e d e i g h t y e a r s a g o . T h is
e s s a y , t h e r e f o r e , r e p r e s e n t s th e f r u i t i o n o f more th a n i n t e r m i t t e n t
th o u g h t o v e r s e v e r a l y e a r s . I c o u ld n o t , h o w ev er, h a v e c o m p le ted my
en d e a v o r w ith o u t t h e encourag em en t and h e lp o f B rooks O t i s , A.M. D a le ,
T .B .L . W e h s te r, E r i c H a v e lo c k , R o b e rt Brum baugh, Thomas C o le , Lawrence
R ic h a rd s o n , J r . , C h r is to p h e r Dawson, and M ic h a e l G a g a rin i n a d d i tio n
t o t h e many men I have m et o n ly i n h o o k s. E s p e c ia l th i n k s m u st he
e x te n d e d t o my a d v i s o r s , Thomas C ole an d R o b e rt Brumbaugh and t o th e
f a c i l i t i e s and l i b e r a l i t y o f S ta n f o r d and Y ale U n i v e r s i t i e s .
New Haven 1970

1
C h a p te r 1 : The A rc h a ic C o n fig u ra tio n o f Mind
T he m o st a n c ie n t l i t e r a t u r e s o f G reece h av e f a s c i n a t e d
g e n iu s from P l a t o t o t h e p r e s e n t . Y e t, why t h i s s h o u ld b e so h a s
n e v e r b e e n a d e q u a te ly e x p la in e d . N or h a s any c r i t i c e v e r e s t a b l i s h e d
a c r i t e r i o n b y w hich t h i s p e r io d c o u ld b e com prehended s a t i s f a c t o r i l y .
B oth c o n d itio n s m ay, h o w ev er, b e e x p la in e d b y t h e same r e a s o n :
b e h in d a v e r y l a r g e p o r t i o n o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e w r i t t e n b e f o r e P l a t o
l u r k s a way o f t h i n k i n g p o s t - P l a t o n i c i n t e l l e c t i o n , b e c a u s e o f i t s
own p e c u l i a r l o g i c a l s e n s e , h a s fo u n d e i t h e r o f l i t t l e u s e o r
d o w n rig h t i n i m i c a l . T h is a l i e n c o n f ig u r a ti o n o f m ind I s h a l l
d e s ig n a te a s " a r c h a i c " .
From t h e o u t s e t i t i s a b s o l u t e l y im p e r a tiv e t o u n d e rs ta n d
t h a t t h e te rm " a r c h a ic " when a p p lie d t o p r e - A r i s t o t e l i a n th o u g h t
does n o t i n any way p a r ta k e o f th e m eaning " a n t i q u a t e d " , " u n d e r
d e v e lo p e d " , o r even " e m b ry o n ic ". A rc h a ic th o u g h t i s a s e l f - c o n t a i n e d
and s e l f - s u p p o r t i n g p o i n t o f v ie w , p o s s e s s e d o f i t s own s t r u c t u r e and
sym bols and t o t a l l y in d e p e n d e n t o f th e s o - c a l l e d r a t i o n a l p a t t e r n s
o f D e s c a r te s o r num erous l o g i c a l p a t t e r n s t r a c e a b l e from A r i s t o t l e
t o th e p r e s e n t. I t i s co m p reh en siv e and a l l - i n c l u s i v e i n n a t u r e ,
on r> oe + oV»T_2.eVi£r^ ’lO't CIl2^r ° e

2
o r " b e g in n in g ” o f th o u g h t b u t a l s o a s t h e r u l i n g p a t t e r n o f t h e
th o u g h t i t s e l f .
The a r c h a i c c o n f ig u r a tio n o f m ind moves w it h in an. e s t a b l i s h e d
s t r u c t u r e i n a s i n g l e , a lm o s t g r a p h i c , m an n er. T h is g r a p h ic o r
p i c t o r i a l n a t u r e i s im p o r ta n t, a s we s h a l l s e e , i n r e l a t i o n s h i p t o
t h e q u e s tio n o f s y m b o liz a tio n . I t i s a ls o th e b a s ic c o n s titu e n t o f
t h e t h o u g h t 's d e c e p tiv e s i m p l i c i t y o r seem in g o n e -d im e n s io n a l n a t u r e ,
f o r t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l and sy m b o lic c h a r a c t e r i s a g iv e n , a phenomenon
t h a t can g e n e r a l l y b e drawn o r s k e tc h e d ; y e t , t h e r e seems t o e x i s t
a t h i r d te rm t h a t w orks b etw een g iv e n s e t s o f o p p o s i tio n s . What
t h i s t h i r d e le m e n t m ig h t b e i s one o f t h e m o st c e n t r a l and m ost
im p o r ta n t c o n s id e r a tio n s o f t h i s p a p e r .
I t i s n o t d i f f i c u l t t o t r a c e a r c h a i c th o u g h t p a t t e r n s i n
th e h is to r y o f c u ltu r e . What i s u n u s u a l, h o w e v er, i s t o f i n d c o n s c io u s
s ta te m e n ts i n d i c a t i n g a know ledge o f w h at t h e s e p a t t e r n s a r e i n
th e m s e lv e s and c o n s id e r in g them i n a c o n f i g u r a t i o n a p a r t from a mode
o f t h i n k i n g b e s t d e s c r ib e d a s o b j e c t i v e an d s c i e n t i f i c . The p ro b le m
h a s , n o n e t h e l e s s , re a c h e d t h i s s t a g e i n t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n tu r y . C arl
J u n g , C laude L e v i - S t r a u s s , and E r n s t C a s s i r e r h av e c o n t r i b u te d
g r e a t l y t o t h e e l u c i d a t i o n o f t h e mode o f th o u g h t whose in f l u e n c e s
we s h a l l t r a c e i n t h e e n s u in g p a g e s . E a c h , w o rk in g from a d i f f e r e n t
p r o f e s s io n a l p o iu . cuû. doi#ucu.x^ i.o r very cxxxxerent p u r p o s e s ,
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n pro hibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

3
h a s opened t h e s e r i o u s i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h e a r c h a ic c o n f ig u r a tio n
o f m ind.
J u n g , r e a l i z i n g t h a t a r c h a ic th o u g h t p a t t e r n s a r e n o t
a n tiq u a te d phenom ena "but c o n s t i t u e n t o f t h e p sy c h e i t s e l f h a s
r e v e a le d t h e i r p o w e rfu l sy m b o lic c h a r a c t e r . He h a s d e s c r ib e d t h i s
sy m b o lic phenomenon b y f i r s t h y p o th e s iz in g a C o l l e c t i v e U nconscious
w ith i t s accom panying m and ala p a t t e r n s — t h e a r c h e ty p e s t h a t b e lo n g
t o n e i t h e r a s p a t i a l n o r an e m p ir ic a l re a lm i n an o b j e c t i v e o r
s c i e n t i f i c s e n s e b u t t o a h ig h l y s u b j e c t i v e and a r t i s t i c o n e . He
a p p r e c ia te s t h e s t r o n g s u b j e c t i v e f l a v o r i n th e m yths o f p r i m i t i v e
man'*" and n o te d an u n e x p e c te d d ich o to m y b etw een r e a s o n and t h e e y e s ,

2
f o r w hat t h e p s y c h e s e e s f o r c e s a r c h e ty p a l sym bols t o a p p e a r i n a r t .
T h ere i s , t h e n , a v i s u a l p e r c e p t io n f o r Ju n g t h a t i s b a s e d n o t on
n a iv e s e n s e p e r c e p t i o n b u t on a p e r c e p tio n o f sy m b o ls. T h ese sym bols
a r e t h e m andalas Ju n g s e e s a s p s y c h o lo g i c a l e x p r e s s io n s o f t h e
to ta lity of s e lf, ^ They assum e g e n e r a l l y th e g e o m e t r ic a l form o f a
c i r c l e t h a t re s o lv e s s tro n g o p p o s itio n a l c o n f lic ts w ith in th e psy ch e.

U
M an d a la s, t h e n , a r e t h e sym bol o f a co rap lex io o p p o s ito ru m , and i t
i s th e o p p o s i t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r o f t h e a r c h a ic c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f mind
t h a t i s , a s we s h a l l s e e , i t s m o st e a s i l y d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e t r a i t .
J u n g t r a c e s t h i s p e n c h a n t f o r o p p o s itio n f u r t h e r , h o w e v er, th a n j u s t
a m ere r e c o g n i t i o n o f i t s e x i s t e n c e , f o r h e c o n s id e r s i t a l s o »s »
form o f d u a lis m , and i t i s h e who rem ark s upon t h e sy m b o lic im p o rta n c e

h
o f a d u a l d e s c e n t, i . e . , t h e p r o d u c t o f d iv in e and human p a r e n ta g e .^
I s h a l l d e v e lo p t h i s g e n e a lo g ic a l, o p p o s itio n and sym bolism i n my
s u b se q u e n t e x a m in a tio n o f t h e H om eric Hymns and H e sio d .
Ju n g to o h a s d e s c r ib e d a s p e c i f i c phenomenon i n t h e a r c h a i c
c o n s c io u s n e s s o f tim e w hich h e c a l l s a w are n e ss o f " s y n c h r o n ic i ty " ,
" F o r t h e p r i m i t i v e m ind s y n c h r o n ic it y i s a s e l f - e v i d e n t f a c t
S y n c h r o n ic ity i s t h e in f l u e n c e n e i t h e r " n a t u r a l " n o r c a u s a l i n t h e

7
A r i s t o t e l i a n s e n s e t h a t p ro d u c e s " m e a n in g fu l c o in c id e n c e i n t im e " .
I n o t h e r w ords t h e r e i s no l i n e a r , c a u s e - e f f e c t c o n c e p t o f e v e n ts
b u t one in w hich a c o in c id e n c e o r s i m u l t a n e i t y o f a s u b j e c t i v e c h a r a c t e r
i n f l u e n c e s w hat e v e n ts mean. What t h i s c o n d itio n i n i t s e l f m ig h t
i n d i c a t e i n te rm s o f la n g u a g e and s t y l e I s h a l l d is c u s s i n i t s p r o p e r
p la c e . At t h i s p o i n t i n o u r own i n v e s t i g a t i o n , Ju n g h a s made a
p o w e rfu l move t o d is lo d g e t h e c a u s e and e f f e c t l o g i c o f m odern s c ie n c e
from i t s c l e a r suprem acy i n th o u g h t and h a s gone f a r i n th e c o n s i d e r a t i o n
o f a te m p o ra l s e n s e t h a t seems t o b e s p e c i f i c a l l y a r c h a i c . In
g e n e r a l we s h a l l n o t c o n c e rn o u r s e lv e s w ith t h e p s y c h i c a l en d s
to w a rd s w hich Ju n g a p p lie s h i s o b s e r v a tio n s o f sym bolism and
s y n c h r o n ic it y ; i t i s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y i n i t s e l f o f sym bolism w ith
i t s o p p o s i t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e and s y n c h r o n i c it y t h a t p ro v id e s u s w ith
tw o c r i t i c a l t o o l s b y w hich we can exam ine t h e a r c h a ic c o n f ig u r a tio n
o f m ind i n e a r l y G reek l i t e r a t u r e .

5
L e v i- S tr a u s s d i s c l o s e s c e r t a i n a. p r i o r i a r c h a ic p r i n c i p l e s
i n h i s a n th r o p o l o g i c a l s t u d i e s . A gain we a r e n o t so much i n t e r e s t e d
i n e i t h e r t h e way he a p p l i e s th e s e p r i n c i p l e s o r t h e s o c i o l o g i c a l and
a n t h r o p o l o g i c a l q u e s tio n h e r a i s e s a s much a s i n t h e a r c h a ic
5W
— ^—
—ww W
—- I..- O—• M
V tW
A r \ n > *w
Aw
n^
^>w
*woW
e • M
T7Wa o f f >m i+ a o W
W VMWM
+ /s fe*«WWUVUgMV
«■?
a w e l l - a r t i c u l a t e d sy ste m and d e c la r e s i t in d e p e n d e n t o f s c i e n t i f i c
g
th in k in g . He s e e s t h a t " t h e th o u g h t we c a l l p r i m i t i v e i s fo u n d ed
on t h i s demand f o r o r d e r ." He a llo w s a c e r t a i n g e n e r a l i z i n g e le m e n t
i n a r c h a ic th o u g h t , ev en th o u g h im ag ery i s v e ry p o w e rfu l, and a d m its
r e a d i l y t h a t i n o u r own te rm s i t w orks on a s e r i e s o f a n a lo g ie s and
c o m p a riso n s . The im p o r ta n t f a c t i s t h a t t h e r e i s a c o n s ta n tl y new
a rra n g e m e n t o f e le m e n ts , " t h e n a t u r e o f w h ic h i s u n a f f e c te d by w h e th e r
th e y f i g u r e i n t h e in s tr u m e n ta l [ c a u s a l] s e t o r i n th e f i n a l [ e f f e c t e d ]
_ io
a rra n g e m e n t. I n o t h e r w o rd s, a s i t was i n t h e c a s e o f J u n g , L e v i-
S tr a u s s p o i n t s o u t c l e a r l y t h a t e n d s and means a r e n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y
d iffe re n tia te d . E x p l a n a tio n s , t h e r e f o r e , assum e a t o t a l l y d i f f e r e n t
q u a lity .
L e v i- S tr a u s s a l s o s t r e s s e s th e o p p o s i t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r o f
th e ' phenom ena h e i n v e s t i g a t e s . K in s h ip s y ste m s and myth p a r ta k e i n
a d u a l i s t i c o p e r a tio n and a sy ste m o f p o l a r o p p o s i t i o n s . ^ D u a lis tic

12
s t r u c t u r e s w ith a t h i r d e le m e n t a l s o f i n d t h e i r way i n t o h i s w r i t i n g s ,
and a g a in t h i s i s v e ry im p o r ta n t i n o u r own s tu d y , f o r w h ile we can
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

6
l i t t l e use. th e s u b s ta n c e o f L e v i-S tra u s s * r e s e a r c h , s t i l l t h e a_p r i o r i
p r i n c i p l e o f p o l a r o p p o s itio n and a p o s s i b l e t h i r d te rm m atch es v e i l
w ith w h at v e s h a l l d is c o v e r i n G reek l i t e r a t u r e a t l e a s t th ro u g h
P a rm e n id e s . L e v i- S tr a u s s h a s b o th u s e d and made c l e a r t h e l o g i c a l
s t r u c t u r e o f a r c h a ic th o u g h t. I t i s , o f c o u rse, th is lo g ic a l
s t r u c t u r e t h a t I s h a l l e n d e a v o r t o e l u c i d a t e i n t h e e n silin g p a g e s .
L e v i- S tr a u s s i s v e i l aw are o f t h e s tr o n g s u b j e c t i v e and
13
sy m b o lic f l a v o r o f a r c h a ic t h i n k i n g , b u t i t i s C a s s i r e r who g r a s p s
i t s im p o rta n c e and d e f in e s i t more b r o a d ly and c o m p le te ly as a
p a r t i c u l a r mode o f th o u g h t. He c a l l s t h i s mode " m y th ic a l th o u g h t"
a n d d e v o te s t h e sec o n d volum e o f h i s The P h ilo s o p h y o f S ym bolic Forms
t o t h e e x p o s it io n o f t h i s phenom enon. To my know ledge t h e r e i s no
b e t t e r e x a m in a tio n and i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e a r c h a ic m ind th a n t h i s
one v o lum e. I t c r e a t e s p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r th e c o n s t r u c t i v e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
o f l i t e r a t u r e s i n any p e r io d an d exam ines many more s i d e s o f t h e
a r c h a ic c o n f ig u r a tio n o f m ind th a n I s h a l l d e v e lo p i n t h i s p a p e r a s
lU
I c o n s id e r e a r l y G reek l i t e r a t u r e th ro u g h P arm en id es and P r o t a g o r a s .
I s h a l l , t h e r e f o r e , m e n tio n o n ly t h o s e p o in ts o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h a t
w i l l c o in c id e w ith and e l u c i d a t e my own.
M y th ic a l t h in k in g f o r C a s s i r e r r e v e a l s a p r o c e s s o f
s c h e m a tiz a tio n t h a t in v o lv e s " a n i n c r e a s i n g e n d ea v o r t o a r t i c u l a t e
« .n s u b s ta n c e i n a common s p a t i a l o r d e r and a l l h a p p e n in g s i n a
common o r d e r o f tim e and d e s t i n y . " ^ The m y th ic a l i n t u i t i o n o f sp a c e

7
l i e s i n a m id d le p o s i t i o n "between t h e sp a c e o f s e n s e p e r c e p tio n and
t h e s p a c e o f p u re c o g n i t i o n . ^ As C a s s i r e r p o i n t s o u t , m y th ic a l
s p a c e i s s t r u c t u r a l i n c o n t r a s t t o m odern sp a c e w hich i s m a th e m a tic a lly
fu n c tio n a l. T h e re i s no s e n s e o f a grow ing from g iv e n e le m e n ts
a c c o rd in g t o d e te r m in a te r u l e s . "We f i n d r a t h e r a p u r e ly s t a t i c
r e l a t i o n s h i p o f in h e r e n c e . R e g a rd le s s o f how f a r we d i v i d e , we f i n d
17
i n e ac h p a r t t h e fo rm , th e s t r u c t u r e , o f t h e w h o le ." The b a s i c
l8
p r i n c i p l e o f p r i m i t i v e l o g i c i s t h i s p a r s p ro t o t o . T h is m a cro -
m icrocosm c o n c e p t i s c e r t a i n l y n o t a l i e n t o G reek t h i n k i n g . One h a s
o n ly t o p o i n t t o P l a t o 's R e p u b lic and i t s d e s c r i p t i o n o f c i t y - s t a t e s
i n te rm s o f c h a r a c t e r t r a i t s as p r o o f ( R ep. U3Ue-j*35c). The h o l i s t i c
q u a l i t y o f t e n o b s e rv e d i n P l a t o n i c an d p r e - P l a t o n i c G reek th o u g h t,
th e n , c o u ld e a s i l y b e e x p la in e d b y r e f e r e n c e t o m y th ic a l o r a r c h a ic
m o d e ls. We s h a l l s e e t h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t a t e d and ta k e n f o r g r a n te d
i n t h e " p h ilo s o p h ie s " o f H e r a c l i t u s and P a rm e n id e s.
The one o b s e r v a tio n o f C a s s i r e r t h a t h a s op en ed my own
t h i nkin g t o t h e g r e a t e s t e x t e n t i n te rm s o f t h e a r c h a i c c o n f i g u r a t i o n
- o f m ind i n e a r l y G reek l i t e r a t u r e i s one c o n c e rn in g t h e " fu n d a m e n ta l
t r a i t i n m y th ic a l t h in k in g t h a t w h erev er • i t p o s i t s a d e f i n i t e
r e l a t i o n b etw een two members i t tr a n s f o r m s t h i s r e l a t i o n i n t o an

_19
id e n tity . T h is law h o ld s t r u e , a s he shows i n G reek and E g y p tia n
r e l i g i o n s w here c u l t s a r e " g ro u n d e d i n t h e i d e n t i t y assum ed b etw een

„20
god and m an. I n t h e f o llo w in g c h a p te r I s h a l l e n d e a v o r t o show

8
how t h i s m y th ic a l ’’i d e n t i t y ” p la y s a g a i n s t an in b r e d l i n g u i s t i c
o p p o s itio n t o p r e f i g u r e t h e p o l a r o p p o s i tio n s o f H e r a c l i t u s .
C a s s i r e r a l s o d is c u s s e s a n o th e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f a r c h a ic o r m y th ic a l
t h i n k i n g t h a t w i l l b o l s t e r my arg u m en t i n so f a r a s I s h a l l make
u s e o f l y r i c p o e tr y t o i n d i c a t e a g ro u n d o f o p p o s i tio n a l t h i n k i n g :
t h e c o n t r a s t o f l i g h t and d a r k . "E v e ry s e p a r a t i o n o f t h e zones o f

21
sp a c e i s c o n n e c te d w ith t h i s c o n t r a s t . " J u n g , L e v i - S t r a u s s , and
C a s s i r e r e a c h i n h i s own te rm s g o e s f a r i n r e v e a l i n g t h e w id e s p re a d
o p p o s i t i o n a l n a t u r e o f a r c h a ic th o u g h t.
L ik e J u n g , C a s s i r e r a l s o n o te s a s tr o n g sy m b o lic te n d e n c y
i n t h e a r c h a i c c o n f ig u r a tio n o f m in d , an d a lth o u g h h i s m ain g o a l i n
The P h ilo s o p h y o f Sym bolic Forms i s t o e x p o se t h i s sy m b o lic f u n c tio n
i n c o n te m p o ra ry th o u g h t, h i s a n a l y s i s o f a r c h a i c th o u g h t i n s o l e l y
sy m b o lic te rm s h a s v a lu e f o r us t o o . F o r him t h e r e i s a c e r t a i n
dynam ic w i t h i n t h e re a lm o f th o u g h t t h a t i s " b o th i n t e n s i f i e d and
r e g u l a t e d b y t h e s ig n " [s y m b o l]. C a s s i r e r n o te s t h a t L e ib n iz
e x p la i n s t h i s i n h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s g e n e r a t i s to th e e f f e c t th a t
t h i s th o u g h t s e r v e s n o t o n ly t o r e p r e s e n t " b u t above a l l t o d is c o v e r
c e rta in lo g ic a l r e la tio n s ." " I t n o t o n ly o f f e r s a sy m b o lic
a b b r e v i a t i o n f o r w hat i s a lr e a d y known b u t opens up new ro a d s i n t o

22
t h e unknow n." I t i s , o f c o u r s e , th e s e " l o g i c a l r e l a t i o n s " I w ish
t O 1 Tl +.}"»A A H ^ lT in cr T ie rr ftA f+ o i'n e?TrvrtV>/^l *? *-»•*-* A

" A * — ................... .. - “■ w r — — O
s t r u c t u r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f e a r l y G reek l i t e r a t u r e i n t o a l o g i c a l

9
fram ew ork, f o r i t i s a l s o my " b e lie f t h a t " i n t h e sy m b o lic f u n c tio n
o f c o n s c io u s n e s s — a s i t o p e r a te s i n la n g u a g e , i n a r t , i n myth—
c e r t a i n u n c h a n g in g fu n d a m e n ta l f o r m s .. .d is e n g a g e th e m s e lv e s from
t h e s tre a m o f c o n s c io u s n e s s ; t h e f l u x o f c o n te n ts i s r e p la c e d by
23
a s e l f —c o n ts i n e d an d e n d u rin g u n i t y o f fo rm ."
A t t h i s p o i n t t o p r e p a r e f o r my own t h e o r i e s c o n c e rn in g
s t r u c t u r e and sym bol i n t h e a r c h a ic c o n f ig u r a ti o n o f m in d , i t becomes
n e c e s s a r y t o to u c h upon phenom enology and how i t form s th e r e q u i s i t e
p o i n t o f view i n w hich t h e phenomena we s h a l l exam ine make s e n s e .
I am n o t i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e modern i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i n t o t h i s a r e a —
e . g . , H e g e l, H u s s e r l , H e id e g g e r, o r e v e r C a s s i r e r — ailth o u g h I s u s p e c t
t h a t t h e t h r u s t o f t h e i r arg u m en ts p o i n t s to w a rd s a p o s i t i o n s i m i l a r
t o my own. As f a r as I am c o n c e rn e d and a s f a r a s t h i s c o n c e p t i s
u s e d i n t h i s p a p e r , phenom enology i s a s tu d y o f e v e n ts t h a t o c c u r i n
a " re a lm " somewhere b etw een th e m a t e r i a l and o b je c t i v e w o rld o f t h e
s c i e n t i s t an d t h e s p i r i t u a l and s u b j e c t i v e w o rld o f a s o l i t a r y man.
T h is " re a lm " c h an g es em p h asis from one p o le t o th e o t h e r , and no
-d o u b t t h e r e w i l l b e w r i t t e n s.omeday th e h i s t o r y o f m a n 's p h en o m en o lo g ica l
w o r ld , b u t I am a t t h i s p o i n t o n ly i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e p h e n o m en o lo g ica l
re a lm o f t h e a r c h a i c c o n f ig u r a tio n o f m ind. In th is p a r tic u la r
phenom enology e v e n ts (phenom ena) assum e th ro u g h a p a r t i c u l a r ty p e
o f p e r c e p t i o n , w h ich I s h a l l h e n c e f o r th l a b e l " s y m b o lic " , s p e c i f i c
sy m b o lic and s t r u c t u r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . T hese c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a re

10
v h a t I s h a l l u s e t o c l a r i f y th e w r i t i n g s o f H e r a c l i t u s and P a rm e n id e s.
B o th sym bol and s t r u c t u r e ax e p r i m a r i l y l o g i c a l phenomena
a s I s h a l l vise th e m . L og ic i s a c o g n itiv e m ethod by w hich two o r
more phenom ena a r e r e l a t e d . What p r o p e r t i e s t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p
assum es depends e n t i r e l y on t h e ty p e o f l o g i c u n d e r c o n s id e r a t io n .
I t w i l l become c l e a r soon .th a t th e s e p r o p e r t i e s I d e s c r ib e do n o t
f i t i n t o m odern l o g i c a l fram ew orks. A sym bol i n i t s l o g i c a l s e n s e
i s an u n iq u e p i c t u r e r e p r e s e n t e d i n and b y th e m ind t h a t form s an
im m ediate r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e i t s e l f a n d /o r i s ,
i n a l e s s u n i v e r s a l s e n s e , u s e d w it h in t h i s s t r u c t u r e a s a l o g i c a l
o r q u a s i - l o g i c a l te r m . As I s a i d a b o v e , t h e sym bol f o r a " t h i r d
te rm ” i s o ne o f t h e m o st im p o r ta n t c o n c e p ts i n t h i s p a p e r .
E xam ples o f t h i s ty p e o f sym bol o c c u r w ith some fre q u e n c y
i n a r c h a ic Greek, l i t e r a t u r e . I n t h e Hymn t o A p h r o d ite , t h e g o d d ess
h e r s e l f s y m b o liz e s a " sw e e t" s e x u a l n a tu r e t h a t l i n k s men and gods—
t h a t i s , a s im p le sym bol f o r t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een o p p o s ite s
( i n f r a p p . 69-70 ) . A eneas a s th e g e n e a lo g ic a l in te r m e d ia tio n b etw een
men and gods i s a s i m i l a r sym bol ( i n f r a p. 69 ). We s h a l l
i n v e s t i g a t e s u b s e q u e n tly th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f E ro s i n H e sio d ’ s Theogony
a s b o th a sym bol a n d a t h i r d te rm ( i n f r a p p . 78-79 ). Then I s h a l l
advance an argum ent f o r nop i n H e r a c l i t u s a s a sym bol o f h i s l o g i c
a s a w hole ( i n f r a ■do. 157—159). Symbol? r e l e g a t e d t o s u b o r d in a te
p o s i t i o n s i n o r d e r t o mark o u t t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e l o g i c i t s e l f a r e
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n p rohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

11
a ls o p l e n t i f u l i n H e r a c l i t u s . Take f o r in s ta n c e , t h e f o llo w in g
a p h o rism : ■fruyriqi.v Gavaxoq uScop y evsoQgL. u S ax t 5& G avaioq yriv

» ~ . V * u . ' 2k
Y tvaaG ac, £x Ytjc; 5s oScoo yivt,T:a.\.t Mi uSaxoc 5s ûyri (36) (F o r
s o u ls i t i s d e a th t o become w a t e r , f o r w a te r i t i s d e a th t o become
1 ot\/^ Uo~j*0>• O lit O* pwp SOîi fÔIu VSit0 '*} *

•*^ is cXSckl*
I t h i n k , t h a t " w a te r" and " la n d " a r e n o t u s e d i n a p h y s i c a l s e n s e
b e c a u s e o f t h e te rm Gavaxoq u s e d i n r e f e r e n c e t o t h e i r tr a n s f o r m a t io n .
A ll t h r e e w o rd s , tJtoxt], uScop, and yT] a r e sym bols a s I h av e d e f in e d
t h e w ord. How more e x a c t l y th e y f i t i n t o t h e l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e I
s h a l l d is c u s s below ( i n f r a p ; . 171 ). I n P a rm e n id e s i t i s th e
go d d ess Atxr] who s ta n d s a s t h e sym bol o f a d u a l i s t i c l o g i c a l p a t t e r n ,
p o s s e s s in g h e r in te r c h a n g e a b le k e y s (xXrjtSaq 4|xoif?ouq.)‘ (in f r a pp.
1 9 9 -2 0 0 ). Then to o t h e u s e o f S5oq i n t h e proem d e s i g n a t e s , a s I
s e e i t , a sy m b o lic t h i r d te rm t h a t u n i t e s t h e ways o f B ein g and
N o t-B ein g ( i n f r a p p . 2 1 0 -2 1 2 ).
S t r u c t u r e i s a fo rm a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t h a t g iv e s th e
a r c h a ic c o n f ig u r a tio n o f m ind i t s l o g i c a l u n i t y . I n t h e a r c h a ic
p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l re a lm i t i s one o f o p p o s ite s t h a t p o s s e s s p a r t i c u l a r
i d e n t i t i e s w ith one a n o th e r . My d i s c u s s io n o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p
betw een iG avaxoq and Gvrytoq i n t h e fo llo w in g c h a p te r w i l l c l a r i f y
t h i s p e c u l i a r o p p o s itio n . T h is s t r u c t u r e i s , h o w e v er, n o t as sim p le
a s m ere o p p o s i t i o n , f o r t h e one u n m is ta k a b le q u a l i t y o f e a r l y G reek
o p p o s i t i o n a l th in k i n g i s a c o n s ta n t a c t i v i t y o r movement b etw een

12
s e t s o f o p p o s ite s t h a t p a r ta k e s o f a c e r t a i n h i e r a r c h i c a l c h a r a c t e r .
T ske f o r i n s t a n c e t h e g o d - n a n - c h ild p r o p o r tio n i n H e r a c l i t u s 79
(&vf)p vrpttoq ‘rptoucre npoq Satpovog oxcoanep n a tq npoq d v S p o q ). The
o p p o s i t i o n a l , y e t h i e r a r c h i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een God and c h i l d
i s i n te r m e d ia te d by a t h i r d te rm (d v fjp ). I s h a l l a rg u e s u b s e q u e n tly
t h a t t h i s p r o p o r tio n i s one t h a t u s e d t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l s t r u c t u r i n g
t o move to w a rd s t h e h i g h e s t te rm — i n t h i s c a s e 5atpajv ( i n f r a p p . 170-171)
T h e re i s , i n o th e r w o rd s, a h id d e n d i a l e c t i c a l q u a l i t y i n
th e s t r u c t u r e . T h is q u a l i t y i s e s p e c i a l l y c l e a r i n H e r a c l i t u s .
I s h a l l e v en a rg u e t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f i t s p r e s e n c e i n P a rm e n id e s i n
s o f a r a s I s e e an u n d e r ly in g t h i r d te rm b etw een B ein g and N o t-
B eing ( i n f r a p p . 228-229 ) . I w is h t o make i t c l e a r , h o w ev er, t h a t
vhen I r e f e r t o " h ie r a r c h ic a l" c h a r a c te r is tic s o f a rc h a ic s t r u c t u r e ,
I do n o t s p e a k o f th e sim p le p o s t - P i a t o n i c a rra n g e m e n ts o f someone
l i k e D io n y s iu s t h e A r e o p a g ite , f o r i n t h e a r c h a ic c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f
m ind t h e o p p o sin g members do n o t h o ld su ch a c l e a r q u a l i t a t i v e r a n k in g .
T h e re i s n o t a c l e a r s u b o r d in a te r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a t w ould s e t one
o p p o s ite i n a t o t a l l y commanding p o s i t i o n o v e r t h e o t h e r . T h e re i s
i n s t e a d a n o n - c a u s a l p o l a r i z a t i o n w ith th e c o n n e c tin g p r e s e n c e o f
a t h i r d te r m . F o r t h i s re a s o n and f o r t h e r e a s o n t h a t a c t i o n o r
movement i s p a r t i c u l a r l y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f th e th o u g h t, t h e r e seems
t o b e a h ig h d e g re e o f i d e n t i t y i n o p p o s i t i o n — a r a d i c a l l y n o n -
A r i s t o t e l i a n phenomenon. I n my s u b se q u e n t e x a m in a tio n o f o p p o s itio n s
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n proh ibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

13
i n t h e Hymn t o A p h r o d ite , t h e i d e n t i t y o f o p p o s i tio n a c h ie v e d h y an
a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f one o p p o s ite i n th e r e alm o f t h e o t h e r s h o u ld
go f a r i n r e v e a l i n g t h i s b a s i c l o g i c a l phenomenon i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e
o f e a r l y G reece i t s e l f .
The r o l e o f sym bol i n t h e a r c h a ic c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f mind.
i s much more v a r i e d —m a in ly b e c a u s e , a s I h a v e i n d i c a t e d above i n my
m e n tio n o f H e r a c l i t u s ' fra g m e n t 3 6 , many phenom ena may b e c o n s tr u e d
a s sym bols an d o f t e n i t i s n o t t h e name o f a p a r t i c u l a r sym bol t h a t
i s a s im p o r ta n t a s i t s p la c e i n th e g e n e r a l s t r u c t u r e o f t h e l o g i c .
I t u r n a g a in t o v a r i o u s s e c o n d a ry a u th o r s t o r e v e a l w h at I mean by
su c h a s ta t e m e n t.
The c o n f u s in g and o f t e n m is le a d in g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f
sym bols i s t h a t t h e y e x i s t n o t o n ly i n a p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l w o rld b u t
p o s s i b l y a l s o i n a p u r e ly p h y s ic a l one i n a d ia g ra m m a tic s e n s e — t h a t
i s , th e y a r e t r u l y im a g in e s m undi. As L e v i- S tr a u s s h a s o b s e r v e d ,
t h e sa v a g e m ind " b u i l d s m e n ta l s t r u c t u r e s w h ich f a c i l i t a t e an
u n d e r s ta n d in g o f t h e w o rld i n a s much as th e y re s e m b le i t . " Only

25
t o t h i s e x t e n t may sa v a g e th o u g h t b e c o n s id e r e d " a n a l o g i c a l " .
T h ese " s t r u c t u r e s " o f t e n ta k e on g e o m e tr ic a l fo rm s . I n f a c t , " th e
G reeks h a d a p r e d i l e c t i o n f o r e x p la i n in g q u a l i t i e s i n te rm s o f
s p a t i a l sh a p e s b e c a u s e t h e l a t t e r seem ed t o them e s p e c i a l l y s u i t e d
26
t o re p re s e n t o b je c tiv e r e a l i t y ." T h is s t r u c t u r a l l y g e o m e tr ic a l u s e
o f s p a c e ( c f . R e p u b lic 6 l6 c f f . w here P l a t o d e s c r i b e s t h e •u n iv erse i n
te rm s o f t h e g e o m e tr ic a l S p in d le o f N e c e s s ity ) i s c e r t a i n l y w h at Ju n g

h a s i n m ind -w ith h i s c i r c u l a r an d r e c t a n g u l a r manua l a p a t t e r n s and
C a s s i r e r i n d i c a t e s when h e c h a r a c t e r i z e s t h e m y th ic a l i n t u i t i o n o f
sp ac e , a s o c c u p y in g " a k in d o f m id d le p o s i t i o n b etw een t h e sp a c e o f
s e n s e p e r c e p tio n and t h e sp a c e o f p u re c o g n i t i o n , t h a t i s , g e o m e t r y " .^
C a s s i r e r i n t h i s i n s t a n c e i s s p e a k in g o f g eo m etry i n a E u c lid e a n
sense. When I u s e t h e te rm i t i s i n m e re ly a s t r u c t u r a l an d sy m b o lic
one. ( C a s s i r e r d o e s , h o w ev er, i n d i c a t e t h a t a g e o m e tr ic a l q u a l i t y
o f s o r t s d o e s in h e r e i n t h e a r c h a ic c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f m in d .) The
g e o m e tr ic a l form s w ith w hich I s h a l l d e a l i n t h e f o llo w in g p a g es a r e
c i r c l e s and d y a d ic o r t r i a d i c s t r u c t u r e s t h a t can b e d raw n , f o r t h e
l a t t e r s e t i s e s p e c i a l l y sy m b o lic i n te rm s o f a r c h a ic l o g i c .
P a rm e n id e s 12 i s an e x c e l l e n t exam ple o f o p p o s itio n w ith in a c i r c l e .
R in g s o f f i r e (nup) a l t e r n a t e w ith r i n g s o f n i g h t (v u £ ) . A p o rtio n o f
flam e (< p \o £ /d a sh es b etw een t h e tw o , and i n t h e c e n t e r i s e n sc o n c e d t h e
g r e a t P a rm e n id e an sym bol o f Alxt} ( i n f r a p p . 2 1 5 - 6 ) . The c i r c l e i s
g e n e r a l l y a c o n v e n ie n t sym bol. I n a r c h a ic l i t e r a t u r e good exam ples
a r e t h e s h i e l d s o f t h e w a r r i o r s i n A esch y lu s* S even A g a in s t T h e b e s.
-For i n s t a n c e l i g h t a n d d a rk im ag ery d iv id e s Tydeus* s h i e l d on w hich
i s d e s c r ib e d t h e c i r c u l a r sym bol o f t h e f u l l moon. The s h i e l d
i t s e l f b e a r s a crr\\ia o r sym bol w h ich i s p r a c t i c a l l y i d e n t i c a l w ith i t :
ex&i. 6' tmepcppov emu/ fen* dontSoq robe

<pX6YOv9* bn* dorpouq obpavov TSTUYVt>s v° v *
Xannpa 5s itavcre\T)voq t v plow ouxst
itpecrfUcTTOv arrrpo'v r v u x T o q n p c ” cu
(S eptem 3 8 7 -3 9 0 ).

15
N a tu r a l phenomena a r e a medium th ro u g h w hich t h e a r c h a ic
c o n f ig u r a tio n o f m ind t r i e s " t o e x p la in f a c t s w hich a r e th e m s e lv e s

28
n o t o f a m a t e r i a l b u t l o g i c a l o r d e r ." L e v i- S tr a u s s h im s e lf
r e a l i z e s t h a t i n a r c h a ic th o u g h t we a re n o t d e a li n g w ith any
s c i e n t i f i c p e r c e p tio n a s we know i t to d a y b u t w ith a re a lm I hav e
m y s e lf d e f in e d above a s p h e n o m en o lo g ica l and h e d e s c r ib e s a s a r e g io n

29
c o n s t i t u t e d o f e le m e n ts l y i n g " h a lf-w a y b etw een p e r c e p ts and c o n c e p ts ."
By fo rm in g t h e s e sym bols w ith in t h e p h e n o m en o lo g ica l re a lm and n o t
s o l e l y i n te rm s o f t h e t r a n s i e n t w o rld o f o b j e c t i v e s e n s e p e r c e p t i o n ,
t h e a r c h a ic c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f m ind assum es i t s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c f e a t u r e
o f tim e le s s n e s s . I t a c h ie v e s i t s o b j e c t o f g r a s p in g " t h e w o rld as
b o th a s y n c h r o n ic [ a p a r a t a c t i c o c c u rre n c e o f e v e n ts ] and a d ia c h r o n ic
fche h y p o t a c t i c o c c u r re n c e o f e v e n ts ] t o t a l i t y and t h e know ledge w hich
i t draw s th e r e f r o m i s l i k e t h a t a f f o r d e d o f a room b y m i r r o r s f i x e d
30
on o p p o s ite w a lls w hich r e f l e c t e a c h o t h e r . . . . " S y m b o ls, t h e n ,
a rra n g e d i n o r f o r s e t s o f o p p o s itio n s r e p r e s e n t a w hole w o rld .
The h o l i s t i c n a t u r e o f a r c h a ic G reek th o u g h t i s g u a r a n te e d by them .
I n any sy ste m i t i s o f c o u rs e im p o s s ib le t o d e f in e a
sym bol c o m p le te ly s i n c e d e f i n i t i o n i s i n t h e end an a n a l y t i c a l t o o l
and a sym bol b e c a u s e o f i t s h o l i s t i c n a tu r e m ust b e a s y n t h e t i c
phenom enon. Y e t one can sa y t h a t a sym bol i s b o th t r a n s c e n d e n t a l
and p r e s e n t, w hich i n t h e a r c h a ic c o n f i g u r a tio n o f c o n s c io u s n e s s
i n d i c a t e s , a s we s h a l l s e e e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e c a s e o f P r o t a g o r a s ,
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r re p ro d u c tio n p rohib ited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

16
t h a t i n m eaning t h e r e i s no im p o r ta n t d i f f e r e n c e b etw een a sym bol—
i n t h i s c a s e avGpoinoq— i n g e n e r a l o r s p e c i f i c te r m s . Such a u se
o f a symbol a ls o i s an oth er in d ic a t io n th a t th e a r ch a ic coD nfi'guration
i s q u i t e d i f f e r e n t from t h e s c i e n t i f i c c o n f ig u r a t io n p r e s e n t to d a y —
a c o n f ig u r a tio n t h a t draw s s h a rp l i n e s b etw een th e s p e c i f i c and t h e
g e n e r a l , t h e c o n c r e te an d th e a b s t r a c t , and ev en th e o b j e c t i v e
and s u b j e c t i v e .
One can a l s o d e s c r ib e c e r t a i n e f f e c t s a r c h a ic sym bols
p o ssess. T hese e f f e c t s w i l l u n d e rg o a r a t h e r c lo s e e x a m in a tio n i n
t h i s p a p e r b e c a u s e t h e y a r e o b v io u s ly t i e d i n i n some way w ith t h e
g e n e r a l movement and a c t i o n w i th in th e l o g i c i t s e l f . A rc h a ic
sym bolism i s , t h e r e f o r e , t o a g r e a t e x t e n t a f f e c t i v e . T h is
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c may e a s i l y b e s e e n i n G reek l y r i c p o e t r y . S n e ll in
h i s D isc o v e ry o f t h e Mind p o i n t s o u t some o f t h e e x a m p le s. He
n o te s t h a t when l y r i s t s sp e a k o f a good i t i s " a n o b j e c t o f

31
g l i t t e r i n g b e a u ty " . I n fra g m e n t 65a (D ie h l) Sappho sp e a k s o f h e r
g r e a t lo v e f o r t h e s u n . S n e l l comments t h a t , a s i t i s i n t h e c a s e
o f P in d a r , h e r e i s r e v e a le d " th e w illi n g n e s s t o i d e n t i f y t h e d iv in e
32
w ith b r i g h t n e s s and l i g h t " . I n f a c t S n e l l a rg u e s w ith a c e r t a i n
d e g re e o f c o n v ic t io n t h a t i n t h e e a r l y G re e k s’ " m e d ita tio n " ( a w ord
p o o r ly c h o se n I t h i n k — " p re o c c u p a tio n " w ould b e a b e t t e r o n e) on
t h e v a r io u s m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f t h e d i v i n e , we f i n d th e f i r s t s k e tc h
o f a l o g i c a l s y s te m , " a p r e lu d e t o t h e e v e n tu a l h y p o s t a t i z a t i o n o f
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m is s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

17
„33
t h e t y p i c a l and t h e u n i v e r s a l . I t i s d i f f i c u l t * t o "be sure* t o
u n d e rs ta n d e x a c t l y w hat k in d o f "system '* S n e l l h a s i n m ind h e r e ,
f o r he does n o t g iv e h i s i d e a any f u l l e x p la n a tio n . Y e t, i t i s
e a s y enough t o s u rm is e t h a t t h e d e i t i e s o f t h i s " l o g i c a l sy stem "
h a s e d on " v a r io u s m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f t h e d iv in e " r e p r e s e n t some s o r t
o f l o g i c a l s y m b o ls, an d i n s o f a r a s t h e s e sym bols may h e drawn
s t r u c t u r a l l y o r g r a p h i c a l l y i n t o t h e l o g i c , t h e r e i s a s tr o n g
s i m i l a r i t y b etw ee n w h a t S n e l l i n t i m a t e s and w h at I s h a l l r e v e a l i n
t h e e n silin g p a g e s . A gain o u r m o st o u ts ta n d in g exam ple o f su ch a
sym bol i n o u r d i s c u s s io n s w i l l b e t h e g o d d ess Atxr] i n P a rm e n id e s.
The " a f f e c t i v e " n a t u r e o f s y m b o liz a tio n i s r o o te d i n t h e
G reek la n g u a g e i t s e l f . C a s s i r e r comments t h a t t h e r e i s p r e s e r v e d
i n la n g u a g e a c o n n e c tio n b etw ee n s p e a k in g and s a y in g an d show ing
an d i n d i c a t i n g . He s e e s , f o r i n s t a n c e , a r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een
d i c e r e an d S e tx v u u u , and qnrjut, k e s a y s , i s d e r iv e d from t h e r o o t
<pa ( S a n s k r i t b h a ) t h a t means " t o g l i t t e r " , " a p p e a r " , ’’make t o
a p p e a r" ( c f . cpaeGcs, <pco?, (patvco, L a t. f a r i , f a t e r i , e t c . ) . If
t r u e , t h i s i s an i n t e r e s t i n g e ty m o lo g ic a l p o i n t an d one t h a t c o u ld
e a s i l y a p p ly n o t o n ly t o sym bols o f a s t r u c t u r a l o r g r a p h ic n a tu r e
b u t a ls o t o lan g u ag e-—a phenomenon C a s s i r e r c o n s id e r s p r i m a r i l y
sy m b o lic i n i t s e l f . I s h a l l , th e r e f o r e , a t t h i s p o in t tu r n to a
s h o r t d i s c u s s i o n o f c e r t a i n l i n g u i s t i c and s t y l i s t i c p e c u l i a r i t i e s
t h a t r e p r e s e n t o r e x p r e s s , i n my o p i n io n , th e a r c h a ic c o n f ig u r a ti o n
o f m ind a s we h av e i t i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e n e r s e we a r e a b o u t t o ex am in e.

18
T h e re l i e s "both a t t h e r o o t s o f t h e G reek la n g u a g e and a l s o
i n i t s In d o -E u ro p e a n "background a p a r t i c u l a r d u a l i s t i c o r d y a d ic
n a t u r e t h a t "bears s t r o n g l y upon t h e s t r u c t u r e o f G reek th o u g h t.
P a i r s o r tv o s i n c o r r e l a t i o n come t o e x p r e s s a p a r t i c u l a r m eaning
t h a t ones o r g ro u p s o f l a r g e r num bers do n o t p o s s e s s , T ake, fo r
i n s t a n c e , t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e D u al c a s e . As E d u a rd S c h v y z er
p o i n t s o u t , t h e m ost im p o r ta n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e D ual i s i t s
35
d e s ig n a tio n o f p a i r s . The members o f a p a i r a r e more c l o s e l y
r e l a t e d t o one a n o th e r th a n a r e j u s t t h e s e p a r a t e phenom ena. The
r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een t h e members o f a p a i r i s a l s o p e c u l i a r l y
u n s p e c i f i e d , m aking i t q u i t e im p o s s ib le t o s e t u p any r i g i d c a te g o r ie s
t h a t m ig h t d e te rm in e e x a c t l y w h e re in t h e tw o t h i n g s r e f e r r e d t o a r e
s im ila r o r id e n tic a l. At a v e ry e a r ly s te p in th e h is to r y o f
la n g u a g e t h e D ual c o u ld ev en s t a n d f o r a d i s s i m i l a r p a i r (a and b )
a s w e l l a s f o r a l i k e one ( a an d a ) . Such u s a g e s do n o t s u r v iv e
i n a r c h a ic G reek b u t t h e i r e x i s t e n c e i n t h e la n g u a g e a t one tim e can
b e i n f e r r e d from S a n s k r i t ex am p les l i k e p i t a r a u o r m a ta ra u .
" F a th e r and M o th e rs, ah an ? n . ; "Day. an d N ig h t" ( n o te t h e o p p o s itio n
h e re ). The D ual c a s e i s one way i n w h ich G reek— and t o an even
g r e a t e r d e g r e e , p e r h a p s , p r o to - G r e e k — c o u ld e x p r e s s a c o r r e l a t i o n
betw een o p p o s ite s t h a t in v o lv e s l a r g e a r e a s o f p a r t i a l i d e n t i t i e s .
As C a s s i r e r p o i n t s o u t , t h e D ual r e p r e s e n t s a v e ry s p e c i a l ty p e o f
g e n e r ic g ro u p in g . 37
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohib ited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

19
The " d u a l q u a l i t y " o f t h e G reek la n g u a g e — t h a t i s , an
e s p e c i a l im p o rt since g iv e n t o th e phenomenon o f tw o— may a ls o h e
se e n i n form s l i k e exepoq and i n t h e u s e o f aXXoq and aXXoc i n
t h e o b liq u e c a s e s . W ackernagel makes th e p o i n t t h a t t h e s u f f i x
-xepoq s e r v e s a s an e x p r e s s io n o f o p p o s itio n b etw een two t h i n g s .
S c h v y z e r s t a t e s i n h i s a r t i c l e on Seuxspoq t h a t t h e -xepoq s u f f i x
t i e s t o g e t h e r Seuxepoq i n m eaning w ith exepoq, fexaxepoq, Apxpoxepoq,
n6xepoq, np^xepoq, uaxepoq and t h a t Seoxepoq h a s a l s o a se m a n tic

39
c o n n e c tio n w ith aXXoq. I n h i s a r t i c l e on aXXoq and exepoq he
s p e c i f i c a l l y i n d i c a t e s t h e m eaning o f " t h e o th e r " f o r t h e fo rm e r
and " t h e one o f tw o" f o r t h e l a t t e r . ^ O p p o s itio n s w ith i n tw os
seem t o b e im b red i n t h e la n g u a g e i t s e l f . T hese "p ro n o u n s d e n o tin g
a r e c i p r o c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een two phenomena a r e e x tre m e ly o ld
and may b e t r a c e d f a r back i n t o l a n g u a g e . " ^
F i n a l l y t h e c o r r e l a t i v e c o n ju n c tio n s x e . . . x& (L .
q u e . . . q u e ) and a l l o f i t s compounds r e f l e c t to o th e d u a l i s t i c o r
d y a d ic te n d e n c y . "Te" i t s e l f may b e t r a c e d b a c k t o a p r o t o -
U2
in d o e u ro p e a n e le m e n t and i n t h e _ o l d e s t I n d i e p o e tr y and p ro s e th e
U3
e le m e n t i s c o r r e l a t e d w ith i t s e l f ( a i . c a . . . c a , G r. x e . . . x e ) .
I n e a r l y G reek i t i s fou n d i n s e v e r a l in s t a n c e s b in d in g o p p o s ite s —
e . g . naxrjp 4v5pcov xe Gswvxs 1 1 . 1 . 5 ^ and acpaxou x s <paxot xe H es.
E. 3. T h e re i s , t h e n , e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e la n g u a g e a t a v e ry e a r l y
d a te a c o n n e c tin g p r i n c i p l e t h a t e q u a liz e d and u n i f i e d p o s s i b l e

20
o p p o s itio n s a s does t h e a lp h a p r i v a t i v e i t s e l f fo u n d i n t h e above
H e s io d ic p h r a s e . T h is phenomenon i n In d o -E u ro p ean and G reek c o u ld
a l s o b e re g a rd e d a s r e l a t e d t o d u a l i s t i c e x p re s s io n i n t h e la n g u a g e
i n so f a r a s a w ord form ed w ith th e p r i v a t i v e i s u s e d w ith i t s
u n p r e f ix e d p o s i t i v e , th e r e b y fo rm in g a n a t u r a l p a i r o r u n i t y .
I s h a l l a rg u e i n th e e n s u in g c h a p te r t h a t th e p r i v a t i v e - p o s i t i v e
r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een id e a s o f m o r t a l i t y and id e a s o f im m o r ta lity
( t h a t i s , p r i m a r i l y betw een Gvryroq and &-0avaToq) i s n o t m e re ly
s e p a r a t i v e b u t i n s e v e r a l s e n s e s i m p li e s , i n a p e c u l i a r w ay, p a r t i a l
i d e n t i t y — t h a t i s , by a f a c t o r o f i n t e r a c t i o n and g e n e r a t i o n , t h e s e
o p p o s ite s im p ly one a n o th e r and a r e c o n s id e re d somehow o n e . H ere
w i l l b e a p rim e exam ple o f p a i r e d o p p o s i t e s , a p a r t i c u l a r d u a l i s t i c
n o tio n c a r r i e d i n t o t h e s t o r y l i n e and t h e s y n ta x o f l i t e r a t u r e i t s e l f .
S t y l i s t i c a l l y a l s o th e Greek lan g u ag e p o s s e s s e s some p e c u l i a r
t r a i t s t h a t i n d i c a t e a way o f th o u g h t we s h a l l d is c o v e r i n H e r a c lit u s
and P a rm e n id e s. Take f o r i n s t a n c e th e s t y l i s t i c phenomenon o f
a p p o s it io n and i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p t o th e e a r l y G reek ’ s s e n s e o f tim e .
I t i s n o t th e v e rb form s t h a t make G reek d i f f i c u l t f o r us
b u t t h e way i n w hich t h e th o u g h t o r s e n te n c e i s s t r u c t u r e d . F o r th e
m odern r e a d e r , t h e u n i t y o f th o u g h t i s v e ry w eak; i t i s somehow
n o t o r g a n ic . I t lo o k s as i f an a u th o r h a s composed h i s w ork o r a
man h i s th o u g h t from autonom ous p ie c e s t h a t one may change a b o u t

h6
a s one w is h e s . The w hole sy ste m we know as c a u se and e f f e c t no

21
lo n g e r h o ld s i t s v a l i d i t y . A e t i o l o g i c a l e x p la n a tio n s i n G reek
Ut
l i t e r a t u r e r e v e r s e w hat we s h o u ld c o n s id e r t h e ’’n o rm al" p r o c e s s .
I d e a s and j u x t a p o s i t i o n s o f w ords a r e n o t s u b o r d in a te d i n a m anner
fa m ilia r to u s . G roningen i n La C o m p o sitio n L i t t e r a i r e A rchaSque
G recque h a s made c l e a r t h e modern m a n 's q u a n d ry , h u t h i s c a t e g o r i e s
f o r a n a ly s is ( l a ju x ta p o s itio n , l e ra c c o rd , 1 'in t e r c a l a t io n , l a
t r a n s p o s i t i o n , l 'e x o r d e , 1 ' E p ilo g u e , I 'e n c a d re m e n t p a r l 'e x o r d e e t
1 ' e p ilo g u e , l e s r e p e t i t i o n s , l e r e s e a u e n t r e l a c e ) a r e f a i r l y empty
o n e s , f o r th e y b eg t h e r e a l c a u s e o f an a r c h a ic p e c u l i a r i t y o f s t y l e
by l i s t i n g a s e r i e s o f c o m p o s itio n a l te c h n i q u e s , and a lth o u g h
G roningen s t a t e s t h a t th e p r e - c l a s s i c a l m e n t a l i t y obeys i t s own

1*9
p r o p e r law s and s h o u ld b e s e e n a s an autonom ous phenom enon, he
does n o t d is c u s s th e s e u n d e r ly in g law s a s t r u e u n if y in g te r m s . In
f a c t h e d e n ie s any r e a l u n d e r ly in g u n i t y to a r c h a ic th o u g h t a t a l l .
A rc h a ic c o m p o sitio n i s , f o r h im , an e f f o r t to w a rd s c o h e re n c e , and
i t i s h i s t a s k t o show how s im p le j u x t a p o s i t i o n tra n s fo rm s i t s e l f
"m ore o r l e s s i n t o u n i t y . C o n s e q u e n t l y we a r e g iv e n a s e r i e s
o f d e f in e d te c h n iq u e s b u t h a r d ly any s u b s t a n t i v e u n d e r s ta n d in g o f
t h e th o u g h t, i t s e l f .
G ro n in g e n 's m a jo r m i s t a k e , h o w ev er, i s n o t i n f a i l i n g t o
s e e a s t r u c t u r a l u n i t y i n a r c h a ic th o u g h t, f o r h e does c r e a t e u n if y i n g
s t r u c t u r e s o f s o r t s by h i s l i t e r a r y c a t e g o r i e s , b u t i n f a i l i n g t o
t u r n f i r s t and fo re m o st t o th e a p p o s i t i o n a l n a tu r e o f t h e la n g u a g e

22
•fn g e n e r a l an d th e n a s k in g how t h i s m ig h t make a r c h a i c th o u g h t
p e c u l i a r an d c o n s i s t e n t w i th in i t s e l f so t h a t h e m ig h t th e n l a b e l
u n d e r ly in g s t r u c t u r e s . The u n i t y o f th e a r c h a ic c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f
m ind l i e s i n an a p p o s i t i o n a l s t y l e t h a t u l t i m a t e l y r e f l e c t s , I t h i n k ,
a p a r t i c u l a r a n d u n i f y i n g s e n s e o f tim e .
To p u t t h e m a t t e r i n i t s s i m p l e s t and m ost b a s i c fo rm : th e
a r c h a ic c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f m ind i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y a -p a ra ta x is
( ju x ta p o s i t i o n ) o f th o u g h t t h a t l i e s o u t s i d e o f an y c a u se an d e f f e c t
s t r u c t u r e we m ig h t know b e c a u s e o f o u r own n a t u r a l , b u t n o t n e c e s s a r y ,
i n c l i n a t i o n to w a rd s h y p o ta x is ( s u b o r d in a ti o n ) . From a p p o s i t i o n a l
j u x t a p o s i t i o n s o f t h e la n g u a g e a r i s e t h e l o g i c a l phenom ena we s h a l l
d is c u s s i n t h e e n s ilin g p a g e s .
M e i l l e t an d V endryes i n t h e i r T r a i t e de Gramma! r e comparge
des Langues c l a s s i q u e s h av e i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e a p p o s i t i o n a l mode was
a phenomenon o f t h e In d o -E u ro p e a n s e n t e n c e . ^ I t i s e x p e c te d t h a t , as
an a r c h a ic e x p r e s s io n o f m ean in g , t h e n , one s h o u ld f i n d i t i n th e
l i t e r a t u r e s o f G re e c e . The w ork o f H a rry and A gathe T h o rn to n ( Time
and S ty l :- : _a P s y c h o - L in g u is tic E ssa y i n C l a s s i c a l L i t e r a t u r e ) r e v e a l s
c l e a r l y w hat .the a p p o s i t i o n a l mode o f th o u g h t means i n te rm s o f th e
a r c h a ic c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f m in d ,' an d w here th e y do n o t e x p l a i n a l l o f
th e c o m p lic a te d l i t e r a r y s t r u c t u r e s G roningen a d d r e s s e s , th e y do
o u t l i n e a m ethod t h a t seem s t o me l i k e l y t o p ro v e a n e c e s s a r y su p p lem en t
t o G ro n in g e n 's ta x o n o m ic a p p ro a c h .

23
What i s t h i s " a p p o s i t i o n a l mode o f th o u g h t" ? As T h o rn to n
an d T h o rn to n d e s c r ib e i t , i t i s one o f two c a t e g o r i e s u n d e r t h e more
g e n e r a l phenomenon o f p a r a t a x i s — i . e . , a p r e s e n t a t i o n t h a t " p ro c e e d s
52
b y way o f s u c c e s s io n r a t h e r th a n s u b o r d i n a t i o n ." The f i r s t c a te g o ry
i s l i n e a r — i . e . " a form o f e x p r e s s io n t h a t p ro c e e d s s t e p b y s t e p i n
an u n sw e rv in g s w i f t and p a u s e le s s m ovem ent, u s in g th e . s im p le s t

53
o n ly o f c o n n e c tin g w o r d s . . . . " The se c o n d c a te g o r y i s a p p o s i t i o n a l —
i . e . a form o f e x p r e s s io n t h a t s t a t e s a p a r t i c u l a r i d e a a n d c o n t i n u a l ly
5b
e l a b o r a t e s t h i s w ith d e t a i l s o r r e p e t i t i o n s o f t h e i d e a i t s e l f .
T h e re a r i s e s , t h e n , t h e phenomenon o f " a p p o s i t i o n a l c l u s t e r s " t h a t
a r e n o t u s e d t o d e s c r ib e a l i n e a r p r o g r e s s i o n o f th o u g h t i n a h i s t o r i c a l
c o n te x t ( t h a t i s a p r o g r e s s io n fro m t h e p a s t t o t h e p r e s e n t t o th e
f u t u r e a s i s common i n o u r own s t y l e o f la n g u a g e ) b u t t o d e s c r ib e i n
e i t h e r an o rn a m e n ta l o r em o tiv e s e n s e one p a r t i c u l a r i d e a . T h is
mode o f e x p r e s s io n i s t h e r e f o r e v e r t i c a l . ; i t p ro d u c e s m eaning b y a
p i l i n g up i n a p p o s it io n o r i d e n t i t y b etw een i d e a s . An h i s t o r i c a l
c o n te x t does n o t a p p ly . " I t i s p l a i n t h a t tim e i n o u r m odern s e n s e ,
w ith i t s homogeneous flo w from p a s t th ro u g h p r e s e n t t o f u t u r e , i s
n o t t h e o r d e r in g p r i n c i p l e o f t h i s s o r t o f n a r r a t i v e . The a c t u a l
s e q u e n c e o f e v e n ts i s o f no a c c o u n t.
T h is v e r t i c a l e x p r e s s io n o f th o u g h t i s d i r e c t l y l in k e d
4V A "1 -1 1^ 3• ______
âvwciuo *c ouaxx uisuuvci xii
--JL.
iici'auxioud
- ttiiu
..?
P arm en id es i n so f a r as t h e r e i s an i n h e r e n t i d e n t i t y b etw een

2h
o p p o s ite s i n th e a r c h a ic l o g i c I am e n d e a v o rin g t o d e s c r i b e . The
a p p o s i t i o n a l mode o f th o u g h t r e q u i r e s t h a t i n an e x p r e s s io n o f
th o u g h t one p a r t i c u l a r phenomenon h e r e a f f i r m e d , t h a t , a s C a s s i r e r
8 a y s , any r e l a t i o n betw een tw o members i s tr a n s f o r m e d i n t o an
i d e n t i t y . 56 I t may b e s a i d t h a t w ith in t h e a r c h a ic c o n f i g u r a tio n
o f m ind o p p o s i t i o n a l t h i n k i n g i s a s u b c a te g o ry o f t h e o p p o s i tio n a l
mode o f th o u g h t, one w hich c a r r i e s t o an e x tre m e t h e h a b i t o f
J u x t a p o s i t i o n w ith o u t e x p la n a to r y c o n n e c tio n s . B o th c a te g o r y and
s u b c a te g o ry a p p e a r i n t h e H e r a c l i t e a n p h r a s e , [(dG dvaxou 6 v t)toC )3
[ (fiv n ro t AQavaTOL) 1, [^w vrsq tov Jxstvccv B dvcrrov,] [ tov 5 s £xc Cvccv
pCov t s Qv scores] (62) (im m o rta ls [ a r e ] m o r t a l s , m o r ta ls [ a r e ]
im m o r ta ls , t h e l i v i n g t h e d e a th o f o n e , t h e d y in g t h e l i f e o f th e
o t h e r ) . T h e re i s n o t a p a ra d o x o f s e p a r a te d and d i s j u n c t o p p o s itio n s
b u t an a f f i r m a t i o n o f t h e i n h e r e n t u n i t y o r i d e n t i t y b e h in d o r w ith in
a p o s i t i v e and i t s p r i v a t i v e . They a r e t h e same and n o t th e sam e.
I le a v e f u r t h e r d is c u s s io n o f t h i s e x t r a o r d i n a r y phenomenon t o i t s
p r o p e r p l a c e . 57
One r e s u l t o f t h e a p p o s i t i o n a l mode’ s m anner o f " s t a r t i n g
w ith t h e i s s u e an d d w e llin g on i t th ro u g h a l l t h e s t a g e s o f i t s
r e a l i s a t i o n " i s a c o n d itio n q u i t e u n l ik e t h e "m odern t e n s i o n o f w a itin g

«58
and i t s r e s o l u t i o n . E m o tio n a l i n t e n s i t y i s n o t f o r e i g n t o t h e
a r c h a ic w o rld v ie w . M a rtin N ils s o n i n h i s " G u tt e r u nd P s y c h o lo g ie
b e i Hcmer" i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e H om eric h e ro i s i n a v e r y u n s ta b l e
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e c o p y rig h t o w n e r . F u r th e r re p ro d u c tio n p rohib ited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

25
59
s ta te . One may c i t e f o r i n s t a n c e A c h i l l e s ’ g r e a t r a g e o r P a t r o c l u s
who i n a n g e r d u r in g d ic e k i l l s a p la y m a te ( I I . 2 3 . 8 5 f f ) . Hom eric
h e ro e s a r e n o t known t o r e s t r a i n t e a r s . O dysseus w eeps when C irc e
t e l l s him he m ust v i s i t th e u n d e rw o rld (Od. 1 0 .U 9 6 f f ) . "Such a
d e s c r i p t i o n m ust h e ta k e n l i t e r a l l y , i f we a r e t o r e a l i s e th e
a f f e c t i v e i n t e n s i t y o f a n c ie n t man. I t i s on t h e b a s i s o f t h i s
e m o tio n a l i n s t a b i l i t y t h a t N ils s o n ( p . 375) e x p l a i n s t h e way i n w hich
t h e H om eric h e ro f e e l s b e s e t b y i n f a t u a t i o n ( a t e ) o r b y a d iv in e
pow er (daim on) . ’He i s s u b je c te d t o t h e a f f e c t o f t h e moment; when
t h e i n t o x i c a t i o n i s p a s t , when t h e f a t e f u l c o n se q u e n ce s a r e a t h a n d ,
he says: I do n o t w ish t h i s , and th e n : I d id n o t do t h i s . H is
own b e h a v io u r h a s becam e s t r a n g e t o h i m . T h i s p o w e rfu l em o tiv e
a s p e c t i n t h e a r c h a ic c o n f ig u r a tio n o f mind i s r e f l e c t e d i n t h e
a p p o s i t i o n a l s t y l e , f o r t h e d i s j o i n t e d n e s s o f tim e u n d e r s tr o n g
e m o tio n a l s t r e s s i s r e f l e c t e d b e s t b y t h i s mode.
Time and s p a c e , t h e r e f o r e , i n th e a r c h a i c c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f
m ind become h ig h ly q u a l i t a t i v e , r a t h e r th a n q u a n t i t a t i v e , i n n a t u r e .
T h o rn to n and T h o rn to n , m aking u s e o f t h e u n d e rw o rld p a s s a g e s from
H e s io d 's Theogony I m y s e lf s h a l l exam ine s u b s e q u e n t l y , ^ n o te t h e s e
te m p o ra l and s p a t i a l p e c u l i a r i t i e s :
L e t u s sum up t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h i s p a s s a g e . When
i n t h e c o u rs e o f h i s n a r r a t i v e H e sio d comes t o t h e d e f e a t
and im nrTsor|'nipri+. i n T a r ta r o s o f t h e T i ta n s a t t h e h an d o f
K o tto s and h i s com p an io n s, h e d w e lls on T a r t a r o s , i t s

26
d i s t a n c e , w a ll and p o s i t i o n i n r e l a t i o n t o th e r o o ts
o f t h e e a r t h and s e a . Then he r e t u r n s t o th e T ita n s
a s l i v i n g i n T a r ta r o s and t o t h e i r v i c t o r s , K o tto s and
h i s com panions. A g a in , he d w e lls on th e 's p r i n g s and
en d s o f e a r t h , sea* e t c . , one w h ich h e e l a b o r a t e s ,
e v e r a d d in g d e t a i l b o th f a c t u a l and e m o tio n a l and e v e r
and a g a in e x p an d in g on so m eth in g m e n tio n e d b e f o r e i n a
b a l d e r f a s h io n , u n t i l a t l a s t h e f i n a l l y r e t u r n s t o th e
d w e llin g —p la c e o f th e T ita n s an d t h e i r v i c t o r s . A lth o u g h
t h i s i s a d e s c r i p t i o n o f d w e llin g s e t c . i n th e u n d e r
w o rld , i t s s t r u c t u r e i s n o t d e te rm in e d b y s p a t i a l
r e l a t i o n s h i p s . T h ere i s no c o n c e p tio n o f t h e sp a c e o f
t h e u n d e rw o rld a s a w hole i n w h ich one m ig h t move ab o u t
i n c o n s i s t e n t and o r d e r ly f a s h io n from p la c e t o p l a c e .
T h e re a r e many i n d i c a t i o n s o f l o c a l i t y , b u t a l l o f them
d e v o id o f c l e a r r e f e r e n c e . I t i s im p o s s ib le t o im ag in e
c o n c r e te ly a voyage i n t h e s e r e g i o n s . Space h e r e i s n o t
E u c lid e a n s p a c e . I t i s n o t q u a n t i t a t i v e so t h a t one
c o u ld m easure d is ta n c e s o r work o u t r e l a t i o n s h i p s i n
t h e t h r e e d im e n s io n s. I t i s q u a l i t a t i v e . Each p la c e
i n t h i s 's p a c e ' h a s i t s own q u a l i t y o r c h a r a c t e r w hich
t h e p o e t and h i s a u d ie n c e e x p e r ie n c e , e n jo y o r s u f f e r ,
a s t h e gloom o f t h e h o u se o f N ig h t, t h e g rim i n e v i t a b i l i t y
o f t h e h o u se o f H ad es, th e s p le n d i d awesom eness o f t h e
abode o f S ty x . I t i s from t h e i n t e n s e l y f e l t e x p e rie n c e
o f t h e q u a l i t y o f t h in g s t h a t t h e - a p p o s i t i o n a l mode o f
e x p r e s s io n a r i s e s h e r e . The c o h e re n c e o f su ch a p a ss a g e
h a s t o b e u n d e rs to o d i n em o tiv e and q u a l i t a t i v e te r m s . ^
E a r ly G reek l i t e r a t u r e abounds i n exam ples o f n o n - q u a n t i t a t i v e
uses o f space. I n B a c c h y lid e s 1 7 . 8 l f f . ( S n e l l ) , T h eseu s s p r in g s
o v e rb o a rd and i s w h isk ed away by d o lp h in s t o t h e h a l l s o f P o s e id o n .
H is a d v e r s a r y , M inos, amazed (xucpev 5s Atoq uto q sv 5 o 8 e v / x sap
lT . 8 6 -7 ) * g iv e s t h e o r d e r t o k e ep t h e s h i p m oving. "The n o rth w in d
b lew from a s t e r n and th e s h ip l e a p t fo rw a rd on h e r c o u r s e 'Koocl / v lv ■
gopeaq I^ o tilv jivsouct' arpra 1 7 . 9 0 -1 )* "M eanw hile" T h eseu s e n t e r s a
f a i r y l a n d r e g io n j u s t a s i n d e s c r ib a b le i n p h y s i c a l te rm s a s i s
H e s io d 's T a r t a r u s . He s e e s th e d a u g h te rs o f Ner.eus e m itt in g l i g h t

27
and d ressed i n g old (N-qprpq 6 \ - / pCoo xopaq • dno yap &y\a-/ Zv
Xdixns yotwv aeXaq/ ware nupoq, dpupl xa ^ cn .q / 6 l xPu^6°nôx o<*/
5tvr)vTO x a c v ta u 17.. 1 0 2 -1 0 7 ). I n t h e a - s p a t i a l and a - te m p o r a l
r e g io n o f P o s e id o n 's p a la c e t h e a f f e c t i v e l i g h t im ag ery o f sym bols
assumes a co n sid era b le power— a power lin k ed w ith th e sym bol's
e m o tiv e q u a l i t y o r more p r e c i s e l y t h e e m o tio n a l r e a c t i o n on t h e p a r t

63
o f t h e v ie w e r . From A m p h itr ite h e r e c e i v e s a w re a th and su d d e n ly
s p r in g s up b e s i d e t h e s t e r n o f t h e s h i p , d r y , a w onder t o a l l ( Gauga
ndvTeaCTt), an d b e w ild e r in g Minos ( l 7 . 11 9 -1 2 3 ) a s w e l l h e m ig h t
s i n c e M inos h a d g iv e n o r d e r s t h a t t h e s h ip s a i l on once T h eseu s h a d
Jumped o v e rb o a rd . S pace and tim e i n a l i n e a r s e n s e h a v e b e e n c o n fu s e d
and re d u c e d t o n o th in g . We a r e i n s t e a d f a c e d w ith a q u a l i t a t i v e s e n s e
6k
o f tim e b a s e d l a r g e l y on t h e e m o tiv e f o r c e o f e v e n ts . In th e
f o llo w in g p a g e s I s h a l l in tr o d u c e o t h e r exam ples t h a t f a l l o u t s id e
o f tim e and space as we u su a lly con ceive o f them: Parmenides' proem
t o h i s w o rk , h i s m andala fra g m e n t 12 . and o f c o u rs e h i s a p p o s i t i o n a l
lo g ic i t s e l f . In H er a clitu s th e concepts o f Xoyoq, 66oq, dppovCa,
n o p , an d p.eTpov f a l l e a s i l y i n t o t h i s c a te g o r y a s d o es t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l
nature o f h is lo g ic a ls o . Then in H esiod , both Tartarus and, as
I s h a l l l a t e r a r g u e , Ocean show a s i m i l a r a - te m p o r a l and a - s p a t i a l
c h a r a c t e r .^ In th e Homeric Hymns th e a f f e c t iv e lig h t imagery
surrounding th e gods and t h e ir a - s p a t ia l and a-tem poral a b i l i t y to
change shapes and s iz e s harks back t o a p a r tic u la r ly em otive sen se

66
o f txm e and s p a c e .

28
T h o rn to n and T h o rn to n d e a l s p e c i f i c a l l y w ith th e s u b je c t
o f "T em poral E x p e rie n c e and A p p o s itio n a l E x p re s s io n " (p p . 7 5 -8 8 ) ,
and s in c e t h e i d e a i s so n o v e l t o u s , i t i s b e s t t h a t I expose w hat
th e y s a y a b o u t t h i s phenomenon i n some d e t a i l . They f i r s t s t a t e
t h a t " a l l a c t s o f sp ee c h c o n s i s t o f s u c c e s s iv e ite m s e x p e rie n c e d in
tim e ." ^ Y e t, t h e i d e a t h a t " s p e e c h i s a te m p o ra l p ro c e s s " i s n o t
a s s im p le a s i t m ig h t seem . A p e rs o n s p e a k in g c a n n o t e x p re s s w hat
h e h a s t o s a y a l l a t once b u t i s f o r c e d t o make u s e o f tim e b y h i s
seq u e n c e o f w o rd s . I n a' l i k e m an n er, t h e p e rs o n l i s t e n i n g ap p reh en d s
t h e u t t e r a n c e i n a p ie c e b y p ie c e w ay; " T h is means t h a t an a c t o f
sp ee c h i s a te m p o ra l e x p e r ie n c e . So a l s o i s i t s c o u n te r p a r t— an
a c t o f u n d e r s ta n d in g . " I t is th is ’t e m p o r a l i t y 1 w ith i t s d i f f e r e n t
68
modes w h ich we p ro p o s e t o a n a ly z e p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y ." A p e r s o n 's
m e n ta l a c t i v i t y i s one o f " a t t e n d i n g s e l e c t i v i t y " . "The s u b je c t
a tte n d s t o w hat i s p r e s e n te d t o h im , b u t n o t t o a l l o f i t e q u a ll y ,
o n ly t o w h a te v e r h i s i n t e r e s t le a d s him t o a t t e n d t o . " ^ Now i t i s
q u i t e p o s s i b l e t o o r g a n iz e o n e 's a t t e n t i o n s o t h a t a s t r i c t a d h e re n c e
t o t h e m o tio n o f tim e from p a s t t o p r e s e n t t o f u t u r e i s fo llo w e d and
th e w hole s e n s e o f t h e s e n te n c e in v o lv e d i s n o t co m p leted u n t i l i t s
end. T h o rn to n and T h o rn to n g iv e t h e m odern E n g lis h exam ple o f
"T hese cak e s a r e a l l s o ld " and t h e G reek exam ple (dXXa ndvraq f](iaq
n s p l tXa-nrovoq nou&T L y s ia s 3 2 .1 7 ) a s p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f
70
su c h e x p r e s s io n . On t h e o th e r h a n d , when Homer t e l l s o f C alypso

29
h a n d in g O dysseus an axe ( S&xev o t TteXexuv ^leyav, app,evov £v
naXapngou,/ y a k x to v , &mpoTepco©sv d x ax iilv o v Od. 5 « 2 3 ^-5 )» i t i s e a s y
enough t o s e e t h a t an i n i t i a l s ta te m e n t o r i d e a i s e l a b o r a t e d an d
g iv e n d e t a i l . "The b u rd e n o f a l l t h e a p p o s i t i o n a l e x p a n s io n , w h e th e r
a d j e c t i v e s , p a r t i c i p l e s o r a s e n te n c e e l a b o r a t i n g on ! a x e * , i s p r a i s e
o f t h e e x c e lle n c e o f t h e ax e t h a t C aly p so gave t o O d y sseu s. The
i n t e n s i t y t o w hich t h i s p r a i s e i s b u i l t up e x p r e s s e s C a ly p s o 's lo v e
f o r O dysseus and t h e c a r e w ith w hich s h e p la n s h i s v o y a g e . In th is
H om eric s e n te n c e , a s c o n t r a s t e d w ith t h e above s e n te n c e o f I y s i a s ,
t h e s e n s e t o b e conveyed i s g iv e n t o t h e l i s t e n e r as e a r l y a s
p o s s ib le . A ll th e f a c t u a l an d e m o tio n a l d e t a i l i s th e n added
t o i t ."71
T h o rn to n and T h o rn to n th e n a sk w hat t h i s c o n t i n u a l " a d d i t i o n "
o r " p ic k in g up" m ig h t mean i n t e r n s o f i t s e f f e c t s . I t s m a jo r e f f e c t
i s t o "make v i v i d a g a in o r 'r e v i v e ' memory im ages" o f w h at h a s J u s t

72
been s a id . Even on a l a r g e r s c a l e t h i s i s t h e c a s e , 'fh o le
e p is o d e s , e . g . t h e P ro m eth eu s s t o r y i n H e sio d and Homer’ s t e l l i n g
o f t h e bow o f O dysseus (b o th ex am p les a r e a n a ly z e d by T h o rn to n an d
T h o r n to n ) , a r e t o l d i n t h i s v i v i d m anner t h a t p u ts e v e r y th in g i n t o
a tim e t h a t i s e q u a ll y p r e s e n t t o t h e l i s t e n e r and n a r r a t o r . " T h e re

73
c o u ld n o t th e n b e any c h ro n o lo g y , and i n f a c e . . . t h e r e i s n o t . "
T h o rn to n and T h o rn to n ad m it t h a t " a l l u t t e r a n c e in v o lv e s an ev p e-rien ce
•o f tim e i n s p e a k e r a n d l i s t e n e r . " The d i s t i n g u i s h i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c

30
o f an a p p o s i t i o n a l u t t e r a n c e i s t h a t i n s o f a r a s i t d e a ls w ith th e
f u t u r e i t i s " a minimum o f a f u t u r e t h a t i s c e r t a i n l y t o b e e x p e c te d
and in . p a r t p re d e te r m in e d . As f o r th e p a s t , i t i s n o t s t r i c t l y
s e p a r a t e d from t h e p r e s e n t as a p a s t t h a t h a s b e e n and i s no m o re,
b u t i s alw ays c lo s e b e h in d t h e p r e s e n t i n t e n s i f y i n g and 2.1iusio. n &t xn g

tU
it.” T im e, t h e r e f o r e , i n a p p o s i t i o n a l u t t e r a n c e i s " n o t y e t c l e a r l y
75
and n e c e s s a r i l y d i f f e r e n t i a t e d i n t o p a s t , p r e s e n t and f u t u r e .
"The te m p o ra l s u c c e s s io n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e a p p o s i t i o n a l s t y l e
i s d e te rm in e d by a f f e c t , by th e p o s i t i v e f e e l i n g s o f d e l i g h t and
i n t e n s e i n t e r e s t i n s p e a k e r and l i s t e n e r . Such i s t h e tim e n o tio n
i m p l i c i t i n an a p p o s i t i o n a l u t t e r a n c e . "
T h is q u a l i t a t i v e s e n s e o f tim e comes o u t c l e a r l y i n c e r t a i n
G reek v e rb form s— e s p e c i a l l y i n th e a o r i s t and p e r f e c t v o i c e s . The
a o r i s t was d i f f e r e n t i a t e d from t h e i m p e r f e c t , a t e n s e w ith d i s t i n c t l y
" p a s t m e a n in g s" , v e ry e a r l y i n t h e d ev elo p m en t o f a n c ie n t la n g u a g e

77
a n d i s a b a s i c te n s e i n G reek. I n t h e a o r i s t t h e r e i s an i d e a o f
O
so m eth in g g iv e n b u t n o t l a s t i n g o r h a b i t u a l . I n t h e c a s e o f th e
gnom ic a o r i s t , i t i s e v id e n t t h a t t h e t e n s e r e p r e s e n t s some h a p p e n in g
i n th e p a s t t h a t may o r m ust b e r e p e a te d i n t h e p r e s e n t o r f u t u r e a s
v e il. T h e re i s no c l e a r d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n b e tw ee n t h e t h r e e modern
t e n s e s . 79 W ack em ag el a l s o g iv e s t h e arg u m en t t h a t from th e b e g in n in g

8o
t h e a o r i s t was u s e d i n a tim e le s s s e n s e . The p e r f e c t t e n s e a l s o
shows a s i m i l a r d i s r e g a r d f o r modern l i n e a r se q u e n c e s o f tim e . Its

31
o l d e s t m eaning was a k in d o f p r e s e n t . I t th e n moved i n t o a r e s u l t a t i v e
m eaning— t h a t i s o f an a c t i o n c o m p leted i n th e p a s t w ith d i r e c t
i n f l u e n c e on t h e p r e s e n t . I t s l a s t m ean in g , f a r ad v an ced i n th e
h i s t o r y o f t h e t e n s e , was a h i s t o r i c a l o n e , more o r l e s s a s we u s e
8x
i t to d a y . I t i s c l e a r , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t tim e was n o t a rra n g e d f o r
t h e a r c h a ic G reek on a l i n e a r p la n e m oving from p a s t , p r e s e n t , t o
f u t u r e b u t on s t a r t l i n g e m o tiv e p o i n t s t h a t e i t h e r c o n tr a c te d an d
c o lla p s e d o r d e s tr o y e d any p o s s i b l e l i n e a r c o n c e p t.
I t m ust b e n o te d t h a t t h i s q u a l i t a t i v e s e n s e o f tim e i s
r a d i c a l l y opposed t o any A r i s t o t e l i a n c o n c e p t o f th e phenom enon.
A r i s t o t l e 's d is c u s s io n o f tim e i s p r i m a r i l y i n h i s P h y s i c s . He i s
i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e p r i n c i p l e s o r c a u s e s o f N a tu re . N a tu re i s
co n c e rn e d w ith m o tio n a s i s tim e . Time f o r him i s in v o lv e d w ith

Qa
m o tio n ; i t i s a k in d o f "xC vnatq" an d "ch a n g in g " ( 2 l8 b 9 - 1 0 ) . The
p a s s a g e o f tim e i s ev ery w h ere a l i k e and i s i n r e l a t i o n s h i p t o
e v e r y th in g (b 5s yoovoc buotcoq x e ! x s l napn Jiaoxv 2 l 8 b l 3 - i * ) .
He e x p l i c i t l y d e n ie s t h a t tim e h a s a n y th in g t o do w ith d i f f e r e n t
s t a t e s o f c o n s c io u s n e s s th e m s e lv e s and a rg u e s t h a t o n ly i f we a r e
i n t h e s t a t e t h a t p e r c e iv e s and d i s t i n g u i s h e s ch an g es do we s a y tim e
h a s e la p s e d .
I t i s c l e a r t h a t tim e m ust b e c o n n e c te d w ith xCvrjatq
Qa
and change ( 2 l8 b 3 0 - 2 1 9 a l) . Time m u s t, t h e r e f o r e , in v o lv e a
8U
p e r c e iv e d m o tio n o r continu u m o f movement. Time t a k e s on d e f i n i t i o n
b y t h e now’s r e l a t i o n s h i p t o so m eth in g p r i o r and so m eth in g p o s t e r i o r .
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of th e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n pro hibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

32
I t i s i n f a c t t h i s ’’c a l c u l a b l e m easu re o f m o tio n ” (&pt9ptoq XLvrjcreoq)

Or
i n r e s p e c t t o b e f o r e and a f t e r t h a t tim e r e a l l y i s . A ris to tle h a s,
t h e r e f o r e , e s t a b l i s h e d tim e a s a l i n e a r co n tin u u m m oving from t h e
p a s t th ro u g h t h e p r e s e n t t o t h e f u t u r e on w h ich p o i n t s o f tim e a r e
d i f f e r e n t i a t e d b y t h e p r e s e n t o r now. As Jo h n C a lla h a n i n h i s v e r y
h e l p f u l b o o k , F o u r Views o f Time i n A n c ie n t P h ilo s o p h y h a s s t a t e d ,
"Thus t h e c o n t i n u i t y o f tim e an d t h e s u c c e s s io n o f p r i o r and p o s t e r i o r

OS’
i n i t a r e fo u n d e d on m o tio n an d u l t i m a t e l y on s p a t i a l m a g n itu d e .”
I t s h o u ld b e c l e a r enough b y now t h a t su c h a n o t i o n o f tim e i s t o t a l l y
a t odds w ith a q u a l i t a t i v e and em o tiv e e x p r e s s io n o f tim e t h e a r c h a i c ,
a p p o s i t i o n a l mode n e c e s s i t a t e s , f o r t h e r e any r e a l s e n s e o f co n tin u u m
o r movement i s b ro k e n by th e v iv id n e s s o f t h e p r e s e n t . The ” nows” do
n o t r e l a t e t o t h e p a s t and f u t u r e a s th e y do i n A r i s t o t l e ’ s view o f
tim e b u t a r e o f su c h p o w e rfu l c o n seq u en ce t h a t p a s t an d f u t u r e
c o lla p s e i n t o a s e r i e s o f o rn a m e n ta l o r d e s c r i p t i v e a p p o s i t i o n s .
The a r c h a ic c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f m ind i s o n e , a s we s h a l l s e e , d e p e n d e n t
upon an im m ed iate and t i m e l e s s s t r u c t u r e and sy m b o l. I n f a c t g iv e n
t h e a p p o s i t i o n a l n a t u r e o f t h e a r c h a ic m ind w i th i t s d e c id e d la c k o f
d i s c u r s i v e c a u s e - a n d - e f f e c t th o u g h t p a t t e r n s t o g iv e i t f o r m ,th e r e
i s no o t h e r way a u n i t y c o u ld b e a c h ie v e d , a s f a r a s I can s e e ,
e x c e p t th ro u g h a s e r i e s o f s t r u c t u r e s and sym bols t h a t sure, t h e r e f o r e ,
l o g i c a l i n n a t u r e i n t h a t th e y a c t a s r e l a t i o n a l phenom ena and g iv e
t h e th o u g h t u n i t y .

33
P e c u l i a r i t i e s o f la n g u a g e an d s t y l e m ark o f f an a r e a o f
th o u g h t, t h e n , t o w h ich I s h a l l h e n c e f o r t h r e f e r a s '’a rc h a ic '* .
T e n d e n c ie s to w a rd s d u a lis m , o p p o s i t i o n , and a p p o s i t io n w ith i t s
accom panying v iv id n e s s and p a r t i c u l a r tim e s e n s e p ro d u c e , a s I s e e
i t , t h e p o s s i b i l i t y f o r t h e s t r u c t u r a l and sy m b o lic phenom ena I
s h a l l d e s c r ib e s u b s e q u e n tly — phenom ena b a s e d on a la n g u a g e an d s t y l e
r a d ic a lly n o n -A ris to te lia n in n a tu re . I n i t i a l l y t h e a r c h a ic m ind
a p p e a rs t o u s i n G reek c u l t u r e i n w h at we to d a y s h o u ld c a l l p o e t r y .
T h is p o e tr y r e t a i n s t h i s c h a r a c t e r i n t h e l a t e s i x t h and e a r l y f i f t h
c e n t u r i e s i n t h e l y r i c p o e ts and A e s c h y lu s ; y e t , t h e m ost e le g a n t
e x a mpl e s a r e t h e s o - c a l l e d p h ilo s o p h ic fra g m e n ts o f H e r a c l i t u s and
P a rm e n id e s. I n so f a r a s I can draw d i s t i n c t p a r a l l e l s b e tw ee n t h e
"p o ets'* and t h e " p h ilo s o p h e r s " i n te rm s o f s t r u c t u r e and sy m b o l,
I do n o t b e l i e v e t h a t I have f a l l e n i n t o t h e t r a p o f m is r e p r e s e n tin g
a p e r i o d o f th o u g h t b y a somewhat h i s t o r i c a l tr e a tm e n t o f t h e m a t e r i a l
a s do h i s t o r i a n s o f p h ilo s o p h y w ho, f o r i n s t a n c e , l i k e A r i s t o t l e
h im s e lf i n M e ta p h y sic s A, lo o k upon t h e i d e a s o f H e r a c l i t u s and
P arm en id es i n p u r e ly h i s t o r i c a l te rm s a s m ere f o r e r u n n e r s o f
A r i s t o t e l i a n c o n c e p ts . I n t h e c a s e o f t h e p o e ts an d p r e - S o c r a t i c s
I make no argum ent t h a t th e fo rm e r i s a w eak o r s e c o n d a ry exam ple o f
t h e l a t t e r i n any o t h e r s e n s e th a n t h a t i n Homer and t h e H om eric
Hymns a c e r t a i n la c k o f a p o e t i c s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s c o n f in e s sy m b o lic
and s t r u c t u r a l phenom ena t o a more e x c l u s i v e l y l i n g u i s t i c and

s y n ta c tic a l le v e l. The a r t i s t i c c l a r i t y o f th e phenomena a r e much
c l e a r e r from H e sio d th ro u g h P a rm e n id e s; t h e i r m ere e x i s t e n c e ,
h o w ev er, i s e q u a ll y c l e a r i n a l l i n s t a n c e s I s h a l l d is c u s s from
Homer on.
I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o s a y e x a c tly why Homer does n o t p ro d u c e
c l e a r a r t i s t i c exam ples of- s t r u c t u r e and sy m b o l. C le a r m y th ic a l
i n c i d e n t s do o c c u r i n so m eth in g l i k e t h e e p is o d e o f O dysseus on th e
I s l e o f O r ty g ia w ith C alypso w here tim e an d p la c e l o s e a l l o b j e c t i v e
r e a l i t y o r i n t h e Land o f t h e L o to s E a te r s o r a t t h e C o u rt o f
A lc in o o s . Y e t, t h e s e a t b e s t we c o u ld d e s c r ib e a s n a iv e o r
u n c o n sc io u s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f a r c h a ic tim e an d p l a c e . Even so m eth in g
c o n s tr u c te d a lo n g t h e l i n e s o f t h e S h ie ld o f A c h i l l e s , w hich does
make u s e o f a r c h a i c sym bols and p a t t e r n s ( e . g . t h e rim o f O c e a n ),
s t i l l does n o t p o s s e s s t h e n e c e s s a r y c o n sc io u s g ra s p o f th e a r c h a ic
p a t t e r n s t o p la c e them i n form s c l e a r enough f o r u s t o i d e n t i f y ,
n a r r a t i v e seem s t o g e t i n t h e w ay. A lth o u g h I do n o t ta k e i t upon
m y s e lf t o i n v e s t i g a t e th o ro u g h ly why s t r u c t u r e s and sym bols i n
P arm en id ean and H e r a c l i t e a n te rm s do n o t e x i s t i n Homer, I am i n c l i n e d
t o a g re e w ith B runo S n e l l when h e a rg u e s t h a t b e c a u s e o f a s e n s e o f

87
s e l f i n t h e p o e t a f t e r Homer d e c id e d changes o c c u r i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e .
T h ere seems t o b e some s t r o n g bond b etw een a s e lf - c o n s c io u s n e s s and
a u n i f i e d w o rld v ie w b a s e d on p a r t i c u l a r sym bols and s t r u c t u r e s . Why
t h i s s h o u ld e x i s t e x c e e d s t h e bounds o f t h i s p r e s e n t s tu d y .

35
What I s h a l l a tte m p t t o d o , h o w ev er, i s t o o b s e rv e t h e
sy m b o lic and s t r u c t u r a l p r o p e r t i e s o f a r c h a ic th o u g h t a t work i n
e a r l y G reek l i t e r a t u r e . I t i s n e c e s s a r y , t h e r e f o r e , t o t u r n t o th e
H om eric Hymns, w h e re , p e rh a p s b y c h a n c e , we s e e o p p o s itio n s o f a
p o l a r n a t u r e , and t o H e sio d w here t h e p o e t h a s i d e n t i f i e d h im s e lf
a n d h i s u n iq u e r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e M uses.
I n t h e H om eric Hymns we come upon t h e f i r s t c l e a r l y
r e c o g n iz a b le form s o f sy m b o lic and o p p o s i t i o n a l th o u g h t p a t t e r n s .
I n t h e f i r s t e ig h te e n l i n e s o f t h e Hymn t o D em eter, t h e sy m b o lic
p lu c k in g o f t h e n a r c i s s u s , t h e chasm t h a t draw s P e rse p h o n e i n t o t h e
" o th e r " w o rld , and t h e a f f e c t i v e o r m a g ic a l q u a l i t y o f l i g h t and
f lo w e r im ages a r e c l e a r exam ples o f s t r o n g , sy m b o lic phenomena i n
o u r te r m s . So a l s o a r e t h e t e r r i f y i n g sym bols (orj.iuiTa) o f t h e b e a r ,
l i o n , and grow ing v in e i n t h e Hymn t o D io n y su s. I n t h e Hymn t o
A p h ro d ite t h e goddess* a p p e a ra n c e , h e r d r e s s i n g , and h e r u n d r e s s in g
b y t h e i r fo rm a l n a tu r e and t h e i r h i g h l y a f f e c t i v e o rn a m e n ta tio n
c o n s t i t u t e sy m b o lic a c t i o n and on t h e p o e t 's p a r t a c o n sc io u s u s e
o f th e s e phenomena as s t y l i s t i c e f f e c t s . The m a jo r im p o rta n c e o f
t h e Hymn t o A p h ro d ite f o r u s , h o w e v er, i s t h e o p p o s it io n a l n a tu r e
o f i t s p l o t and la n g u a g e . A lth o u g h t h e p o l a r n a tu r e o f t h e two
s p h e r e s i s im bued i n t o t h e la n g u a g e i t s e l f ( e . g . th e a d d i t i o n o f
t h e a l p h a - p r i v a t i v e o r n e g a t i o n - p r e f i x t o a p o s i t i v e w ord m eaning men
i n o r d e r t o mean g o d s ) , t h e p o e t 's u s e o f t h i s o p p o s itio n i n t h i s

36
p a r t i c u l a r hymn p ro v e s th e g e n e r a l im p o rta n c e o f p o l a r i t y i n th e
e p ic m e n t a l i t y .
The l y r i c p o e ts p r e s e n t u s v i t h a number o f ex am p les i n
v h ic h t h e u s e o f l i g h t and d a rk and s p e c i f i c i n c i d e n t s and o b j e c t s
i n d i c a t e a s tr o n g o p p o s i t i o n a l and sy m b o lic n a t u r e . P in d a r, a p o e t
v h o se s t y l e makes e x te n s iv e u s e o f th e a f f e c t i v e n a tu r e o f l i g h t ,
i n t h e T h i r t e e n t h Olym pian c o n t r a s t s i n an o p p o s i t i o n a l s e n s e s l e e p in g
an d w aking and g o ld and d a rk .( 6 6 - 7 8 ) . I n t h e F i r s t P y th ia n he
makes u s e o f a s tr o n g l i g h t / d a r k im ag ery i n t h e c h a o tic d e s c r i p t i o n
o f t h e e r u p t i o n o f Thyphon. I t i s e s p e c ia lly i n te r e s t in g t h a t th e
sy m b o lic w ords nop and cp\o£, w ords t h a t a p p e a r l a t e r i n t h e p r e -
S o c ra tic s a re r a is e d to a n o tic e a b le d i s tin c tio n . A gain i n t h e F i r s t
O lym pian, nop i n te rm s o f g lo r y and fame— two c o n c e p ts on t h e h i g h e s t
l e v e l o f e x p e r ie n c e f o r th e p o e t— i s a k ey im ag e. In t h i s p a r tic u la r
poem c o n c e p ts and c o lo r s assum e an u n u s u a l and d i s t i n c t movement.
This sym bolic or m yth ical movement occurs again in th e Third Olympian
where th e p o et swears to e n te r ta in us w ith a " g lis te n in g new sty le "
(veootyaXov Tponov . U) and r e la t e s a dream sequence th a t t e l l s o f
an extended voyage among th e gods th a t ends in th e v ir tu e s o f men.
In P in d a r's Hymn t o Zeus th e u n iv erse i s equated w ith th e p h y sic a l
w orld, D elos becomes a s ta r in th e se a — a fa r -s h in in g s t a r s e t
against, th e o p p o sitio n a l blackn ess o f Darth. G uell comments th a t
here l i e s a E e r a c lite a n proportion: "Those in th e sky regard th e
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p ro d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

37
88
•e a r th a s th o s e on e a r t h r e g a r d t h e s k y .” I t i s one o f t h e few
p la c e s t h a t P in d a r le a v e s t h e re a lm o f a f f e c t i v e s y m b o liz a tio n f o r
a p u re s t r u c t u r a l o p p o s itio n .
The l y r i c p o e t s , Mimnermus, A r c h ilo c h u s , A lem an, and
Sappho p r o v id e u s w ith an even l a r g e r s e t o f ex am p les i n te rm s o f
sym bols a n d b a s i c p o l a r o p p o s iti o n s . I n Mimnermus we a r e t o l d o f
t h e h o llo w b e d o f t h e su n ( e&vfj/xot u\ t}) t h a t moves from one h o r iz o n

8g
o f Ocean t o t h e o t h e r (D ie h l 1 0 ) . T h is cup c o u ld e a s i l y b e
u n d e rs to o d as t h e dome o f h e av e n s e e n from t h e p o i n t o f view o f an
o b s e r v e r p l o t t i n g t h e c o u rs e o f t h e sun w ith h i s e y e . T h e re i s ,
i n o t h e r w o rd s , an i n te r m e d i a tio n in v o lv e d h e r e b etw een th e
s u b j e c t i v e and o b j e c t i v e w o rld . The s p e a k e r i n A r c h ilo c h u s ' e c l i p s e
poem i s b y no means f u l l y aw are o f t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f w hat f r i g h t e n s
him— t h a t i s , t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r o f sy m b o lic p e r c e p tio n —

90
and s o quakes b e f o r e t h e s u n 's d a r k n e s s . H is poem g iv e s g r e a t
w e ig h t t o an argum ent i n d i c a t i n g a phenom enology o f o p p o s itio n s i n
th e a r c h a ic m e n t a l i t y . Aleman and Sappho c o n t r i b u t e a s tr o n g
p e r s o n a l to u c h t o t h e p o l a r r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw ee n men and g o d s . The
fo r m e r , i n a poem t h a t makes u s e o f t h e a f f e c t i v e m y th ic a l movement
o f g o ld and s i l v e r o b j e c t s , com pares a g i r l i n h i s c h o ru s t o a s i n g l e

91
s t a r b la z i n g b r i g h t l y i n t h e d iv in e n i g h t . The a r c h e ty p a l one
o u t o f t h e many i s p o r tr a y e d a r t i s t i c a l l y i n t h i s one g i r l r i s i n g
o u t o f th e c h o ru s o f many. Sappho ( D ie h l l ) ju x ta p o s e s h e r s e l f w ith

38
g o ld e n A p h ro d ite i n a f a m i l i a r c o n v e r s a tio n and e n t r e a t s t h e g o d d ess
i n such, a way an t o b r i n g t h e w o rld s o f men an d gods i n t o a p e c u l i a r
k in d o f com m unication t h a t n e c e s s i t a t e s i n i t s e l f a c e r t a i n i d e n t i t y
o f in te re s ts . Then t o o , t h e p o e te s s p l a y s t o a g r e a t e x t e n t w ith
t h e j u x t a p o s i t i o n o f c o l o r s — e . g . , g o ld e n A p h ro d ite a g a i n s t t h e b la c k
92
w o rld . B a c c h y lid e s t o o u s e s o p p o s itio n o f c o l o r s e x t e n s i v e l y i n
h is p o e try . T ake f o r in s t a n c e t h e p h r a s e <po£vtaoa XeuxooXevog ( S n e ll
17.5*0 o r £ v a p t£ [o n sv ]c o v / 5* soeuQe qsanrcov/ a iu g T i y a t a neX atuva] . . . .
( S n e l l 1 3 . 1 5 0 -1 5 3 ). I s h a l l make u s e o f t h e s e and o t h e r p a r a l l e l s i n
l y r i c p o e tr y i n my e x a m in a tio n o f H e r a c l i t u s an d P a rm e n id e s.
The p h i l o s o p h i c a l and l o g i c a l p r o p e r t i e s o f G reek , h o w e v er,
become e v id e n t i n H e s io d 's Theogony. H ere t h e p o e t , i n s p i r e d b y th e
M uses, e s t a b l i s h e s a p r im a l o p p o s itio n b e tw ee n Chaps and th e
p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l w o rld — t h a t i s th e s t r u c t u r e d s y ste m o f gods h e
c re a te s . T h is p r im a l a r c h i t e c h t o n i c o p p o s itio n ta k e s i t s form as
t h e C h a o s /E a rth o p p o s i t i o n , th e t h i r d te rm b e in g E ro s o r Love.
I s h a l l a rg u e t h a t E ro s i s h e u r i s t i c i n t h e s e n s e t h a t i t w i l l a c t
a s t h e l i n k i n g , a c t i v e member o f a l l f u t u r e m a r r ia g e s . T h is th re e s o m e ,
h o w ev er, i s o n ly f o r m a l; t h e g e n e a lo g ic a l, p a t t e r n i n g o f t h e w ork
b e g in s w ith t h e o p p o s itio n o f E a r th and H eaven. The o p p o s i tio n a l
s t r u c t u r e s i n t h e Theogony a r e m a n y -la y e re d and w e l l w orked o u t.
P la c e d a g a i n s t t h e movement from t h e f i r s t t o t h e t h i r d g e n e r a t i o n ,
th e y i n d i c a t e a d i a l e c t i c on a v e ry b a s i c l e v e l . I s h a l l d is c u s s
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e c o p y rig h t o w n e r . F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n p rohib ited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

39
t h e s e s t r u c t u r e s an d p o i n t o u t th e d i a l e c t i c t h a t le a d s t o a t h i r d
g e n e r a tio n i n w h ich v i o l e n t o p p o s i t i o n a l j u x t a p o s i t i o n succumbs t o
a t r i p a r t i t e , te n s e d s t r u c t u r e . I t i s a lm o st a s i f t h e t h i r d te rm
h a s become c o n s c io u s ly a c c e p te d i n t o t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e u n iv e r s e .
The sy m b o lic n a t u r e o f t h e Theogony. I s h a l l a r g u e , f in d s
i t s g r e a t e s t and m o st s i g n i f i c a n t e x p r e s s io n a t t h a t p o i n t w here
Zeus e s t a b l i s h e s h i s r e i g n . The l e n g th o f tim e s s e p a r a t i n g Heaven
and T a r ta r u s i s e s p e c i a l l y i n t e r e s t i n g b e c a u s e t h e s p a t i a l and
te m p o ra l d i v i s i o n s a r e o b v io u s ly m y th ic a l. The o p p o s itio n o f Heaven
a nd T a r ta r u s ( t h e cp p cs wXon wetw een t h e O lym pians and t h e i r en em ies)
i s s t r u c t u r a l l y and s y m b o lic a lly r e p r e s e n te d b y th e a d d i t i o n o f a
t h i r d te rm (E a r th ) a n d b y a " te m p o ra l” e q u a tio n t h a t s t a t e s t h a t
Heaven i s t o E a r th a s E a r th i s t o T a r t a r u s . The n e g a tiv e f o r c e s
w i t h i n t h e u n iv e r s e re m a in o p posed t o t h e p o s i t i v e o n es w ith i n a
s t r u c t u r e made p o s s i b l e by t h e a d d i t i o n o f a t h i r d te rm . T h is ty p e
o f s t r u c t u r i n g i s i d e n t i c a l i n t h e th o u g h t p a t t e r n s o f H e r a c l i t u s .
H e r a c l i t u s e x p r e s s e s a r c h a ic o p p o s i t i o n a l l o g i c and i t s
sy m b o lic n a t u r e i n i t s m o st e l e g a n t f a s h io n . L ik e P in d a r h e sp ea k s
from a p r o p h e tic o r o r a c u l a r p o i n t o f v ie w , b u t t h i s d o es n o t mean
n e c e s s a r i l y t h a t h e i s ’’o b s c u re ” . The fra g m e n ts o f H e r a c l i t u s may
b e d iv id e d i n t o t h e f o llo w in g g ro u p s w ith a d m itte d c r o s s r e f e r e n c e s :
( l ) d e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h e Logos (2 ) t h e non—o b v io u s n a t u r e c f t h e
re a lm o f t h e Logos (3 ) D e s c r i p t i o n s , c o n s e q u e n tly , o f a S u b je c tiv e

1*0
I n n e r Core t h a t e s t a b l i s h e s man as a m easu re o r g ro u n d o f 1 t h in g s
(1») L o g ic a l sym bols t h a t a r e c l e a r l y g ro u n d ed i n t h e l y r i c and e p ic
l i t e r a t u r e we ex am in ed e a r l i e r (5 ) L o g ic a l o p p o s itio n and te n s i o n e d
p o l a r i t y t h a t may c u lm in a te i n (a ) a r a t h e r s o p h i s t i c p a ra d o x o r
p la y on w ords o r (b ) a th r e e - te r m e d o r p r o p o r t i o n a l l o g i c — e i t h e r
s u b c a te g o ry r e p r e s e n t s t h e •s t r u c t u r e o f t h e Logos i t s e l f . G iven
t h e s e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s o n ly a h a n d f u l o f v e ry s h o r t fra g m e n ts rem ain
u n to u c h e d . The p o i n t I s h a l l p ro v e i s t h a t e v e r y th in g i n H e r a c lit e a n
th o u g h t i s s u b o r d in a te d t o th e i n t u i t i o n o r co m p reh en sio n o f t h e
L ogos. T h is Logos i s r e v e a le d t o man b o th th ro u g h i t s t r i p a r t i t e
l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e and i t s more p u r e ly sy m b o lic r e p r e s e n t a t i o n as
f i r e w hich i s a orjiia (sym bol) o f t h e p o l a r , o p p o s i t i o n a l n a t u r e o f
t h e w o rld much i n t h e same s e n s e a s t h e f a l l o f t h e a n v i l i s in
H e s io d , e x c e p t h e r e i t s a f f e c t i v e q u a l i t i e s , i t s c o l o r and b r i g h t n e s s ,
re s e m b le s m o st o f a l l a l y r i c phenom enon. L o g ic a lly H e r a c l i t u s
makes u s e o f & t h i r d te rm w hich i s t h e b in d in g r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een
o p p o s ite s . M ost o f h i s o p p o s itio n s th e m s e lv e s im p ly su c h a c o n n e c tio n .
B e n e a th t h e movement o f t h e s e o p p o s ite s t h e r e l i e s an u n c h an g in g
t h i r d s t a t e — t h e L o g o s.
P a rm e n id e s to o d e s c r ib e s a t h i r d s t a t e an d m a in ta in s an
e v en s t r i c t e r o p p o s i t i o n a l l o g i c — so s t r i c t t h a t t h e r e i s a n e c e s s i t y
■pn r some c lo s e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t o a v o id a m is u n d e r s ta n d in g . Oddly
enough ( o r p e rh a p s n o t so i f one w ould i n c o r r e c t l y p r e f e r t o l i m i t

Ul
a r c h a ic th o u g h t t o more p u r e ly p o e t i c fo rm s) t h e proem t o h i s work
i s more e a s i l y c o m p re h e n sib le from a sy m b o lic th a n from a p u r e ly
l o g i c a l p o i n t o f v ie w . Here we a r e t o l d o f t h e p a th (65oq) a lo n g
w hich P arm en id es i s d r iv e n by th e g o d d e sse s— p e rh a p s th e same ’’r i g h t
ro a d t o t r u t h ” we f i n d i n P i n d a r ’ s T h ird P y th ia n (4 \a 9 sta< ; 65ov 1 0 3 ).
T h is 65o<j a p p e a rs a l s o i n H e r a c lit u s a s t h e phenomenon t h a t i s th e
same b o th up and down (65oq avco xaxco |iua x a l d>urrj 6 0 ) . The p rim a ry
o p p o s itio n o f Day and N ig h t and t h e d o u b le k e y s o f ACxq i n d i c a t e th e
p o l a r n a tu r e o f t h e l o g i c , a s do es t h e a lm o s t H e s io d ic g a p in g chasm
beyond t h e d o o rs o f t h e House o f N ig h t. Then to o t h e r e i s a g r e a t
d e a l o f c i r c u l a r im a g e ry t h a t e v e n t u a l ly r e p r e s e n t s i t s e l f i n th e
a lm o s t p e r f e c t m an d ala symbol o f fra g m e n t tw e lv e .
The m ain body o f th e poem p r e s e n t s some p ro b lem s b e c a u s e ,
w h ile th e s t r i c t d u a l i s t i c s t r u c t u r a l and l o g i c a l o p p o s itio n betw een
B ein g and N on-B eing i s m a in ta in e d th r o u g h o u t, t h e r e seems t o b e a
g r e a t em p h asis on th e way o f B ein g and a t tim e s a d i r e c t r e j e c t i o n
o f o p p o s i t i o n a l t h i n k i n g on a s u b s ta n t iv e l e v e l . I n th e s i x t h
fra g m e n t P a rm e n id e s a t t a c k s th o s e men who s a y x and y a r e t h e same
and n o t th e same as m uddle-h ead ed b o o b ie s . I s t h i s an a t t a c k on
H e r a c litu s ? I t c o u ld b e an a t t a c k on w hat P a rm e n id e s th o u g h t
H e r a c litu s s a i d , b u t t h e p o in t i s t h a t H e r a c l i t u s s a i d i t t o e s t a b l i s h
* t h i r d a r e a o r te rm zr.d P arm en id es i s a t t a c k i n g d u a l i s t i c th in k in g
b e c a u se h e t h i n k s i t d o e s n ’t . S o p h i s t ic o p p o s i t i o n a l p a t t e r n s —

k2
f a c i l e m a n ip u la tio n s o f m e a n in g le s s o p p o s itio n s —w ere a lr e a d y p r e s e n t
i n 1*75, and i t i s my o p in io n t h a t P a rm e n id e s te n d e d t o m is u n d e rs ta n d
H e r a c l i t u s i n th e s e te r m s , f o r i n t h e end t h e s i m i l a r i t i e s b e tw ee n t h e
two p h ilo s o p h e r s a r e to o s t r i k i n g . As i t was i n t h e c a s e o f
H e r a c l i t u s ’ Logos s o i t i s w ith P arm en id es * B e in g . I t i s th e lim ite d
(a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e sy m b o lic i n g r a p h ic te r m s ) , u n b o rn , w h o le , u n iq u e ,
and immovable phenomenon b e h in d t h e seem ing o p p o s itio n o f th e w o rld —
an o p p o s itio n n o t i d e n t i c a l w ith th e o r i g i n a l B ein g /H o n -B ein g p o l a r i t y .
I n P arm en id es t h i s seem ing o p p o s itio n i s — a s I s h a l l a rg u e — o f
n e c e s s i t y h a l f v a l i d b e c a u s e i t p a r ta k e s o f L ig h t ( t h e p o s i t i v e
phenomenon we e n c o u n te r i n t h e proem to w a rd s w hich P arm en id es m oves) .
I n o th e r w ords t h e r e i s a m o r ta l and l o g i c a l d u a l i t y i n t h e u n iv e r s e
b e h in d w h ic h , a s a t h i r d te r m , l i e s B ein g i n a s t r u c t u r e d , unmoving
fo rm . T h e re i s , t h e n , in t h i s v iew v e r y l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een
t h e b a s i c th o u g h t p a t t e r n s o f H e r a c l i t u s and P a rm e n id e s.
A lth o u g h I s h a l l c la im t h a t a r c h a i c th o u g h t p a t t e r n s a r e
p ro b a b ly m ost c l e a r l y r e a l i z e d i n H e r a c l i t u s and P a rm e n id e s, t h e
p a t t e r n s do c a r r y th e m s e lv e s i n t o e v en l a t e r th o u g h t. The p ro b lem
o f P r o ta g o r a s , i f a tta c k e d from th e p o i n t o f view o f a r c h a ic l o g i c
y i e l d s an i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h a t d e n ie s any r e l a t i v i s t i c i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
o f h i s l i f e ' s w o rk . A d m itte d ly o p p o s i t i o n a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n becom es
c o n fu s e d b e c a u s e o f t h e p o s s i b l e i n f l u e n c e s o f E l e a tic is m o r o f o t h e r
c u r r e n t s w it h i n t h e S o p h i s t i c m ovem ent, and one c a n n o t make any
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of th e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

d e f i n i t i v e s ta t e m e n ts c o n c e rn in g w hat P r o ta g o r a s a c t u a l l y m e a n t.
Y et P l a t o ’ s h a n d lin g o f P r o ta g o r a s i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e man p r e s e n te d
t h e l a t e r p h ilo s o p h e r w ith some r e a l p ro b le m s . I t becom es n e c e s s a r y ,
t h e r e f o r e , t o o f f e r a s p e c u l a t i v e tr e a tm e n t o f P r o ta g o r a s b a s e d on
w hat h a s b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d a b o u t c e r t a i n a t t r i b u t e s o f a r c h a i c th o u g h t.
Then to o t h e homo m en su ra s ta te m e n t makes much b e t t e r s e n s e i n a r c h a ic
te rm s th a n r e l a t i v i s t i c ones and i f ta k e n a s an exam ple o f t h e
e a r l i e r p a t t e r n o f th o u g h t g iv e s s u p p o rt t o t h e arg u m en t t h a t one o f
P l a t o 's g r e a t e s t a cc o m p lish m e n ts was t o i n c o r p o r a t e s i m i l a r sy m b o lic
and s t r u c t u r a l form s i n t o h i s own w orks— e . g . t h e P a rm e n id e s and
t h e T im aeus.
H ow ever, I now t u r n to t h e b e g in n in g o f my s tu d y and t o
t h e s t r u c t u r a l phenom ena o f o p p o s itio n and a t h i r d te rm i n t h e Homeric
Hymns and H e sio d c o u p le d w ith th e sy m b o lic phenom ena fo u n d i n t h e
re s p e c tiv e a re a s .

FOOTNOTES CHAPTER I
^ C .S . J u n g , The A rc h e ty p e s a n d t h e C o l l e c t i v e U n co n scio u s (New

Y ork 1 9 5 9 ), p . S T *
^ I b i d . p . 302 .
^ I b i d . p . 30U.
**Ibid. p . 1 1 .
5I b i d . p . U5. '
6
C.S. Jung and W. P a u li, The In te r p r e ta tio n o f Nature and th e
Psyche (New York 1955)* p . 117.
•7
I b i d . p . lUU. S y n c h r o n ic ity may ta k e t h r e e fo rm s: " a ) The
c o in c id e n c e o f a c e r t a i n p s y c h ic c o n te n t w ith a c o rre s p o n d in g o b j e c t i v e
p r o c e s s w h ich i s p e r c e iv e d t o t a k e p la c e s im u lta n e o u s ly b ) The
c o in c id e n c e o f a s u b j e c t i v e p s y c h ic s t a t e w ith a p h an tasm (dream o r
v i s i o n ) w hich l a t e r t u r n s o u t t o b e a more o r l e s s f a i t h f u l r e f l e c t i o n
o f a 's y n c h r o n i s t i c ', o b j e c t i v e e v e n t t h a t to o k p la c e more o r l e s s
s im u lta n e o u s ly , b u t a t a d i s t a n c e c ) The sam e, e x c e p t t h a t t h e e v e n t
p e r c e iv e d t a k e s p l a c e i n t h e f u t u r e and i s r e p r e s e n te d i n t h e p r e s e n t
o n ly by a p h a n tasm t h a t c o rre s p o n d s t o i t " p . 1^ 5 .
g
C laude L e v i - S t r a u s s , The S avage ?4ind (C h ic ag o 1 9 6 8 ), p . 1 3 .
" M a g ic al th o u g h t i s n o t t o b e r e g a r d e d a s a b e g in n in g , a r u d im e n t,
a s k e t c h , a p a r t o f a w hole w hich h as n o t y e t m a t e r i a l i z e d . I t form s
a w e l l - a r t i c u l a t e d s y s te m , and i s i n t h i s r e s p e c t in d e p e n d e n t o f t h a t
o t h e r sy ste m w hich c o n s t i t u t e s s c i e n c e , e x c e p t f o r th e p u r e ly fo rm a l
a n a lo g y w h ich b r in g s them t o g e t h e r and makes th e fo rm e r a s o r t o f
m e ta p h o r ic a l e x p r e s s io n o f t h e l a t t e r . "
Q _. .
' i.D ia. p . i u .
10 I b i d . p p . 20- 21 .

*5
^ C la u d e L e v i - S t r a u s s , S t r u c t u r a l A n th ro p o lo g y (G arden C ity 1967 ) ,

p . 71*.
12
Ib id . "Do D ual O r g a n iz a tio n s E x is t? " p p . 1 2 8 -1 6 0 .
^ ^ L e v i - S tr a u s s , The Savage M ind, p . 1 31. " A ll t h a t I c la im t o

have shown so f a r i s , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t th e d i a l e c t i c o f s u p e r s t r u c t u r e s ,
l i k e t h a t o f la n g u a g e , c o n s i s t s i n s e t t i n g up c o n s t i t u t i v e u n i t s
(w hich f o r t h i s p u r p o s e , hav e t o b e d e f in e d u n e q u i v o c a lly , t h a t i s
by c o n t r a s t i n g them i n p a i r s ) s o a s t o b e a b le b y means o f them t o
e l a b o r a t e a s y s te m w hich p la y s t h e p a r t o f a s y n t h e s i z i n g o p e r a t o r
betw een id e a s and f a c t s , th e r e b y tu r n i n g t h e l a t t e r i n t o s i g n s . The
m ind p a s s e s fro m e m p i r i c a l d i v e r s i t y t o c o n c e p tu a l s i m p l i c i t y and
th e n from c o n c e p tu a l s i m p l i c i t y t o m e a n in g fu l s y n t h e s i s . "
lU
The v o lu m e 's s e c o n d p a r t e n t i t l e d "Myth as a Form o f I n t u i t i o n .
S t r u c t u r e an d A r t i c u l a t i o n o f t h e W orld o f Time and S p ace i n th e
M y th ic a l C o n sc io u s n e s s " i s e s p e c i a l l y u s e f u l t o anyone s tu d y in g th e
a r c h a ic c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f m ind. The seco n d c h a p te r d e v o te s i t s e l f t o
t h e " F o u n d a tio n s o f a T heory o f M y th ic a l F orm s, S p a c e , T im e, an d
H um ber."
^ E r n s t C a s s i r e r , M y th ic a l T h o u g h t. The P h ilo s o p h y o f S ym bolic

Form s; (New Haven 1 9 ^ 8 ), p . 8 0 .
l 6I b i d . p . 8 3 .
17I b i d . p p . 8 8 -9 .
T.8
I b id . p . 50.
19
I b i d . p . 2 5 0 . T h is s ta te m e n t on f i r s t r e a d in g c o u ld f o r some
b o r d e r on t h e a b s u r d ; y e t th e q u e s tio n o f w h at k in d o f r e l a t i o n s h i p
t h e r e i s b e tw ee n e le m e n ts i n a r c h a ic th o u g h t i s an im p o r ta n t o n e .
B.A . von G ro n in g en i n h i s La C o m p o sitio n L i t t e r a i r e A rchaSaue G recque
(Amsterdam i 960 ) p a g e t h i r t y - t h r e e i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e r e i s l i t t l e
r e l a t i o n s h i p a t s i l l b e tw ee n th e autonomous u n i t s t h a t compose a r c h a ic
th o u g h t. C a s s i r e r 's s ta te m e n t h e r e sim p ly i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e mode o f
th o u g h t we s h a l l l a t e r d e s c r ib e a s th e " a p p o s i t i o n a l mode" ( i n f r a p .
22 f f . ) n e c e s s i t a t e s a r e l a t i o n s h i p o f w hat I s h a l l c a l l i n t h e n e x t
c h a p te r m u tu a l a s s o c i a t i o n o r p a r t i a l i d e n t i t y r a t h e r th a n c a u se and
e ffe c t.
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e c o p y rig h t o w n e r . F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

23T bid. p. 97.
22
C a s s x r e r , L an g u ag e, The P h ilo s o p h y o f S ym bolic Form s: 1 (New
Haven 19 66 ) , p . 1 0 9 .
g JI b id . p . 89 .
2k
I make u se o f th e D ie ls numbering system in t h is paper found in
h i s Fragmente der V orsokratiker (Zurich 1966 ) .
25
L e v i-S tr a u s s , The Savage Mind, p. 2 6 3 .
26
Bruno S n e l l , The D iscovery o f th e Mind (New York I 9 6 0 ) , p . 239.
27
C a s sir e r , M ythical Thoug h t, The Philosophy o f Symbolic Forms: 2 ,
p. 83. “
28
L e v i-S tr a u s s , op. c i t . p . 95 .
29I b i d . p . 18 .
3QI b i d . p . 263 .
S n e l l , op. c i t . p . 6 2 .
^ I b i d . p . 87 .
■33I b id . p . U l.
Zk
C a ssir e r , Language, The Philosophy o f Symbolic Fomas: 1_, p. 182.
35
Eduard Schwyzer, G riechische Grammatik auf der GrunfHage von
Karl Brugmanns G riech isch er GrammatikT (Munich 1939-1950). IT : kriT
- “Die ererb te Hauptanwendung des Duals i s t d ie Bezeichnung der P a r rig k e it
in b lo ss e n Dual s t e h t , was von Natur oder g e w o llt e in Paar b ild e t ."

36
rb id . p . 50. " S e i t in d o g e rm a n is c h e r Z e i t k o n n te d e r D ual s t a t t
f t t r e in g l e i c h a r t i g e s P a a r (F o rm el a & a) auch fU r e i n u n g l e i c h a r t i g e s ,
im m erhin e b e n f a l l s n a tttr lic h .e s im d s tS n d ig e s P a a r g e b ra u c h t w erden
(f o r m e l a & b ) ; d a b e i s t e h t d e r D ual d es fU hrenden W ortes f t t r d as
G a n z e .. . . "
37
C a s s i r e r , o p . c i t . 1 .2 ^ 5 . He s e e s th e d u a l a s an e x p r e s s io n
w ith in t h e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l re a lm : "W hereas m ost gram m arians h ad
h i t h e r t o r e g a r d e d i t [ th e D u al] sis m ere b a l l a s t , a s a u s e l e s s
l i n g u i s t i c r e f in e m e n t, h e [H um boldt] t r a c e d i t t o a tw o fo ld s o u r c e ,
s u b j e c t i v e and o b j e c t i v e , and an o r i g i n a l s i g n i f i c a t i o n w hich he
fo u n d t o b e p a r t l y sen su o u s and p a r t l y i n t e l l e c t u a l . . ..T h e d e c li n e
o f t h e d u a l c o in c id e s w ith p r o g r e s s fro m th e i n d i v i d u a l , c o n c r e te
number t o t h e a b s t r a c t n u m e ric a l s e r i e s . As t h e i d e a o f t h e n u m e ric a l
s e r i e s , a s a w hole c o n s tr u c te d a c c o rd in g t o a s t r i c t l y u n i t a r y
p r i n c i p l e , g a in s g ro u n d , t h e p a r t i c u l a r number c e a s e s t o r e p r e s e n t a
s p e c i f i c c o n te n t and becom es a m ere member o f t h e s e r i e s , e q u i v a l e n t
t o o th e r n u m b e rs."
og
Ja c o b W a c k e rn a g e l, V o rle su n g en ttb e r S y n ta x (B a s e l 1957)» 1 .1 1 2 .
"D er Ausgang -x ep o q d i e n t au ch s o n s t zum A usdruck e in e s G e g en satze s
zw ischen zw eien ( z .B . i n e x e p o q )."
39
S c h v y z e r, o p . c i t . 1.595*
**°Ibid. p. 6 lb .
W a c k e r n a g e l, o p . c i t . 1 .9 7 . " D ie s e A u sd ru ck w eise i s t s e h r a l t
u na i n v e rs c h ie d e n e n S p ra c h e n zu einem e i g e n t l i c h e n R e z i p r o s i t S t -
pronomen e r s t a r r t . So im A ltin d is c h e n i n m e h re re n Formen und im
A l t i r a n i s c h e n ."
^ S c h w y z e r , o p . c i t . 1 . 65 .
^ I b i d . 1 1 .5 7 3 .
^^The e x p r e s s io n " p r i v a t i v e " o r i g i n a t e s w ith A r i s t o t l e .

I b i d . I I .2 8 U .

U8
lf5
One c o u ld s p e c u la te t h a t a lth o u g h w ords compounded w ith t h e
a l p h a - p r e f i x a r e i n u s e a t a l l tim e s i n t h e la n g u a g e , t h e m paning
o f t h e phenom enon i s r e v e a l e d m ore c l e a r l y i n t h e e a r l i e r l i t e r a t u r e ,
f o r h e r e i t i s e a s i e r t o a rg u e t h a t an a l p h a - p r i v a t i v e n o t o n ly
p re s u p p o s e s b u t somehow in c lu d e s i t s o p p o s ite ( t h e p o s i t i v e ) . I t s
compounded n a t u r e s u p p o r ts t h i s a rg u m e n t. I t o r i g i n a t e d , i t se e m s,
i n compounds o f t h e b a h u v r ih i ty p e (H jalm u r F r i s k , G rie c h is c h e s
E ty m o lo g isc h e s W B rterbuch (H e id e lb e r g i 960 ) I . l ) and may b e t r a c e d
b a c k t o In d o -E u ro p e a n * n - . T h is d i s t i n g u i s h i n g e le m e n t b e lo n g s t o
& v e ry o l d g ro u p o f p r e f i x e s (S c h v y z e r, o p . c i t . I I . U 31 ) and means
" h a v in g no p a r t i n " . J a a n P u h v e l i n a v e ry i n t e r e s t i n g a r t i c l e
em p h asizes t h e s e p a r a t i v e q u a l i t y o f t h e phenomenon: "The v a lu e o f
* n - i n b a h u v r i h i s i s p r i v a t i v e o r s e p a r a t i v e . T h u s, anauq means
’n o - c h i l d - h a v i n g , w ith o u t c h i l d ’ , o r r a t h e r ’c h i l d n o t t h e r e ' . . . . "
(J a a n P u h v e l, " In d o -E u ro p e a n N e g a tiv e C o m p o sitio n " , Language 1953*
2 9 .1 9 ) • T he p a r a d o x , t h e n , i s t h a t we f a c e a phenomenon t h a t i s
a d d i t i v e i n c o n s t r u c t i o n and s e p a r a t i v e i n m ean in g . Y e t, i s i t n o t
a l s o a d d i t i v e i n m eaning? O r, t o p u t t h e i d e a i n o t h e r w o rd s , i s
n o t t h e o p p o s i t e b o th p r e s e n t and im p lie d i n compounds o f t h i s
n a tu r e ? H e n r i B erg so n i n h i s C r e a tiv e E v o lu tio n (New York 19ltU)
d e s c r ib e s w e l l t h e a d d i t i v e f u n c t io n o f a n e g a ti n g p a r t i c l e o r i d e a :
"To r e p r e s e n t t h e o b j e c t A n o n - e x i s t e n t can o n ly c o n s i s t , t h e r e f o r e ,
i n a d d in g s o m e th in g t o t h e i d e a o f t h i s o b j e c t : we add t o i t , i n
f a c t , th e i d e a o f an e x c lu s io n o f t h i s p a r t i c u l a r o b je c t b y a c t u a l
r e a l i t y i n g e n e r a l . To t h i n k t h e o b j e c t A a s n o n - e x i s t e n t i s f i r s t
t o t h i n k t h e o b j e c t and c o n s e q u e n tly t o t h i n k i t e x i s t e n t ; i t i s th e n
t o t h i n k t h a t a n o th e r r e a l i t y , w ith w hich i t i s in c o m p a tib le , s u p p la n ts
i t " ( p . 1 0 ) . " N e g a tio n , t h e r e f o r e , d i f f e r s fro m a f f i r m a t i o n p r o p e r l y
so c a l l e d i n t h a t i t i s an a f f i r m a t i o n o f t h e se c o n d d e g r e e : i t .
a f f ir m s s o m e th in g o f an a f f i r m a t i o n w hich i t s e l f a f f ir m s so m e th in g
o f an o b j e c t ” ( p . 3 1 3 ). I am p ro n e t o a rg u e t h a t th e fo r m a tio n o f
n e g a ti v e s w i t h a l p h a - p r i v a t i v e s d e r iv e d from an a d d i t i o n a l e le m e n t
fo u n d i n b a h u v r i h i com pounds, on one l e v e l o f m e an in g , am ounts t o
t h e same t h i n g . I n t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h e 0vTTTO<;/d-0dvaToq
o p p o s itio n i n t h e Hymn t o A p h r o d ite , i t s h o u ld n o t b e s u r p r i s i n g ,
t h e n , t o d i s c o v e r a l a r g e a r e a o f i d e n t i t y w ith i n t h e p a i r e d o p p o s i t i o n s .
k6
G ro n in g e n , o p . c i t . p . 3 3 .- " I I e s t d ’ a i l l e u r s e v id e n t que l a
j u x t a p o s i t i o n d ’e le m e n ts p lu s o u m oins s e m b la b le s n e p a r v i e n t p a s ,
& e l l e s e u l e , a c o n s t i t u e r un en sem b le t r e s s o l i d e . En c o n s t i t u e n t
u n r e c u e i l , 1 *a u t e u r n e f a i t , t o u t au p l u s , que l a m o itie de so n
d e v o ir : i l c h o i s i t d e s e le m e n ts . M ais i l n e g l ig e a b so lu m en t de l e s
o rd o n n e r, d e l e s r s c e e r i e r . Cheque p ie c e e s t e o n tig u e a ’une a u t r e ,
m ais n 'y e s t p a s r e l i e e . . . l e t o u t n ’ e s t que l a somme d ’une a d d i t i o n
q u i a u r a i t p u e t r e p lu s g ra n d e ou p lu s p e t i t e . Son u n i t d e s t tr& s
f a i b l e ; e l l e n ’ a r i e n d 'o r g a n i q u e .

w
Ib id . p . 19. La s u i t e d e s id e e s p e u t p re n d r e i c i en p r i n c i p e ,
deux d i r e c t i o n s : des c a u s e s au x e f f e c t s , ou d e s e f f e c t s aux c a u s e s . ,
L a m ethode e t i o l o g i q u e s i f r e q u e n te dans l a p e n s e e a rc h a iq u e g re c q u e-
e t e n c o re lo n g te m p s a p r e s —> tant ch ez l e s p h ilo s o p h e s que chez l e s
n a r r a t e u r s , n ' a r i e n q u i d o iv e e to n n e r . Le c o n t r a i r e s e r a i t
re m a rq u a b le . . .
U8
I b i d . " C 'e s t p o u r c e t t e r a i s o n q u 'e n g r e c p r e - c l a s s i q u e l e s
p h r a s e s c a u s a le s avec yap s o n t t e l l e m e n t p lu s f r e q u e n te s que l e s
su b o rd o n n e e s a v ec t n e t e t s e s synonym es, s u i v i e s d 'u n e p r i n c i p a l e
e x p rim a n t l a c o n s e q u e n c e .”
1*9
Ib id . p . 11.
^ I b i d . p . 1 2 . ” La te n d a n c e u n i f i c a t r i c e e s t t o u j o u r s p r e s e n t e ,
s a n s d o u te ; s a n s e l l e p a s d 'o e u v r e l i t t e r a i r e ; m ais d 'a u t r e s
im p u ls io n s p o u r r o n t p re a o m in e r. I I y a , dans chaque o u v ra g e , un
e f f o r t a l a c o h e r e n c e , p u i s q u ' i l s e p r ^ s e n t e , m a te r ie lle m e n t d e j a ,
comme une e n t i t e d i s t i n c t e . A n o u s l a ta c h e de d e te r m in e r l e s
p ro c e d e s que c e t e f f o r t m et en a c t i o n , de m o n tre r p a r q u e ls moyens
l a j u x t a p o s i t i o n s e tr a n s f o r m e p lu s ou m oins en u n i t e . "
51M e i l l e t e t V e n d ry e s, T r a i t e de Grammaire Comparee d es L aneues

C la s s iq u e s ( P a r i s 1 9 ^ 8 ), Ch. 8U0.
r
^^H arry an d A gathe T h o rn to n , Time and S t y l e (London 1962 ) , p . 1 .
53I b i d .
H ere i s one exam ple T h o rn to n and T h o rn to n (p p . 2 -3 ) p ro d u c e t o

i l l u s t r a t e a p p o s i t i o n a l s t y l e : "The d e s c r i p t i o n o f Olympus w h ith e r
A th en a d e p a r ts from N a u s ic a a (Od. 6 . h i f f „ ) i s an a p p o s i t i o n a l
e l a b o r a t i o n e x te n d in g o v e r s e v e r a l s e n te n c e s . 'S h e , h a v in g spoken
t h u s , v e n t o f f , A thena t o Olympus w h e re , th e y s a y , i s th e g o d s ' s e a t
u n s h a k e a b le i n a l l e t e r n i t y ' . F o u r l i n e s f o llo w d e s c r ib in g t h a t
b l i s s f u l abode o f t h e g o d s . The p a s s a g e ends b y t a k i n g up t h e th r e a d
o f t h e a c t i o n th ro u g h a l i t e r a l r e p e t i t i o n o f p a r t o f l i n e U l:
' t h i t h e r w e n t o f f t h e O w l-eyed one when sh e t o l d t h e m a id e n '. At
t h e m e n tio n o f O lym pus, t h e p o e t h a l t s i n h i s n a r r a t i v e , and a llo w s
a l l t h a t i s h e l d i n t h e i d e a o f 'O lym pus' t o u n f o l d , f e a t u r e b y
f e a t u r e : no s to r m s , no r a i n , n o snow , b u t c l e a r s k y , u n c lo u d e d , a

50
•w hite r a d ia n c y . T h is i s c a s t i n t h e form o f a r e l a t i v e c l a u s e ,
'w h e r e , th e y s a y , i s t h e g o d s ' s e a t u n s h a k e a b le i n a l l e t e r n i t y ' ,
a t h r e e - b a r r e l l e d in d e p e n d e n t c l a u s e , 'n e i t h e r i s i t sh ak en by s to rm s ,
n o r e v en w e tte d by r a i n , n o r c o v e re d w ith s n o w ', a c o n tr a s te d c l a u s e ,
'b u t c l e a r sk y i s s p r e a d o u t ’ , w ith an a d j e c t i v e 'u n c lo u d e d ' i n
a p p o s it io n t o 'c l e a r s k y ', and an in d e p e n d e n t c l a u s e , f u r t h e r
e x p a n d in g on 'u n c l o u d e d ', 'a n d a w h ite r a d ia n c e i s o v e r i t a l l ' .
The e f f e c t o f su ch p i l i n g - u p o f e x p r e s s io n s i s g r e a t i n t e n s i t y o f
p e r c e p t u a l v i v i d n e s s . The w hole i s ro u n d ed o f f by a r e f e r e n c e t o
t h e b l e s s e d l i f e o f t h e gods i n t h i s p l a c e , t h e l i n e b e in g c o n n e c te d
b y t h e demons t r a t i v e 'o n i t ' o r ' t h e r e ' w hich r e f e r s b a c k t o l i n e 12 .
W ith t h e m e n tio n o f t h e b l i s s f u l l i f e o f t h e gods on Olympus (1 6 )
we r e t u r n t o t h e i n i t i a l m e n tio n o f Olympus ( 1 2 ) . W ith A th e n a 's
d e p a r tu r e (17) we r e t u r n t o o u r i n i t i a l s ta te m e n t ( l l ) . The form o f
t h e w hole i s a c h ia s m u s , v i z . a b c b a , c b e in g th e a p p o s i t i o n a l
c l u s t e r . Chiasmus i s t h e n a t u r a l outcom e o f t h e a p p o s i t i o n a l mode
o f th o u g h t and e x p r e s s io n a t t h i s e a r l y s t a g e . "
55I b i d . p . 8 .
56C f. f h . 1 9 .
^ I n f r a p . 165 .
58I b i d . p . 13 .
59
M a rtin N i l s s o n , " G fitte r und P s y c h o lo g ie b e i H om er", A rc h iv fULr
R e lig io n s w is s e n s c h a f t 22 (1 9 2 3 - 1 ). p p . 3 6 3 ff . T h o rn to n and T h o rn to n
p p . 120-1 c i t e t h i s a r t i c l e and sp e a k o f t h e problem o f e m o tio n a l
i n t e n s i t y i n Homer. In t h e p r e s e n t p a ra g ra p h I make u s e o f many o f
t h e i r comments and e x am p les.
60
T h o rn to n and T h o rn to n , o p . c i t . p . 121.
6 l I n f r a p p . 95-9&.
I b i d . p p . 2 0 -1 .
~ c r . my d is c u s s io n o f th e a f f e c t i v e q u a l i t y o f a r c h a ic sym bolism .
8 ^S u p ra p p . 2 1 -2 5 .

51
I n B a c c h y lid e s i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o know how much t h e e f f e c t i s

p a r t o f a c o n s c io u s e f f o r t t o u n d e r lin e t h e s tr a n g e n e s s o f th e e p is o d e .
The n a r r a t i v e i s o f a t y p e , how ever— a s H e s io d ic p a r a l l e l s show— t h a t
m ust h av e i t s a n a lo g y i n e a r l i e r , l e s s s o p h i s t i c a t e d w r i t e r s .
- a pp.
In fr 2U-25.
^ Ib id = p. 7^
1✓•
^ I b i d . p . 77.
69Ib id .
70- ..
I b id . p p . 78- 82 .
*^Tbid. no. 83-1*.
T2I b id . p . 85.
T3Ib id . .
^Îbid. p . 86 .
00
75I b id . p .
t-
•
' 76_. . .
■ lD ia . p . 86 .
77
Schwyzer,, op. c i t . I .i
Pr&teriturns. . . in Imperfekt
In d o g e rm a n isc h e n b e g a n n , i s t im G rie c h is c h e n g r u n d s E tz lic h d u r c h g e f tih r t."
^ ^ tfa c k e m a g e l, o p . c i t . 1 . 173 .
79
I b i d . 1.179* "H ien ach v ilrd e d e r A o r is t g e s e t z t , v e i l man von dem,
was manchmal g e s c h i e h t , d e n k t, d a ss e s immer g e sc h e h e n k an n o d e r immer
g e sc h e h en m u ss; d as B i e s p i e l d e r V erg an g en h eit. cH.er>te d a z u a n z u d e u te n ,
d a s s etw as z u g esch eh en p f l e g t . "

52
fin
I b id . 1 .1 8 0 ,
8l S c h v y z e r , o p . c i t . 1.61+1.
82 ^ ^ ^ • y ■
'E n e l 6 l S o x st p a X to ra XLVTpcq e tv a u x a t neTapoXr] t l ? 6 XP°vo9»
to u t* av cur] oxem rsov (P h y sic s 2 l8 b 9 -1 0 . )
° ^ e t 6tj t o jit) oueoOaL etvau xp°vov Tore ounpatvsu f p tv Sxav îrj

6pC£oop.&v ar]5e+iCav p,exapoXT)v dXX' t v tvZ x a t dScaupeTW <patvrprat f)
^ x n neveuv oxav 5 ' ato6obp.e9a x a t 6pCoa>|J.ev, t o t s (paplv. Y£Y°vev a <-
Xpovov (pavepov o r t odx eoruv aveo xtvfjaecoq x a t neTapoX^q x ° ° v0(>
(p hysics 2l 8b 30- 219a l .)
8U5td y^P t o t o neYeSoq e t v a t oovexe? x a t f) xC vrptq £<xrt

OPvexfy; 5 ta 6 s ttjv xCvrjatv 6 y p o v o c(P h y s ic s 2 1 9 a l2 -1 3 ): x a t
wanep fj xtvrjoxq d s t aXXr) x a t aXXr] x a t 6 xP°vo<i (P h y s ic s 2 1 9 b l0 ).
05
to o to yap feortv 6 xpovoq, dpuSpog xtvrjaeccq xax a t o n p o rsp o v xa
uorepov (P h y s ic s 2 1 9 b l- 2 ) .
86
Jo h n F . C a lla h a n , F our Views o f Time i n A n c ie n t P h ilo s o p h y
(C am bridge 19I+8 ) , p . 1 9 ^
87C f. S n e ll," T h e R is e o f t h e I n d i v i d u a l i n t h e E a r ly G reek L y r i c " ,

o p . c i t . p p . 1+3-70.
88I b i d . p . 82 .
89
N ote a l s o S te s ic h o ru s * r e f e r e n c e t o t h e " g o ld e n g o b le t o f t h e
sun" ('AsXuoq Senaq xpuosov) w h ich i s q u i t e s i m i l a r t o t h e p r e s e n t
im age i n Mimnermus (D ie h l 6 ) .
'^XprjpiaTtov asXnTOv o 66 sv feoruv 066 * dnco+iorov

o&6 s ©aupacrtov, £ n s t 6r] Zsoq narrjp 'OXountcov
t x p.eori|j,ppLT)q s9t]xs vuxx’ dnoxpo\Jraq cpaoq
■fjXtou XaixnovToq* Xoypov 5 ’ r\\Q’ in* dvOpwnooq 5soq
(D ie h l 7 U .I-U ).

a Sc x a ^ a
xaq £[iaq dveûaq
*AyTlCTLXopaq inavGet
Xpuaoq [d)]q dxrjpa-roq»
TO t * dpyopcov npoctonov,
6uKpa.6av ti toi, \eyco;
‘AyriCTtxopa Hev aura
d 6 t *. •
vuxtcl 5 l ’ . duppootav are otjplov
oorpov dur]poiJL6 vau [la x o v x a l
(P age 1 .5 2 - 6 3 ) .
92
Tiaxpoq 5 e 6 6 |iOv^Xtnotoa
XpoaLOv T]X0 6 q
app/ bnaaSeugauoa* xaXou 5 e o ’ ayov
fixeeq otoooQ ol nept ycq asXatvac
nuxva StvvcvTs? rczip* i n * dpdvcotSe- -
po^ 5 lo. \iioooz
(P age 1 9 1 .7 = 1 2 ).

C h a p te r 2 : S t r u c t u r e and Symbol i n t h e H om eric Hymns end H e sio d
H e r a c l i t u s and P a rm e n id e s d id n o t c r e a t e t h e s t r u c t u r a l
an d sy m b o lic p a t t e r n s o f t h e i r th o u g h t ex n i h i l o . The g e n e r a l
te n d e n c y to w a rd s o p p o s itio n s o f s e v e r a l k in d s t h a t p r e f i g u r e l a t e r
l o g i c a l d ev elo p m en ts and t h e a p p e a ra n c e o f t h e u s e o f sy m b o lic r a t h e r
th a n mundane la n g u a g e and s i g n s f i n d p a r t i a l o r c o m p le te e x p r e s s io n
i n t h e e a r l i e r l i t e r a t u r e s o f t h e H om eric Hymns and H e s io d . I n my
s u b s e q u e n t d i s c u s s i o n I s h a l l a d d r e s s m y s e lf t o t h e j u x t a p o s i t i o n s
o f t h o u g h t s , p h r a s e s , and w o rd s t h a t i n v a r io u s ways r e v e a l s t r i d e s
to w a rd s t h e e l e g a n t o p p o s itio n s o f H e r a c l i t u s and P a rm e n id e s. I
s h a l l th e n t u r n t o t h e sy m b o lic n a t u r e o f t h e w orks u n d e r p a r t i c u l a r
in v e s tig a tio n .
a.
The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw ee n men an d gods w hich h a s b e en
e x p la in e d s i n c e P l a t o c o m p le x ly i n te rm s o f h i e r a r c h y o r in te r m e d ia tio n
b e tw ee n a h ig h e r and lo w e r o r d e r th ro u g h t h e c e n t r a l f i g u r e o f a
C h r i s t , a p p e a rs som etim es i n p r e - P l a t o n i c th o u g h t a s a s im p le
o p p o s itio n . I n e a r l y G reek t h e r e i s an e x te n s i v e u s e o f th e
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n pro hibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

55
o p p o s itio n "b etw een -m o rtal (Gvrproq) an d im m o rta l (d Q av ax o q ).. At t h i s
p r e - P l a t o n i c s t a g e , t h e n , i t i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t o f i n d t h a t th e
employment o f Gvrproq/a-Gdvaxoq and o t h e r s s i g n i f y i n g men and gods
r e v e a l s t h a t w hat m ig h t lo o k l i k e a s im p le o p p o s itio n i n t h e s e n s e
o f an e s ta b lis h m e n t o f two u n r e l a t e d an d m u tu a lly e x c lu s iv e id e a s was
i n f a c t a com plex c o r r e l a t i o n w h ich m ig h t, b e c a u s e o f t h e n a t u r e and
u s e o f t h e la n g u a g e ,in v o lv e c lo s e m u tu a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s and even
p a rtia l id e n titie s . As C a s s i r e r p o i n t s o u t i n h i s d is c u s s io n o f
Symposium 203a (Geoq 5e &v6p&n^ 06 tieCYvorai., 4XXa 6 td t o S t o u naoa
io ru v +1 6 iitXCa x a t t) btdXexxoq GeoTq xpoq dvGpamouq, x a t SYpTjyopoat
x a t x aG ^ u d o u o t), " I n t h i s r e j e c t i o n o f 'm i x t u r e ' b etw een God an d man,
P l a t o a s a d i a l e c t i c i a n draw s t h e s h a r p d i v i d i n g l i n e w hich can b e
drawn n e i t h e r b y m yth n o r m y s tic is m . A p o th e o s is , t h e i d e n t i t y
b e tw ee n God an d m an, i s now r e p la c e d b y t h e demand f o r 6 pot«cotq
6 e« . . . I t i s im p o r ta n t t o s tu d y t h e c o n te x t s and m eaning
o f t h e s e tw o id e a s i n one p a r t i c u l a r , y e t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , exam ple
i n o r d e r t o d e r iv e a more e x te n s iv e u n d e r s ta n d in g o f w hat th e
c o n c e p t o f o p p o s itio n m ust h av e b e e n i n t h e G reek la n g u a g e b e f o r e
o r o u ts id e o f t h e P r e - S o c r a t i c s .
The H om eric Hymns a r e t h e n a t u r a l p la c e t o t u r n i n any
i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f men and gods b e c a u s e on s e v e r a l l e v e l s th e y d e a l
d i r e c t l y w ith t h e q u e s ti o n o f t h e o p p o s i tio n s and r e l a t i o n s h i p s
b etw een t h e two g ro u p s . The Hymn t o D em eter t e l l s o f D e m e te r's

56
v a n d e r in g s on e a r t h i n so rro w f o r P e rs e p h o n e . H er n u r s in g o f th e
m o r ta l c h i l d , DemophoSn a s i f h e w ere a n " o f f s p r i n g o f a god" and

3
h i s n e a r im m o r ta liz a tio n s i g n i f y t h a t i n t h e l o s s o f h e r own d iv in e
c h i l d , D em eter h a s a d o p te d a m o r ta l a s h e r own. The c h i l d h im s e lf
"belongs t o "both w o r ld s . Of c o u rs e D em eter h a s re d u c e d "both re a lm s t o

li
a s im ila r le v e l. They "both a c q u ir e a p a r t i a l i d e n t i t y th ro u g h h e r
a c t s r a t h e r th a n m e re ly a sim p le o p p o s i tio n . One ty p e o f o p p o s itio n
i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d , t h e n , by a c t i o n s o f a p a r t i c u l a r a g e n t t h a t c r e a t e
a p a r t i a l i d e n t i t y b etw een t h e two r e a lm s . (A n o th er ty p e one m ig h t
r e l a t e t o t h i s i s one i n w hich t h e r e i s a s i m i l a r i t y , u s u a l l y i n d i c a t e d
b y an e x p l i c i t c o m p a riso n , t h a t a lr e a d y e x i s t s w ith o u t r e s u l t i n g from
an a c t i o n o f a p a r t i c u l a r a g e n t .) The Hymn t o Hermes i s p a r t i c u l a r l y
r i c h i n t h i s ty p e o f c o r r e l a t i o n . A lth o u g h i t d e a ls p r i m a r i l y w ith
two g o d s , A p o llo and H erm es, i t a l s o g o es f a r i n i n d i c a t i n g . t h a t
Hermes h im s e lf d e a ls e q u a ll y w ith b o th re a lm s o f men and g o d s . He
i s d e s c r ib e d by h i s m o th e r a s a g r e a t w o rry t o both."* He i s com pared
t o b o th men and gods i n h i s d e g re e o f d e l u s i v e n e s s .^ The l y r e
i t s e l f , Hermes* i n v e n t i o n , i s c o n c e iv e d b y A p o llo a s a g i f t from th e

v
re a lm o f e i t h e r men o r g o d s , and l a s t l y h e i s d e s c r ib e d a s c o n s o r tin g
w ith b o th m o r ta ls and im m o rta ls and i s c o n s e q u e n tly an o b v io u s p o i n t

3
o f i n te r m e d ia tio n b e tw ee n t h e two s p h e r e s . H ere th e t a l e o f Hermes
r e f l e c t s w e l l th e f i r s t ty p e o f o p p o s i t i o n .
I n t h e Hymn t o D e lia n A p o llo A p o llo i s d e s c r ib e d a s a
X&piia pporotcTL ( a s o u rc e o f jo y t o m o r t a l s ) . ^ L eto b e a r s him i n

57
t h i s form a l s o t o h e t h e r u l e r o f a l l men. ^ The co m b in a tio n s u g g e s ts
a s tr o n g and n e c e s s a r y o r i e n t a t i o n o f t h e re a lm o f im m o r ta lity to w a rd s
i t s o p p o s itio n — an o r i e n t a t i o n t h a t i s n o t h i e r a r c h i c a l i n a P l a t o n i c
o r C h ris tia n se n se . H ere i s a s e c o n d ty p e o f o p p o s itio n i n w hich
t h e one re a lm a f f e c t s o r b e a r s an e s s e n t i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e o t h e r .
T o o , i n t h e Hymn t o P y th ia n A p o llo t h e r e o c c u rs t h e re m a rk a b le n o tio n
t h a t t h e T i ta n s a r e t h e d i r e c t a n c e s to r s o f b o th men and g o d s ^ — n o t ,
a s I r e a d i t , i n a l i n e a r s e n s e t h a t t h e r e w ere T i ta n s th e n gods th e n
m en, b u t i n t h e s e n s e t h a t from t h e T i t a n s b o th men and gods w ere
th o u g h t t o h av e s p ru n g e q u a l l y , th e r e b y c r e a t i n g a t h i r d ty p e o f
o p p o s itio n d e p e n d e n t upon g e n e a lo g y . The q u e s tio n o f g e n ea lo g y and
i t s r e le v a n c e t o l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e w i l l come up once a g a in i n my
e x a m in a tio n o f H e s io d ’ s Theogony; a t t h i s p o i n t I w ish o n ly to
u n d e r l i n e t h e p a r a l l e l i s m and c o n se q u e n t p a r t i a l i d e n t i t y o f t h e two
s p h e r e s im p lie d i n su c h a s ta t e m e n t. A f o u r t h c a te g o ry one sh o u ld
a l s o m e n tio n i s one e n t a i l i n g an o p p o s iti o n o f a c t i o n i n w hich a
s u p e r i o r s p h e re a c t u a l l y f a l l s i n t o a s u b s e r v i e n t r o l e t o t h e o t h e r .
P a n ’s s e r v i c e a s a sh e p h e rd t o a m o r ta l man i n th e hymn b e a r in g h i s
name i s a good e x a m p l e .^
T h e re a r e o t h e r exam ples o f t h i s p a r t i c u l a r Greek r e l a t i o n s h i p
b etw een men and gods i n th e c o rp u s o f t h e H om eric Hymns, b u t c e r t a i n l y
t h e one hymn t o i n v e s t i g a t e i n d e t a i l , t o a n a ly z e i n some d e p th in
o r d e r t o r e a c h a s u r e u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e p a r t i c u l a r p o l a r o p p o s itio n
b etw een men and g o d s , i s th e Hymn t o A p h ro d ite . T h is hymn n o t o n ly

58
in c o r p o r a te s th e s p e c i f i c them e o f A p h r o d ite 's m a rria g e w ith a m o r ta l
a n d a l l o f i t s i n t e r e s t i n g g e n e a l o g i c a l and o p p o s i t i o n a l im p lic a tio n s
h u t a l s o p ro v id e s an e x c e l l e n t o p p o r tu n i ty t o exam ine i n one p ie c e o f
l i t e r a t u r e b o th a w hole s e t o f id e a s t h a t r e l a t e t h e two s p h e re s and
a l s o th e s t r u c t u r e o f th e la n g u a g e i t s e l f t h a t u l t i m a t e l y J u x ta p o s e s
them .
Any one o f t h e s e v e r a l t y p e s o f o p p o s itio n fo u n d i n t h e
Hymn t o A p h ro d ite i s i n i t s e l f no more i n t e r e s t i n g th a n t h e o t h e r ,
b u t ta k e n i n te rm s o f t h e l a t e r p r e - S o c r a t i c m odels one o r two a r e
c o n s id e r a b ly more p e r t i n e n t . I am i n t e r e s t e d n o t o n ly i n how t h e
o p p o s itio n s m ig h t b e d e r iv e d and c o n s e q u e n tly w hat t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p
m ig h t b e i n t h a t form b u t a l s o i n how t h e o p p o s itio n s m ig h t b e form ed
from t h e p o i n t o f view o f t h e la n g u a g e i t s e l f . The o p p o s itio n s
th e m s e lv e s a r e o f t h e f o u r d i f f e r e n t k in d s n o te d a b o v e , i . e . ( l ) an
a s s o c i a t i o n o f two re a lm s t h a t i s e i t h e r (a ) e f f e c t e d by a p a r t i c u l a r
a g e n t 's a c t i o n o r (b ) im p lie d b y a s i m i l a r i t y o f a member o f one
re a lm t o a member o f t h e o t h e r ; ( 2 ) a p o s i t i v e o p p o s itio n i n w hich
o ne o r b o th re a lm s r e f l e c t a n e c e s s a r y o r i e n t a t i o n t o t h e o t h e r ;
(3 ) an o p p o s i t i o n a l c o r r e l a t i o n v i a g e n e a lo g y th ro u g h w hich o p p o s ite s
a r e form ed b y b i r t h from a p r e v io u s s i n g l e phenomenon o r c o n v e r s e ly
th ro u g h w h ich o p p o s ite s p ro d u c e an in te r m e d ia r y t h i r d phenomenon;
( k ) a p o s i t i v e - s u b s e r v i e n t o p p o s it io n w hich i s a c o r o l l a r y o f th e
sec o n d ty p e b u t i n w hich t h e n o rm a lly s u p e r i o r s p h e re a t t a i n s an

59
e q u a l o r p e rh a p s i d e n t i c a l s t a t u s b y assu m in g a s u b s e r v i e n t r o l e t o
t h e n o rm a lly i n f e r i o r o n e . The l i n g u i s t i c f o r m u la tio n o f t h e o p p o s itio n s

13
in v o lv e s t h r e e d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s . A t t h e f i r s t o r lo w e s t l e v e l one
w ord o r i d e a a p p e a rs w ith o u t any s t a t e d i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e o t h e r . At
th e s e c o n d l e v e l , b o th w ords o r id e a s a r e fo u n d b u t n o t i n a b a la n c e d
in f l e c t i o n a l ( e .g . d a tiv e c a s e /d a tiv e case) o r s y n ta c tic a l (e .g .
d a t i v e n o u n /d a tiv e noun o r d a t i v e a d j e c t i v e - n o u n / d a t i v e a d je c tiv e - n o u n )
sense. A t t h e t h i r d l e v e l a r e t h e m ore fo r m a l j u x t a p o s i t i o n s w here
i n f l e c t i o n a l an d s y n t a c t i c a l b a la n c e d o es o c c u r a n d , f o r o u r f u t u r e
p u r p o s e s , t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p assum es a l o g i c a l s e n s e . S u b s e q u e n tly i n
th e t e x t a n d f o o t n o t e s I s h a l l r e f e r t o t h e f i r s t f o u r o p p o s itio n s as
I . l a , o r I . l b , 1 . 2 , 1 . 3 , and I . U , and t o t h e l a s t t h r e e more p u r e ly
l i n g u i s t i c o p p o s itio n s a s I I . 1 , I I . 2 , and I I . 3 .
The f i r s t and lo w e s t l e v e l ( I l . l ) — t h a t i s low i n so f a r
as i t s o p p o s itio n a l q u a lity i s i n t u i t i v e t o one e x t e n t o r a n o th e r —
a p p e a rs i n t h e f o llo w in g i n s ta n c e s w here id e a s an d w ords d e a li n g
w ith im m o r ta l ity a r e s t a t e d a lo n e b u t c a r r y s t r o n g im p li c a tio n s o f
-the o t h e r . When A p h ro d ite a d d re s s e s A n c h ise s a s " t h e m ost g lo r i o u s
o f m o r ta l m e n , " ^ t h e r e i s a s u g g e s tio n t h a t t h e g o d d ess i s somehow
e q u a l i z i n g h i s re a lm t o h e r s so t h a t s h e may s l e e p w ith him ( i . l a ) .
A gain j u s t a b i t l a t e r sh e s t a t e s th e c a te g o r y b u t ta k e s p a r t i c u l a r
n o te o f h i s f a m i l y 's good lo o k s b o th t h a t sh e m ig h t sp e a k o f Ganymede
and T ith o n u s and a l s o , one s e n s e s , g iv e h e r s e l f p e r m is s io n f o r h e r

60
own p a s s io n ( i . l a ) . ^ F o r A p h ro d ite t h e s p h e re o f men i s o f p a r t i c u l a r
im p o r ta n c e . I t i s p ro b a b ly im p o r ta n t t o n o t e , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h a t
s h e comes t o A n c h ise s when h i s com panions have l e f t and l e a v e s when
th e y a r e a b o u t t o r e t u r n (7 5 -7 7 and 1 6 9 -1 7 1 ).She i s a ls o u n d e rs ta n d a b ly
^ c.
c o n s c io u s o f th e c h i l d i n h e r womb b e g o t b y a m o r ta l ( 1 . 3 ) . A en eas1
v e r y name d e r iv e s from h e r . g r i e f i n l y i n g w ith a " m o r ta l man" ( 1 .3

17
and I . U ) . I t was Zeus who d e c id e d t h a t sh e was no lo n g e r t o b e
lS
in n o c e n t o f t h i s " lo v e o f a m o r ta l" ( I . U ) . In t h i s poem t h e i d e a
o f m o r t a l i t y i s c e r t a i n l y c l o s e l y in v o lv e d w ith t h e im m o rtal A p h ro d ite .
C o n v e rse ly A n c h ise s i s d e s c r ib e d a s r e l a t e d t o im m o r ta l ity . A p h ro d ite
comes upon h im , " a man i n s t a t u r e l i k e u n to t h e im m o rta ls" ( I . l b )
A t one p o i n t sh e calm s h i s f e a r s by t e l l i n g him t h a t t h e gods w i l l
n o t harm him — i n o th e r w o rd s, t h a t th e y w i l l r e s p e c t t h e m a rria g e

20
b e tw ee n t h e tw o s p h e r e s b e c a u s e h e i s " d e a r t o them " ( 1 . 3 ) .
A n c h is e s , l i k e A p h r o d ite , i s c l o s e l y in v o lv e d w ith th e " o t h e r w o rld " .
A p h ro d ite a l s o sp ea k s o f o t h e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s b etw een m o r ta ls
a nd im m o r ta ls . She t e l l s A n c h ise s t h a t sh e w ould n o t h av e him a n o th e r

21
T i th o n u s , l i v i n g d e a t h l e s s and a g in g among t h e im m o rta ls ( I . l a ) .
She bemoans t h e f a c t o f h e r new s t a t u s among t h e im m o rta ls now t h a t

*22 23
s h e h a s s l e p t w ith a man ( I . U ) . W ith them sh e h a s g r e a t sham e.
A p h ro d ite h e r e a g a in seems t o b e s p e a k in g o f t h e im m o rta ls w ith a
p a r t i c u l a r r e f e r e n c e t o h e r e x p e r ie n c e w ith a m o r ta l lo v e-r. S u r e ly
a g a in A n c h is e s , th e m o r t a l, n e c e s s i t a t e s th e h o a x . At one p o i n t th e

6l
d iv in e q u a l i t i e s o f A p h ro d ite ’ s a p p e a ra n c e o r ornam ent f i n d t h e i r

. " 2k
p la c e i n a m o r t a l c o n te x t ( 1 . 2 ) . They a f f e c t t h e m o r ta l re a lm
h e r e o n ly i n so f a r a s t h e g o d d e s s ' o rn a m e n ta tio n and h e r p re s e n c e
p ro d u c e an im m ed iate e f f e c t upon A n c h is e s , h u t I s h a l l a rg u e l a t e r
t h a t t h i s s o r t o f d e s c r i p t i o n h a s much t o do w ith t h e a f f e c t i v e
s y m b o liz a tio n o f t h e g o d d ess h e r s e l f .
I h a v e e x h a u s te d th e f i r s t c a te g o ry o f my a n a l y s i s : th e
a p p e a ra n c e and c o n te x t o f one w ord o r i d e a w ith o u t any s t a t e d i n d i c a t i o n
o f th e o th e r. A d m itte d ly i n t h i s s o r t o f l i t e r a r y a n a l y s i s th e
r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een t h e tw o r e a lm s , a lth o u g h p r e s e n t , i s o b s c u re
b e c a u s e t h e a b se n c e o f t h e seco n d te rm n e c e s s i t a t e s v a r io u s d e g re e s
o f s p e c u l a t i o n on my p a r t . At t h i s p o i n t , then* I s h o u ld l i k e t o
t u r n , i n way o f t r a n s i t i o n t o t h e sec o n d c a te g o ry ( I I . 2 ) , t o th e tw o
s t o r i e s A p h ro d ite t e l l s o f Ganymede and T ith o n u s and t o t h e d e s c r i p t i o n
o f t h e wood nymphs who a r e d e s ti n e d t o r a i s e A eneas f o r h i s f i r s t
fiv e y e a rs. I n t h e s e t h r e e in s t a n c e s exam ples o f s t a t e d j u x t a p o s i t i o n s
( I I . 2 ) a r e m ixed w ith th o s e o f t h e p re v io u s ty p e ( I I . 1 ) . I n th e
f i r s t tw o exam ples lo v e p ro v id e s t h e im p e tu s , th e r e b y p a r a l l e l i n g
t h e m odel o f A n c h ise s and A p h ro d ite . The l a s t , h o w ev er, r e p r e s e n t s
so m eth in g d i f f e r e n t and i s , t h e r e f o r e , more i n t e r e s t i n g .
Zeus c a r r i e s o f f Ganymede b e c a u s e o f t h e b o y ’ s b e a u ty t o
t h e re a lm o f t h e im m o rta ls . God and m o r ta l a r e im m e d ia te ly ju x ta p o s e d
a t t h e b e g in n in g o f t h e s t o r y , e a c h w ith h i s e p i t h e t , e ac h w ith h i s

62
p o s itio n in th e l i n e : . . . £av0ov ravuprjbea p T rtsT a Z e u q . ^ The
i n t e r n a l rhyme rg v oufiSea txirrCsTa l i n k s t h e tw o s p h e r e s t o o . Ganymede

26
i s h o n o re d by a l l t h e im m o rta ls . He s e r v e s t h e gods ( I . l a ) . H is
p o s i t i o n and h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p t o th e gods a r e s t a t e d i n t h e o p e n in g
f o u r l i n e s o f t h e s t o r y w here t h e o u tc ro p in g o f id e a s an d w ords
r e la tin g to d iv in ity i s s ig n if ic a n t. Zeus a p p e a se s t h e b o y 's f a t h e r
w ith h o r s e s t h a t b e a r t h e im m o rta ls ( i . l a ) . ^ The one s p h e re b r i b e s
th e o th e r. Ganym ede's own s t a t e i s c l e a r : h e , a m o rta l, a t ta in s
two q u a l i t i e s n o rm a lly r e s e r v e d f o r t h e g o d s. He i s b o th im m o rta l

23
a nd u n a g in g ( l . l b ) . B etw een t h e tw o re a lm s h e a c t s a s an in te r m e d ia r y
who h a s assum ed c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f a s p h e re n o rm a lly a l i e n t o h i s own.
He i s " l i k e u n to t h e g ods" i n more th a n j u s t a p p e a ra n c e a s i s A n c h ise s
s in c e h e h a s a c q u ir e d two o f t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r a t t r i b u t e s . A v a ria tio n
o c c u rs i n t h e s t o r y o f D awn's ra p e o f T ith o n u s . Man an d g o d d ess
a p p e a r i n t h e same l i n e a lth o u g h , p e rh a p s s i g n i f i c a n t l y f o r Dawn's
m is ta k e , t h e p a r a l l e l i s m o f a d j e c t i v e s does n o t o c c u r , an d e v en th o u g h
T ith o n u s was an a n c e s to r o f A n c h ise s and w a s, l i k e h im , co m p arab le to
t h e im m o r ta ls , s t i l l t h e s t r i c t p a r a l l e l i s m o f men and gods does n o t
h o ld b e c a u s e Dawn does n o t a sk Zeus t o make T ith o n u s a g e le s s ( I . l b

, 29
and I . l a ? ) . He i s d e a t h l e s s and a l i v e f o r e v e r b u t w it h e r s away t o
30
a m ere so u n d . H is one o t h e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e gods i s t h a t
h e d in e s upon t h e i r fo o d f I . l b } - As a m o r t a l T ith o n u s assum ed an
in te r m e d ia te r o l e b etw een t h e two s p h e r e s t h a t p a r ta k e s o f b o t h ,

63
t r e a d i n g i n t h e e n d , h o w e v e r, t h e n o t - t o o - d i s t i n c t l i n e b etw een o ld
age and d e a th i t s e l f .
The e x i s t e n c e o f t h e nymphs who a r e t o c a r e f o r A eneas
a s s u m e s an im p o rta n c e i n t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n b e c a u s e th e y do in d e e d
d ie . T h ese n a tu r e g o d d e ss e s m ix w ith t h e d a n ce s o f t h e im m o rta ls

32
and l i k e T ith o n u s p a r t a k e o f t h e i r fo o d . As g o d d e sse s th e y a c t
a s t h e i n t e r m e d i a r i e s and t h i r d te rm s b etw ee n two re a lm s and
s i g n i f i c a n t l y h av e a s t h e i r c h a rg e A e n e a s, t h e p ro d u c t o f a n o th e r
ty p e o f i n t e r m e d i a t i o n who i s an i n t e r m e d i a t i o n h im s e lf i n a n o th e r
s e n s e o f t h e w ord ( 1 . 3 ) . L ik e Ganymede and T ith o n u s th e y a r e
e x ampl e s o f e x i s t e n c e b o th m o r t a l and im m o rta l. U n lik e t h e two

33
th e y seem t o p a r ta k e m o st s t r i k i n g l y o f t h e m o r ta l s p h e r e : th e y d i e .
I n any c a s e , e a c h o f t h e t h r e e s t o r i e s e x p lo r e s a t h i r d a r e a d e r iv e d
d i r e c t l y , a s I s e e i t , from an i n i t i a l o p p o s itio n o f m o r t a l i t y and
im m o r ta l ity .
The c a s e becom es e v en c l e a r e r , h o w e v e r, i f one exam ines
t h e d e f i n i t e th e m a tic J u x t a p o s i t i o n o f w ords s i g n i f y i n g m o r t a l i t y
and im m o r ta lity ( I I . 2 ) , f o r t h e n a c l e a r l o g i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p b e g in s
t o ©merge.
H e s t i a , f o r i n s ta n c e ', n e a r t h e b e g in n in g o f t h e poem i s
s a i d t o b e t h e c h i e f g o d d e ss among im m o rta ls . I n t h e G reek l i n e
ppoToq and Beoq a r e J u x ta p o s e d b a c k t o b a c k , a good exam ple o f a

3U
th e m a tic n i c e t y a f f o r d e d b y an i n f l e c t e d la n g u a g e . A p h ro d ite ’ s
pow ers i n c o u p lin g t h e tw o re a lm s a r e w e l l e x e m p lif ie d i n t h e m a rria g e s
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e c o p y rig h t o w n e r . F u r th e r re p ro d u c tio n p rohib ited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

6k
35
o f Zeus and m o r t a l women ( I . l a ) . A n c h is e s ' w o rry c o n c e rn in g w hat
h ap p en s when men c o u p le w ith gods n o t o n ly r e f l e c t s o n ce a g a in a
ty p e o f o p p o s i t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw ee n t h e tw o re a lm s ( 1 . 2 ) b u t
a l s o r e v e a l s a v e ry r e a l c o u p lin g o f la n g u a g e r e f l e c t i n g m o r t a l i t y
36
and d i v i n i t y . A c e r t a i n p e c u l i a r i d e n t i t y b e tw ee n t h e tw o s p h e r e s
comes a b o u t i n t h e g o d s ' h a t r e d o f d e a th , a common d i s l i k e o f b o th

3T
men and gods a lth o u g h o n ly one o f t h e tw o re a lm s i s a f f e c t e d ( I . l a ) .
J u s t b e f o r e s n a tc h in g A p h ro d ite away ( I . l b ) , A n c h ise s com pares h e r ,
s u p p o se d ly a m o r t a l , t o a g o d d e s s , r e v e a l i n g n o t o n ly t h a t t h e
j u x t a p o s i t i o n i s i n h i s m ind b u t a l s o , a s h e l a t e r a d m its , t h a t he
oft
knows a lr e a d y t h a t s h e i s d iv in e ( i . l b ) . H ere i s a n o th e r exam ple
i n w hich c o m p ariso n draw s th e two re a lm s c lo s e t o g e t h e r , i n d i c a t i n g
t h a t a lth o u g h t h e r e m ig h t b e an i n i t i a l o p p o s it io n b e tw ee n t h e
n o tio n s o f Gvrjroq and AGavaxoq, t h e r e l i e s i n t h e u s e o f t h e la n g u a g e
i t s e l f a s tr o n g d e s i r e t o draw p a r a l l e l s b e tw ee n t h e two s p h e r e s .
T h is j u x t a p o s i t i o n o r o p p o s itio n i s c l e a r e s t i n th o s e l i n e s w here
t h e n o tio n s a r e more f o r m a lly s t a t e d e i t h e r by an i n f l e c t i o n a l o r
s y n t a c t i c a l p a r a l l e l i s m o r by a g ra m m a tic a l j u x t a p o s i t i o n f o r
39
em phasis a t a d ra m a tic ju n c t u r e o f t h e n a r r a t i v e i t s e l f ( I I . 3 ) .
T h e re a r e f o u r i n s t a n c e s o f o b v io u s ly fo rm a l j u x t a p o s i t i o n
i n t h e hymn: o u re Gexov paxaccoiv outs Gvrrrcov AvGo&tkov ( 3 5 ) ; Ttpitov
AvGoconotot x a t AQavaTOtot G e o ta tv ( 1 ^ 2 ) ; 00 tu q e n e i t a Gernv ootc
Gvnrtov AvGpoctcov ( 1 ^ 9 ) ; a t f>* ooxe G vnrotq out ' AGavaTQtO’tv en o v x at
( 259 ) • I n t h e f i r s t in s t a n c e n o te t h e a p p o s i t i v e c h i a s t i c p la c e m e n t

65
of noun an d a d j e c t i v e and t h e t i g h t p a r a l l e l i s m and b a la n c e d e r iv e d

Uo
th ro u g h t h e c o r r e l a t i v e d i s j u n c t i o n s . I n t h e se c o n d c a s e , a lth o u g h
t h e r e i s n o t t h e c h i a s t i c a rra n g e m e n t, b o th s p h e r e s a r e subsumed
e q u a ll y u n d e r t h e same i d e a . The same may b e s a i d i n th e t h i r d c a s e ,
w h ile t h e f o u r t h l i n e i s m ore c l o s e l y r e m in is c e n t o f t h e f i r s t i n
s tru c tu re . I n a l l i n s t a n c e s t h e m a jo r v o r d s we h av e exam ined
e a r l i e r a r e i n c l e a r j u x t a p o s i t i o n and c o r r e l a t i o n . T h ere a r e
t h r e e s i t u a t i o n s i n t h e hymn w h ich a p p e a r s l i g h t l y l e s s fo rm a l:
o5 Ttq to i 0eoc; e i . u f tl p.* &8gvaTnaLv Ito x c L q ;/ dXXc. xaraQvTiTn
Y6 • •• ( 109 - 110 ) ; ayyCG soi 5 s poXuPTa xaTaQvrrrSv dv9pcbncov ( 200 ) ;
dGgvaTQuc a u v s p t^ g xgraSvrrrricn. yuvgigC ( 2 5 0 ) . The f i r s t l i n e s f i n d
a s t r o n g o p p o s i t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r i n t h e vehem ence o f A p h ro d ite l s
d e n ia l. I t i s r a t h e r i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t s h e d e n ie s A n c h ise s th e r i g h t
of l i k e n i n g h e r u n to t h e gods a lth o u g h s h e h e r s e l f p e rfo rm s a l i k e
a c t i n r e g a r d t o him s e v e r a l t i m e s . I n e f f e c t sh e i s l i k e n i n g h e r s e l f
u n to a m o r t a l . She th u s m a in ta in s a c e r t a i n b a la n c e b etw een t h e two
s p h e r e s - ( I .lb ) . I n t h e se c o n d i n s t a n c e t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p l i e s i n a
ty p e o f c o m p a ris o n , one member o f w h ich r e t a i n s a f a m i l i a r noun
w ith a f a m i l i a r m o d if ie r ( I . l b ) . The t h i r d c a s e r e f l e c t s t h e g e n e r a l
them e o f t h e hymn: an i n t e r m e d i a t i o n o f men and gods th ro u g h
in te rc o u rs e ( 1 .3 ) . I n f o u r o t h e r c a s e s i t i s f a i r l y o b v io u s t h a t
th e more fo rm a l j u x t a p o s i t i o n o f S eo q , .SvOpa»rios, ^dSuvcrcoi;
i s r e l a t e d e v en more l o o s e l y o r h a s b e e n r e p la c e d b y th e j u x t a p o s i t i o n

66
of o th e r w ords m eaning a b o u t t h e same t h i n g : KonpuSoq, ti t c G e o latv
i n i Yûxuv I uepov <gpae/ xaC x* feSapaauaTO <puXa xaTaQvrnrSv dvGoamov
(2 -3 ); dQ avarp napeXex-co 8 s p B o o to c . . . . ( 167 ) ; o 6x av iyCi y e a s
•xouov iv d 6avgTOuai.v iXotu,T)v/ dGavaTOv x* e lv a u x a t £&betv "qpaTa navxa
(2 3 9 -2 ^ 0 ); dQ avatm i• xdc 5* ou xt. B oorot x s tp o u a t a t 6'n w (2 6 8 ). In
t h e se c o n d an d t h i r d l i n e o f t h e poem , w h ile fro m th e p o i n t o f v iew
of s e n s e b o th re a lm s a r e e q u a ll y subsum ed u n d e r t h e pow er o f A p h ro d ite
( I . l ) , p r o b a b ly t h e o c c u r re n c e o f tw o k e y p h r a s e s i n two s u c c e s s iv e
l i n e s a ls o draw s a t t e n t i o n t o t h e o p p o s itio n . The s e c o n d exam ple
a g a in r e f l e c t s t h e them e o f i n te r m e d i a ti o n th ro u g h i n t e r c o u r s e ( I .U ) .
I n t h e t h i r d c a s e A n c h is e s , a m o r t a l , i s r e p l a c e d b y th e pronoun a s
and ju x ta p o s e d w ith t h e gods and im m o r ta lity ( I . l a ) . L in e two h u n d re d
and f o r t y i s e s p e c i a l l y i n t e r e s t i n g s i n c e i t i s an e x a c t r e p e t i t i o n
of two h u n d re d and tw e n ty - o n e , a l i n e d e s c r ib i n g Dawn's b l i n d r e q u e s t
of Zeus i n r e s p e c t t o T ith o n u s . R e p e titio n o f t h i s ty p e , o r f o r th a t
m a tte r o f t h e lo n g e r v a r i e t y su ch a s we s e e i n Homer, c r e a t e s a
n a t u r a l em p h asis and i n t h i s c a s e makes one s u s p e c t t h a t i t c o u ld
—b e p o i n t i n g t o a c e n t r a l id e a o r them e i n t h e poem. The l a s t ex am p le,
a lth o u g h n o t a s c l e a r a s m o s t, b r in g s a g ro v e o f t r e e s i n t o th e re a lm
of th e im m o rta l b y i n d i c a t i n g t h e i r im m unity fro m an a c t i o n men
r e g u l a r l y p e rfo rm ( I . l a ) .
A t t h i s p o i n t I s h o u ld l i k e t o i n i t i a t e a new m ethod o f
i n v e s t i g a t i o n d e s ig n e d a g a in t o r e v e a l t h e im p o rta n c e o f t h e m o r t a l /
im m o rtal o p p o s itio n i n t h e Hymn t o A p h ro d ite . We h av e exam ined th e
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e c o p y rig h t o w n e r . F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n p roh ibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

67
r e mark a b le num ber o f tim e s t h a t men and gods f i n d fo rm a l o r q u a s i—
fo rm a l j u x t a p o s i t i o n i n a poem o f two h u n d re d an d n i n e t y - t h r e e l i n e s .
I f th e s e i n s t a n c e s w ere t o come a t c r u c i a l j u n c t u r e s o f t h e poem
I t s e l f , t h e i r im p o rta n c e w ould b e s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n c r e a s e d .
B e g a rd in g t h e hymn from b e g in n in g t o e n d , one r e a l i z e s t h a t
i t i s t r u e t h a t fo rm a l and- q u a s i- f o r m a l j u x t a p o s i t i o n o f gods and
men o c c u r a t s i g n i f i c a n t p o i n t s i n t h e n a r r a t i v e . The j u x t a p o s i t i o n
i n l i n e s tw o and t h r e e f a l l s s i g n i f i c a n t l y w ith t h e hymn*s n a r r a t i v e
im p e tu s : t h e sw e e t p a s s io n w ie ld e d by A p h r o d i t e . ^ L in e t h i r t y - f i v e
a p p e a rs e x a c t l y a t t h e p o in t i n th e poem w here t h e p o e t c o m p le te s h i s
t h r e e s h o r t hymns t o A th e n e , A rte m is , and H e s t i a and m arks th e
b e g in n in g o f t h e m ain n a r r a t i v e . T h is p a r t i c u l a r l i n e a ls o draw s a
d i s t i n c t i o n b e tw ee n t h e m eaning o f t h e s h o r t e r hymns and t h e body o f
t h e n a r r a t i o n i n so f a r a s i t in c lu d e s a l l b e in g s m o r ta l o r im m o rtal
who a r e p a r t i c u l a r i z e d i n t h e hymn by t h e f i g u r e s o f A n c h ise s and
A p h ro d ite . I t i s s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t t h e g o d d e sse s o f t h e p r e c e d in g
t h r e e hymns a r e n o t s u s c e p t i b l e t o t h e w orks o f A p h ro d ite and form
an o p p o s itio n o f t h e i r own t o A p h ro d ite h e r s e l f .
T he n e x t im p o r ta n t j u x t a p o s i t i o n o c c u rs when A p h ro d ite
f i r s t a d d r e s s e s A n c h ise s (1 0 9 -1 1 0 ). H ere i s t h e f i r s t r e a l exam ple
o f a p o s s i b l e s t a t e o f in te r m e d ia tio n b e tw ee n t h e two s p h e r e s .
A p h ro d ite d e n ie s h e r godhead duu oOucnes upon t h e ax x a i r s ox men.
The m e e tin g p o i n t b etw een r e a lm s , o r i n te r m e d ia tio n i n an a c t i v e
s e n s e , i s o f c o u rs e t h e a c t o f lo v e . A p h ro d ite * s d e n i a l o f h e r

68
d i v i n i t y i s v e r y im p o r ta n t t o t h e m eaning o f t h e poem s in c e i t
e f f e c t i v e l y p r o v id e s h e r an e n t r e e — f o r a s h o r t tim e a t l e a s t — i n t o
t h e re a lm o f m o r t a ls and a l l o v s t h e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f a r e c i p r o c a l
r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n t h e tw o s p h e r e s .
l i n e one h u n d re d f o r ty - tw o m arks t h e e x a c t end o f A p h r o d ite ’s
a d d r e s s , j u s t when t h e h e r o i s a b o u t t o draw h e r t o b e d on t h e g ro u n d s
t h a t sh e i s m o r t a l an d t h a t h e d e s i r e s h e r . N ote t h e c lo s e p ro x im ity
o f t h e w ord "[lepoq ( l ^ l ) , a phenomenon t h a t o c c u rs i n l i n e s two and
t h r e e a n d , i f P o r t e r b e c o r r e c t , i s i n i t s e l f one o f t h e th e m a tic
h2
r e p e t i t i o n s o f t h e poem. I n any c a s e i t i s im p o r ta n t t h a t th e
ma r r i a g e i s h o n o re d b y b o th men and g o d s . I t i s a l s o im p o r ta n t t h a t
A n c h ise s s t a t e s h e w i l l b e d t h e g o d d e ss gods and men w i l l i n g o r no
( l h 9 ) — an em pty b o a s t t o b e s u r e i f we d i d n o t r e a l i z e t h a t t h i s i s
j u s t th e p o in t: t h e gods and men a r e w i l l i n g , an d t h e fo rm a l
j u x t a p o s i t i o n o f t h e two s p h e r e s i s em ployed h e r e t o u n d e r l in e t h e
fa c t. The p h r a s e i n e f f e c t s a n c tio n s t h e m a r r ia g e .
The n e x t r e i t e r a t i v e a f f i r m a t i o n em p lo y in g a more o r l e s s
fo rm a l r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een men and gods appiears a t l i n e two h u n d re d
a f t e r t h e s e d u c tio n a t t h e p o i n t w here A p h ro d ite knows sh e i s t o
b e a r A eneas— t h a t a w fu l " g r i e f ” a t h e r d o w n f a ll. H ere t h e e f f e c t
o f t h e i n t e r m e d i a t i o n b e tw ee n t h e two s p h e r e s i s ad v an ced i n m o r ta l
te r m s : "B u t a lw ay s y o u r r a c e i s t h e m ost l i k e u n to th e gods o f a l l
m o r ta l men i n b e a u ty and n a t u r e . " The l i n e i s p la c e d i n t h e s t r u c t u r e

69
of t h e poem j u s t b e f o r e t h e e p is o d e s o f Ganymede and T ith o n u s , two
m o r t a ls a s d e s i r e d b y t h e gods a s A n c h is e s . I t s i g n a l s t h e c lo s e
of t h e m ain bo d y o f n a r r a t i o n . I t i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t th e n e x t
j u x t a p o s i t i o n (2 3 9 -2 ^ 0 ) o c c u r s im m e d ia te ly a f t e r t h e t a l e o f T ith o n u s .
T h e n , i n t h e m id d le o f t h e t a l e o f t h e nymphs ( 259 ) t h e r e l i e s a
l i n e i n w h ic h t h e tw o re a lm s a r e p la c e d i n a d i s j u n c t i v e y e t
c o r r e l a t i v e r e l a t i o n s h i p ( o u t s Q vnrotc our* & 8gygTQLgt.v) . The
nymphs do a f t e r a l l , a s I h av e s a i d , r e p r e s e n t a t h i r d te rm a s do
Ganymede a n d T ith o n u s . The poem e x te n d s f o r t w e n ty - f i v e more l i n e s
i n w h ich A p h ro d ite d i c t a t e s t h e p r e c a u tio n s t h a t m ust s u rro u n d t h e
u l t i m a t e i n t e r m e d i a t o r i n a g e n e a lo g ic a l s e n s e : A en eas.
B o th t h e s p h e r e s o f men and gods assum e a p a r t i c u l a r q u a l i t y
of i d e n t i t y i f i t i s p o s s i b l e t o t a k e t h e body o r n a r r a t i v e o f t h e
Hymn t o A p h ro d ite a s a G reek s ta te m e n t o f a p o s s i b l e r e l a t i o n s h i p
b e tw ee n t h e human an d t h e d i v i n e . H ere t h e s p e c i f i c q u a l i t y i s
s e x u a l. I t i s t h i s " s w e e t" s e x u a l n a t u r e , t h e sym bol o f w hich i s
A p h r o d ite , a n d t o w h ich t h e p e r s o n a l g o d d e ss h e r s e l f becomes s u b j e c t ,
t h a t form s t h e n e c e s s a r y im p e tu s b e h in d t h e j o i n i n g o r in t e r m e d ia t io n
of t h e two o p p o s ite r e a lm s . E ro s a s a t h i r d , i n te r m e d ia tin g p r i n c i p l e
a p p e a rs a l s o i n H e s io d , and I s h a l l d e m o n s tra te l a t e r t h e p re s e n c e
of a s i m i l a r t h i r d l o g i c a l e le m e n t i n H e r a c l i t u s . I n t h e Hymn t o
+ A © O V I H jl ■? ■ > !(?A f t + V f t « » ft V* V a 4 V i
MMV w w | M • W• WMW | WV W 44
gods w ith m o r t a l women who b e a r c h i l d r e n t o th e im m o rtals and g o d d e sse s

70
•with m o r t a l m en. I t i s im p o r ta n t t o n o t e , I t h i n k , t h e sym metry i n
w h ich t h e g o d d e ss w o rk s: gods t o m o r ta l women / g o d d e ss e s t o m o r ta l
m en. The j u x t a p o s i t i o n i n G reek i s ev en m ore s t r i k i n g : 0eouq auvs^L ê
xaTaSvrjTTjat Y u v a t^ l/ Qeaq dvejiL^s xaTaOvrfrotq 4v0pa>noi.<;. T h e re i s
& s t r i c t p a r a l l e l i s m b etw een w ords c o u p le d w it h t h e e x a c t s w itc h in g
of s e x e s a n d t h e s im p le a l t e r a t i o n o f a p r e f i x i n t h e m ain v e rb
-(ntYvu&it) w h ic h c r e a t e s a s y m m e tric a l, a l l - i n c l u s i v e s ta te m e n t b y
an a lm o s t g e o m e t r ic a l s t r u c t u r i n g an d p a r a l l e l i s m o f o p p o s i t e s , b o th ,
on t h e one h a n d , i n s e x u a l a n d , on t h e o t h e r , d iv in e an d m o r ta l
te r m s . Men e n t e r i n t o i n t e r c o u r s e w ith t h e g o d s ; gods e n t e r i n t o
i n t e r c o u r s e w i t h m en. A n c h ise s e n n o b le s h i s r a c e ; A p h ro d ite i s
d e g ra d e d among t h e g o d s . The q u a l i t i e s o f men and gods a r e m ix ed ,
and i t i s t h e w id e ra n g e o f m eanings p o s s e s s e d b y t h e G reek v e rb
t h a t l e a d s me t o b e l i e v e t h a t s e x u a l i n t e r c o u r s e r e p r e s e n t s
h e r e i n t h e Hymn t o A p h ro d ite n o t m e re ly a s e x u a l phenomenon b u t i n
a r a t h e r lo o s e s e n s e a l s o a l o g i c a l one s in c e i t a c t s a s a t h i r d
e le m e n t u n i t i n g a n d i d e n t i f y i n g two s p h e r e s t h a t a r e on t h e l i n g u i s t i c
- le v e l o p p o se d . I t i s t h e t h i r d e le m e n t t h a t h a s , i n e f f e c t , c r e a t e d
or made m ore c l e a r t h e n a t u r e o f t h e o p p o s itio n b y c r e a t i n g a common
a r e a and b y s o d o in g d e f in e d t h e common re a lm i n w h ich t h e two
o p p o sin g members a r e i d e n t i c a l .
Hy i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f ©vrjroq and A- 0avaxoq and t h e i r accom panying
synonyms h a s e n d e a v o re d t o ex p o se a way o f th o u g h t t h a t m a in ta in s a

71
t e n s e d e q u i l i b r i u m b etw een t h e tw o o p p o sin g s p h e r e s th ro u g h n o t o n ly
a p a r a t a c t i c a l e q u a l i t y o f e x p e r ie n c e o r a c t i o n b u t a l s o a t h i r d
te r m t h a t i s v a g u e ly g e n e r a liz e d i n t h e f i g u r e o f A p h ro d ite -E ro s
h e r s e l f b u t p a r t i c u l a r i z e d i n t h e a c t o f lo v e .

72
/
b.
I n H e s io d 's Theogony A p h ro d ite ta k e s h e r p la c e i n th e
g e n e a lo g ic a l schem e o f t h i n g s some d is ta n c e away fro m th e b e g in n in g
o f t h e u n i v e r s e , b u t E ro s does n o t . I t i s t o th e s t r u c t u r e and
o p p o s i t i o n a l n a t u r e o f t h i s work t h a t I now t u r n .
The Theogony i s d iv id e d i n t o a proem (1 -1 1 5 ) and m ain body
(1 1 6 -1 0 2 2 ). T h is i s an a rran g em en t we s h a l l s e e a g a in i n t h e frag m e n ts
o f P a rm e n id e s. W ith in t h e proem i t s e l f , t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l s t r u c t u r i n g
o f t h e sec o n d p a r t i s f i r s t in tr o d u c e d . H ere a ls o i s t h e i n d i c a t i o n
t h a t t h e b r o a d g e n e a lo g ic a l s t r u c t u r e o f t h e work w i l l s e t Z e u s'
r e i g n a s so m e th in g s p e c i a l and im p o r ta n t. The Olym pian g o d s , t h e
t h i r d g e n e r a tio n p o r tr a y e d i n t h e Theogony, a r e la u d e d b y t h e H e lo co n ia n
M uses, th o s e d iv in e f i g u r e s who v e i l e d i n m is t f i r s t s in g t h e i r own

1*1*
and c o n s e q u e n tly H e s io d 's song i n p r a i s e o f Z eu s. B e fo re t h e
Theogony ru n s f i f t e e n l i n e s , th e s e Olympians (Z e u s , H e ra , A th e n a ,
A p o llo , A r te m is , and P o se id o n ) f i n d m e n tio n . Then fo llo w s a s e t o f
famous d a u g h te r s t h a t a c t s as a k in d o f t r a n s i t i o n t o th e p re v io u s
g e n e r a tio n : T h e m is, A p h ro d ite , Hebe ( l 6 ) , t h e p r e v io u s g e n e r a tio n :
D io n e , L e to , I a p e t u s , Cronos ( 1 7 - 1 8 ) , a s e t o f t h e s e T i t a n s ' c h i l d r e n :
E o s , H e l i o s , S e le n e (1 9 )» and f i n a l l y p a r t o f t h e f i r s t g e n e r a tio n
1*5
i t s e l f and tw o im p o r ta n t o f f s p r i n g : E a r t h , O cean, an d N ig h t ( 2 0 ) .
-Zeus and t h e O lym pians a r e f i r s t b e c a u s e th e y a r e t h e TsXoq o f th e
poem i t s e l f . I t i s w ith them t h a t t h e d i a l e c t i c o f re v e n g e en d s and

73
& c o m p re h e n s iv e , b a la n c e d u n iv e r s e i s e s t a b l i s h e d — a u n iv e r s e
c o n s tr u c te d a n d m a in ta in e d by p o l a r t e n s i o n s . We a r e d e a lin g w ith
U6
a p r o c e s s t h a t p o s s e s s e s s tr o n g p h i l o s o p h i c a l o v e r to n e s .
H e s io d p ic k s up t h e proem a g a in a t l i n e t h i r t y - s i x a f t e r
a s h o r t e x c u r s u s i n t o th e M uses' v a l i d a t i o n and i n s p i r a t i o n o f h i s
Ut
song. He s p e a k s s p e c i f i c a l l y o f t h e muses* so n g a s h e d id a t t h e
v e r y b e g in n in g b u t t h i s tim e t r e a t s t h e g e n e a lo g y h i s t o r i c a l l y r a t h e r
th a n f o r e m p h a s is , a s h e d id p r e v i o u s ly when h e p la c e d t h e m ost
im p o r ta n t g e n e r a tio n f i r s t . From t h e b e g in n in g (64 dpxnO th e two
s e x u a l and c o s m o lo g ic a l p o l a r i t i e s , E a r th and H eav en , b e g e t t h e g o d s.
The Muses c e l e b r a t e t h i s g e n e a lo g y f i r s t . S eco n d th e y s in g o f Z e u s ,
f a t h e r o f gods and men (9etov n aT eo* f)5 e x a u & v5oaiv) — a f a m i l i a r
p h r a s e i n d i c a t i n g n o t o n ly an e q u a l g e n e a l o g i c a l d e s c e n t from th e
f i g u r e o f Zeus b u t p e rh a p s a g a in a p o l a r - l o g i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p o f
U8
l a t e r g e n e ra tio n s . I n any c a s e i t i s h e r e t h a t t h e o r g a n i z a ti o n
o f t h e n a r r a t i v e body o f th e poem a s we h av e i t i s s t a t e d .
T h e n , f o r t h e t h i r d ti m e , H e sio d r e t u r n s t o th e Muses i n
- —an e x te n d e d p r a i s e o f t h e i r a t t r i b u t e s and n am es, w o rk in g in a c l e v e r
d o u b le s ta te m e n t o f t h e i r names ( 6 U-79 ) and in c lu d in g t h e i r b e n e f i t s
f o r man. The proem ends w ith ah a p o s tr o p h e t o th e s e g o d d e s s e s , a s k in g
t h a t th e y g r a n t t h e p o e t lo v e ly so n g t o c e l e b r a t e t h e h o ly r a c e o f
1*9
d e a th le s s g o d s. A gain t h e o p p o s itio n o f E a r th and Heaven f i n d s
i t s p l a c e (1 0 6 )— o r I s h o u ld s a y t h e i r c h i l d r e n , f o r h e r e H e sio d

p la c e s e m p h asis upon p r o g e n i to r s who w i l l h a v e a p a r t i c u l a r p la c e
i n t h e o v e r a l l o p p o s i t i o n o f g e n e a lo g ie s i n t h e T heogony; N ig h t
and S e a . ^ He a s k s t o s i n g o f th e fo r m a tio n o f w hat we s h o u ld to d a y
c a l l t h e p h y s i c a l w o rld ( t h e e a r t h , r i v e r s , b o u n d le s s s e a , g leam in g
s t a r s , and w id e h e a v e n [ 108—1101 ) and f i n a l l y a g a in t o p r a i s e th e
O lym pians. The proem e n d s th e n w here i t b e g a n — w ith th e M uses.
. I t ..has assum ed a p a t t e r n (A [1 -9 ]» B [ 1 0 -2 1 ] , A [ 2 2 - 3 5 ] , B [ 3 6 - 5 2 ] ,
A [5 3 - 1 0 3 ] , B [ 1 0 ^ - 1 1 3 ] , A [1 1 ^ -1 1 5 ]) i n w h ich t h e a p o s tro p h e t o
t h e Muses (A) i s a l t e r n a t e d w ith th e g e n e a l o g i c a l n a t u r e o f t h e i r
song (B ). E ach a l t e r n a t i o n s u p p lie s u s w ith m ore in f o r m a tio n ,
and t h e lo n g " d i g r e s s i o n on th e Muses" (5 3 -1 0 3 ) p o s s i b l y a c ts as a
p a r t i a l p e n d a n t t o t h e lo n g g e n e a lo g ic a l s e c t i o n t h a t form s t h e m ain
body o f t h e poem.
Chaos l e a d s o f f t h e poem p r o p e r . W hat "C haos" i t s e l f
means i s a p ro b le m i n i t s e l f . To g iv e i t some r a r i f i e d i d e a o f
p u re n e g a ti o n o r n o th in g n e s s w ould c e r t a i n l y b e a t t r i b u t i n g n o n -
a r c h a i c , t h e o r e t i c a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o a te rm w hose u s e , n o t d e f i n i t i o n ,
i s w h a t i s im p o r t a n t . A s e n s a t io n o f o p e n in g o r yaw ning may b e
in v o lv e d i n t h e i d e a , c f . t h e t r a d i t i o n a l e ty m o lo g y from th e r o o t
Xa, m eaning " g a p e " , " g a p " , "yaw n ", b u t I c a n n o t f u l l y u n d e rs ta n d any
jump t o " a b o unded i n t e r v a l " t h a t w ould im p ly t h a t Chaos i s " a v a s t
gap betw een sk y an d e a r t h " a s do C o rn fo rd and K irk and R a v e n ,^ f o r
t h e r e i s r e a l l y n o th in g i n t h e a rra n g e m e n t o f t h e t h r e e te rm s i n t h e
t e x t t o j u s t i f y su ch a c o n fig u ra tio n . Chaos came t o b e f i r s t o f a l l
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e c o p y rig h t o w n e r . F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

75
(nparruora X aoj ytv&x* . . . 1 1 6 ) , th e n E a r th ( . . . a& rap s n s u r a / T a t . . .
1 1 6 -1 1 7 )* and T a r ta r u s and E r o s . H eaven do es n o t a p p e a r u n t i l l i n e
one h u n d re d a n d tw e n ty - f iv e a n d i s n o t s e p a r a te d from E a r th b y Chaos
b u t i s b o ra o f h e r. T h e re i s n o th in g i n t h e t e x t t h a t w ould a rg u e
t h a t Chaos was c o n c e rn e d a t a l l ,
W est p r o b a b ly s a y s a b o u t a l l t h a t can b e s a i d i n t h e way o f
l i n g u i s t i c d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e te rm when h e d e s c r ib e s Chaos a s an
52
em pty s p a c e s t u f f e d w ith d a rk n e s s t h a t can c a tc h on f i r e . T h is
do es n o t , h o w e v e r, r e a l l y t e l l u s a n y th in g a b o u t why Chaos a p p e a rs
npeorrucrra i n t h e body o f t h e poem—t h a t i s , how i t f i t s i n t o th e
d raw in g o f t h e cosm os. The a n sw e r, I t h i n k , m u st b e ad v an ced on a
much more s t r u c t u r a l l e v e l th a n h a s b e e n a tte m p te d h e r e t o f o r e .
What i n t e r e s t s me f i r s t i s t h a t Chaos i s n o t m e n tio n e d i n t h e proem
a t a ll; y e t , we a r e g iv e n t h e s t r u c t u r e , i f n o t t h e names o f a l l
t h e gods th e m s e lv e s , f o r e v e r y th in g e l s e t h a t o c c u rs i n t h e m ain
n a r r a t i v e , e x c e p t o f c o u rs e f o r E r o s , a te rm a s we s h a l l s e e o f a s
much p h i l o s o p h i c a l and s t r u c t u r a l i n t e r e s t a s Chaos i t s e l f . S e c o n d ly ,
'i d l e f a c t t h a t Chaos b e g in s t h e m ain body o f t h e poem and i s re g a rd e d
a s nparruora t h e r e i n d i c a t e s t o me t h a t so m eth in g u n u s u a l m ig h t v e ry
w e ll b e s i g n i f i e d by t h e te rm . T h ir d ly — and t h i s i s much more i n
l i n e w ith t h e p s y c h o lo g i c a l pow er o f a "yaw ning11 im age t h a t m ig h t
b e a s s o c i a t e d w ith t h e w ord— t h e g r a n d c h ild r e n o f Chaos by N ig h t arid
g r e a t - g r a n d c h i l d r e n b y E r i s a r e n o t o n ly a p r e t t y gruesom e l o t b u t

76
a l s o t o t a l l y u n a s s o c ia te d i n m a rria g e from t h e c h i l d r e n o f E a r th and
H eaven. T h e re i s , i n o t h e r w o rd s , an im p lie d n e g a ti v e q u a l i t y and
o p p o s itio n i n C haos’ l i n e i n c o n t r a d i s t i n c t i o n t o t h e g e n e a lo g y
53
from E a r t h .
I t a k e t h e s e t h r e e p o i n t s t o i n d i c a t e t h a t Chaos i s a
g a p in g , n e g a t i v e o p p o s ite o f n o t o n ly t h e phenom ena l i s t e d i n t h e
proem b u t a l s o o f w h at i s t o b e d e s c r ib e d i n t h e m ain n a r r a t i v e
body— t h e g e n e a l o g i c a l movement to w a rd s t h e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f Z e u s'
re ig n . I n l o g i c a l te rm s Chaos i s th e n e c e s s a r y p o l a r o p p o s ite t o
a l l o f t h e cosm os as H e sio d d e s c r ib e s i t , and i t i s s t a t e d n o t i n
o r d e r t o e s t a b l i s h some w e ll- d e f i n e d i n t e r v a l b e tw ee n Heaven and
E a r th a s some w ou ld h a v e i t b u t t o r e p r e s e n t j u s t th e o p p o s ite : •
an u n l i m i t e d " o t h e r ” w hose o n ly known b o u n d a ry r e s t s a g a i n s t i t s
o p p o s ite . T h e re can b e l i t t l e d o u b t i n my own m ind t h a t i n H e s io d ’ s
Chaos we p o s s e s s t h e d i r e c t a n c e s to r o f P a rm e n id e s ’ prj o v . In a
l a t e r c h a p te r I s h a l l d e m o n s tra te t h a t t h e re s e m b la n c e e x te n d s much
f u r t h e r th a n some m ig h t t h i n k . I n any c a s e , w ith H e sio d Chaos i s
much f u r t h e r fro m th e a p p a r e n t n o tio n o f p u r e n e g a tio n found i n
P a rm e n id e s an d much c l o s e r t o b e in g one te r m i n a s t r u c t u r a l
o p p o s itio n .^
T h e re f o l l o w s , t h e n , a f t e r C h ao s, E a r t h , t h e e v e r - s u r e
s e a t o f a l l ( h & v t g c v e5o<j AcrcpaXsq &u&l . . . 117)* S h e , l i k e C hans, i s
one o f t h e p r im a l p o w e rs. E a r th b e a r s t h e r a c e o f gods t h a t w i l l
e v e n t u a l l y l e a d t o th e r e i g n o f Z e u s. I n c o n t r a s t and o p p o s itio n

77
t o C haos, E a r th and h e r o f f s p r i n g assume a t m o st tim e s a much more
p o s itiv e a s p e c t. T h e re i s l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een
Chaos and E a r th i s l o g i c a l l y o p p o s it io n a l and p o l a r b e c a u se o f t h e i r
p la c e i n t h e f i r s t two l i n e s o f t h e n a r r a t i v e b o d y . ^ I t i s im p o rta n t
•th a t no s t r i c t g e n e a lo g ic a l r e l a t i o n s h i p i s im p lie d ; t h e te n s e d -
g e n e a lo g ic a l ty p e o f p o l a r o p p o s itio n i s r e s e r v e d f o r E a r th and
Heaven ( 1 2 6 - 7 ) . More m ust b e s a i d a b o u t t h i s se c o n d ty p e o f p o l a r i t y
a t th e p r o p e r tim e . T h e re fo llo w s th e n t h e name o f T a r ta r u s (1 1 9 ) , a
phenomenon a d m itte d ly i n f e r i o r i n ra n k t o Chaos and E a r th ( i t i s ,
a f t e r a l l , b u t a p a r t o f t h e l a t t e r ) b u t im p o r ta n t I t h i n k b e c a u s e
i t w i l l form t h e o p p o s ite o f t h e re a lm o f Zeus i n a s t r u c t u r a l
sense. N ote a l s o , a lth o u g h I s h a l l e l a b o r a t e t h i s o p p o s itio n l a t e r
(i n f r a p . 93 )» t h e p o s s ib ly s p u rio u s l i n e one h u n d re d and
e ig h te e n c o n ta in s a r e f e r e n c e t o Olympus i n im m ed iate j u x t a p o s i t i o n
to T a rta ru s . T h e re i s , t h e n , a s tr o n g h ig h /lo w o p p o s itio n e s t a b l i s h e d
a s th e t e x t s t a n d s . ^ The t h i r d r e a l pow er t h a t o c c u rs i n th e s e
l i n e s i s E r o s , and i t i s h e r e a g a in , a s w ith C h ao s, t h a t a l o g i c a l
q u a l i t y seems t o e n t e r H e s io d ’ s poem.
E ro s i s i n n e i t h e r t h e g e n ea lo g y o r i g i n a t i n g w ith Chaos
n o r t h e g e n e a lo g y o r i g i n a t i n g w ith E a r th . I t s d e s c r i p t i o n a s th e
m ost b e a u t i f u l among th e im m o rtal g o d s , a s u n n e rv in g th e lim b s ,
a s overcom ing th e m ind and w is e c o u n s e ls r e l e g a t e s t h i s f o r c e t o
an e s p e c i a l p la c e i n t h e cosm os. M dst i n t e r e s t i n g from o u r p o i n t
o f view i s t h a t E ro s i n H e sio d l i k e E ro s i n t h e Hymn t o A p h ro d ite

78
57
re d u c e s b o th men an d gods t o an e q u a l s t a t u s . Any i n h e r e n t
o p p o s itio n o f t h e tw o camps a g a in becom es a p a r t i a l i d e n t i t y . E ro s
s ta n d s h e r e a s a c o s m ic , g e n e r a tiv e f o r c e . The c o n n e c tio n betw een
i t and t h e g e n e a lo g ie s t h a t fo llo w i s o b v io u s e n o u g h , and i t i s a ls o
i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t t h e o n ly o t h e r tim e i t a p p e a rs a s a w ord i n th e poem
i s a t l i n e tw o h u n d re d and one a s accom panying A p h ro d ite a t h e r b i r t h .
T h ro u g h o u t t h e g e n e a lo g ic a l s e c t i o n s o f t h e w ork A p h ro d ite h e r s e l f
o r (ptXorriq c o n s t i t u t e s th e g e n e r a tiv e u r g e . T h e re c o u ld b e an a rg u m e n t,
t h e n , f o r r e g a r d i n g A p h ro d ite and E ro s a s one an d t h e same much i n t h e
same way we d id i n t h e Hymn t o A p h r o d ite . and i n so f a r a s E ro s a c t s
a s A p h ro d ite o r cpiAo-crjq th e argum ent h o l d s . Y e t, i n t h e c a s e o f
H e s io d 's Theogony t h i s s im p le i d e n t i f i c a t i o n r e a l l y does n o t e x p la i n
vhy E ro s i s p la c e d w here i t i s , a s one o f t h e p r im a l pow ers b e f o r e
th e b e g in n in g o f t h e g e n ea lo g y i t s e l f , an d why i t seems t o b e u s e d
b y H e sio d a s so m e th in g w ith i t s own s p e c i a l sy m b o lic m ean in g .
What i s E r o s , t h e n , a s a s e p a r a t e phenomenon— t h a t i s
s e p a r a te d a t l e a s t p a r t i a l l y from A p h ro d ite whom i t i s s a i d t o
accompany? Can one go beyond t h e m ere r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f E ro s a s

cQ
th e t h i r d g iv e n (D a -S e ie n d e ) a lo n g w ith Chaos an d E a rth ? I th in k
t h a t t h e r e i s n e e d o f s p e c u la ti o n t o u n d e r s ta n d how H e sio d m ust h av e
c o n c e iv e d t h e w o rk in g s o f h i s g e n e a lo g ie s and why h e w o u ld s t r u c t u r e
a u n iv e r s e i n su ch a w ay, f o r t h e r e i s one c l e a r f a c t i f t h e r e b e
any i n t h i s p ro b le m : a th e o g o n y i s a s t r u c t u r i n g o f a c o m p lete and
w hole u n i v e r s e , and t h e v a r io u s p rim a ry e le m e n ts o f t h i s s t r u c t u r i n g

79
a r e w hat m ust c o n c e rn u s m o st. The o p p o s i t i o n a l n a tu r e o f t h i s
s t r u c t u r e h a s "been e s t a b l i s h e d c l e a r l y h y t h e o p p o s itio n o f Chaos
and E a r t h . E ro s a s a t h i r d e le m e n t p ro b a b ly p o s s e s s e s a l o g i c a l ,
h e u r i s t i c s e n s e t h a t makes i t a l o g i c a l phenomenon o f t h e same
o r d e r a s Chaos and E a r th b u t one r e l e g a t e d t o a c t i o n r a t h e r th a n
p u r e ly s t r u c t u r a l fo rm . To p u t t h e m a t t e r more s im p ly : E ro s i s
t h e phenomenon b y w h ich H e sio d e x p la in s t h e fo rw a rd movement b etw een
o p p o s ite s i n h i s g e n e o lo g ic a l p a t t e r n . E r o s , t h e n , a l s o becom es a
59
sy m b o l, b u t t h a t q u e s tio n I le a v e a s id e f o r t h e moment.
H e s io d i n a m a t t e r o f se v e n l i n e s (1 1 6 -1 2 2 ) h a s e s t a b l i s h e d
an a lm o s t i d e a l p a t t e r n o r s t r u c t u r e f o r g e n e r a ti n g h i s u n i v e r s e . It
i s , o f c o u r s e , th e g e n e r a tio n o r g e n e a lo g y i t s e l f t h a t s h o u ld r e f l e c t
t h e schem a, and so I now t u r n t o t h a t s p e c i f i c p ro b le m .
H e s io d ’ s g e n e a lo g y i s b a s e d on o p p o s i t i o n a l p a t t e r n s on
s e v e r a l l e v e l s — t h a t i s , i t i s p o s s i b l e t o d is c o v e r o p p o s itio n n o t
o n ly b e tw ee n phenom ena su c h a s Chaos and E a r th b u t a l s o w it h i n and
b etw een t h e f a m i l i e s o f e a c h . O p p o s itio n i n t h e poem i s c l e a r l y n o t
c o n fin e d t o a s e x u a l o p p o s iti o n . A sex u al g e n e r a t i o n , f o r i n s t a n c e ,
i s common. I t , t h e r e f o r e , makes l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e i f s e x u a l u n io n
i s in v o lv e d . What i s im p o r ta n t i s any o p p o s itio n a t a l l . T ake as
an exam ple t h e f i r s t g e n e r a tio n fro m C haos.
H e sio d t e l l s u s t h a t from Chaos came E re b u s and N ig h t and
o f N ig h t was b o rn A e th e r and D a y . ^ H ere t h e b a s i c o p p o s itio n l i e s
b etw een t h e e x a c t l y b a la n c e d fo u rso m e : E reb u s and N ig h t/A e th e r and

80
Day. T h a t Day s h o u ld come o f N ig h t m ig h t v e ry w e ll h e e x p la in e d hy
a th e o r y t h a t N ig h t t o Day i s a p r o g r e s s w h ile Day t o N ig h t i s a
r e g re s s .^ T h a t th e y s h o u ld h e p r e s e n t a t a l l , h o w ev er, c l e a r l y
stem s from t h e i r i n h e r e n t o p p o s itio n t o E reb u s and N ig h t. The
p o l a r i t y o f Day and N ig h t i s a g iv e n . One c a n n o t h e e i t h e r c o n c e iv e d
o r e x p e r ie n c e d w ith o u t t h e o t h e r ; t h e r e f o r e , Day and N ig h t a r e
p r e s e n t a lth o u g h i n f a c t th e y a r e w ith o u t o f f s p r i n g .
A n o th e r ty p e o f o p p o s itio n becomes in v o lv e d i f one t r a c e s
th e g e n e r a tio n s fro m Chaos h y N ig h t i n o r d e r t o c o n t r a s t t h e g e n e r a tio n s
o f E a rth . N ig h t h a r e s h a t e f u l Doom, h la c k F a t e . D e a th , S le e p , and

62
D ream s, B lam e, p a i n f u l Woe, th e H e s p e r id e s , t h e D e s t in e s , t h e
r u t h l e s s l y p u n is h in g F a t e s , N em esis, D e c e i t, F r ie n d s h ip , a c c u rs e d
O ld A ge, and S t r i f e , who h e r s e l f a b h o rre d (oruYsp'n* 2 2 6 ), i s th e m o th e r
o f T o i l , F o r g e t f u l n e s s , F am ine, T e a r f u l S o rro w s, F i g h t i n g s , B a t t l e s ,
M u rd e rs, M a n s la u g h te r s , Q u a r r e l s , L y in g W ords, D is p u te s , L a w le s s n e s s ,
6k
R u in , and O a th . T h is c a ta lo g u e i s one o f s u f f e r i n g s and above a l l
endowed w ith a d e f i n i t e n e g a tiv e t e n o r . N ig h t i s d e a d ly (iX ofj, 2 2 k ) ,
an d h e r o f f s p r i n g a r e h a r d ly l e s s s o .
The g e n e r a t i o n from E a r th a r e , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , g e n e r a lly
p o s i t i v e i n c h a r a c t e r — e s p e c i a l l y i n so f a r a s th e y answ er t h e
g e n e r a tio n s o f C haos. Over and above t h e s im p ly l o g i c a l o n e , t h e
g e n e r a t i o n a l o p p o s itio n o f w hich E a r th i s a p o l a r member i s t h a t
b etw een E a r th an d H eaven. E a r th b e a r s Heaven e q u a l t o h e r s e l f
(to o v Icoo-t?}, 1 2 6 ) , and I su b m it t h a t i t i s t h e g eo m etry im p lie d by
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of th e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n p rohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

81
t h i s p h r a s e t h a t c r e a t e s t h e s im u lta n e o u s i d e n t i t y an d o p p o s itio n
r e q u i s i t e f o r phenom ena i n p o l a r o p p o s i t i o n . ^ E a r th th e n h e a r s h y
h e r s e l f H i l l s and P o n tu s , an d i t i s t h e c h i l d o f P o n tu s t h a t b e s t
o p p o ses t h e c h i l d r e n o f N ig h t. N e re u s , so n o f P o n tu s and h i s
c h i l d r e n a r e i n im m ed iate j u x t a p o s i t i o n t o H ris and h e r s . N ereus
i s P o n tu s 1 o l d e s t so n and t h e r e f o r e h i s m o st im p o r ta n t o f f s p r i n g
(com pare E r i s a s t h e m o st im p o r ta n t c h i l d and a l s o e l d e s t o f N i g h t ) ,
a n d , a s W est com m ents, i t i s u n u s u a l t h a t N ereus w ould h e m e n tio n e d
f i r s t i f i t w ere n o t n e c e s s a r y t o form a c o n t r a s t .
66
T h is " c o n t r a s t " becom es much more o f an o p p o s itio n i f t h e
p ro b lem b e c o n s id e r e d s t r u c t u r a l l y . N ot o n ly does t h e r e e x i s t a
fe m in in e /m a s c u lin e o p p o s itio n ( N ig h t: E r i s ::P o n t u s :N e r e u s ) b u t a ls o
t h e r e i s a s tr o n g o p p o s itio n b e tw ee n t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f S t r i f e
and o f N ereu s th e m s e lv e s . S t r i f e , a b h o rre d i n h e r s e l f , p ro d u c e s a
m e n a g e rie o f h o r r o r s o f w h ich L y in g W ords, L a w le s s n e s s , R u in , an d
O ath a r e m em bers. I n o p p o s itio n N e re u s , th e o ld m an, i s t r u e and
never l i e s . He i s alw ays r i g h t and g e n t l e . H is d a u g h te r s by
L o r is a r e e v e r y th in g t h e c h i l d r e n o f N ig h t a r e n o t— l o v e l y , b e a u t i f u l ,
68
g r a c i o u s , w a v e -c a lm in g , fo n d o f l a u g h t e r , c h arm in g , e t c . H is
l a s t d a u g h te r , N rpeprnq ( I n f a l l i b l e T r u t h ) , by h e r name and h e r
p o s i t i o n a s l a s t i n t h e c a ta lo g u e shows h e r s e l f t o b e t h e r e
in c a rn a tio n o f h e r f a th e r ’ s p o s itiv e c h a r a c te r is tic s . T h e re can b e
little d o u b t t h a t H e sio d h a s c o n c e iv e d o f N ereus and h i s c h i l d r e n
i n o p p o s itio n t o N ig h t and h e r s .

82
The c le a r o p p o sitio n a l stru ctu re I have traced th u s fa r
i n th e Theogony. th e primary l o g i c a l and g e n e a lo g ic a l o p p o sitio n
which H esiod i n i t i a l l y u se s t o co n stru ct h is cosmos, now a f te r th e
b ir th o f th e U ereids seems to move in to th e background t o make way
f o r . and t o a c e r ta in e x ten t co n trib u te t o , th e g e n e a lo g ic a l d ia le c t ic
th a t i s t o end in th e reig n o f Zeus. The u se o f o p p o sitio n i s now
d ir e c te d towards d e fin in g th e th ree major m asculine powers in th e
s tr u c tu r a l movement o f th e u n iv erse: Heaven, Cronos, and Zeus.
The H esio d ic genealogy s o lv e s th e problem o f th e one and
th e many, fo r th e f i r s t members o f th e cosmic t a l e l i v e in c h a r a c t e r is t ic s
o f a l l fo llo w in g gen era tio n s and in so doing con trib u te a oneness to
t h e u n iv erse reig n ed over by a m u ltitu d e o f gods. Y et, in order to
e s t a b lis h in t h i s u n iv erse th e presence o f Zeus and th e Olympians,
th e system o f gods th a t b e s t d escrib es th e cosmos in human rath er

69
than th e cosmic or p u rely l o g i c a l terms o f Chaos, E arth , and Love,
H esiod i n i t i a t e s a movement in th e n a rra tiv e o f h is poem and in h is
thought i t s e l f th a t i s b e s t d escrib ed as d i a l e c t i c a l . The th ree
-lo g ic a l co n fig u ra tio n s are rep resen ted by th e th ree generations o f
which th e key members are r e s p e c tiv e ly Heaven, Cronos, and Zeus. The
h e u r is t ic elem ent i s , p e rv e r se ly enough, h ate in c o n tr a d is tin c tio n
t o lo v e—th e h atred o f w ife fo r husband and c h ild fo r fa th e r . The
co n sta n t term i s th e fem inine elem ent: Gaia or Earth h e r s e lf .
I s a id e a r lie r th a t th e ch ild ren o f Gaia could be con sid ered
i n i t i a l l y as p o s it iv e in th e o p p o sitio n t o the ch ild ren o f Chaos.

Why th e n i n t h e sec o n d spaw n in g do E a r th and Heaven p ro d u c e t h e
C yclopes and i n t h e t h i r d , C o t t u s , B r i a r e o s , and G yes, o f a l l t h e i r
c h i l d r e n t h e m ost t e r r i b l e (S& cvoxaxot natScov, 1 5 5 )? The a n sw e r
l i e s , I t h i n k , i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f h a t e , a n e g a tiv e e le m e n t i n
i t s e l f , a s a h e u r i s t i c phenomenon a lr e a d y m a n if e s t i n t h e i r f i r s t
s e t o f c h ild re n . They p ro d u c e f i r s t d e e p - s w ir lin g Ocean o f whom
I s h a l l sp ea k l a t e r i n a n o th e r c o n t e x t , C oeos, C r io s , H y p e rio n ,
I a p e t u s , T h e ia , R hea, T h e m is, Mnemosyne, P h o eb e, T e th y s , and th e n
t h e y o u n g e s t, m ost w ily -, and m o st c l e v e r o f h e r c h i l d r e n : C ro n o s.
He h a te d h i s f l o u r i s h i n g s i r e (GaXepov &* r]x®T!Ps Toxrja, 1 3 8 ). In
o t h e r w o rd s , a l i s t o f gods and g o d d e sse s o f p o s i t i v e to n e (Them is
a nd Mnemosyne a r e , a f t e r a l l , t o b e w iv e s o f Z e u s, and Rhea i s h i s
m o th e r) i s fo llo w e d o r op p o sed b y t h e h a t e - f i l l e d s o n . From t h i s
p o i n t t h e c h ild r e n become more and more d e s p i c a b l e . Heaven h id e s
th e s e a b e r r a t i o n s away i n t h e b o w e ls o f E a r th h e r s e l f , r e j o i c i n g i n
h i s own i l l a c t (xaxoS 5 ' fenexepnexo epyw / O&pavoq 1 5 8 -9 ). E a r th
r e v o l t s , tu r n i n g Cronos upon h i s f a t h e r t o engage i n a b r u t a l
e m a s c u la tio n . C h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y t h e f a t h e r ’s members p ro d u c e a
s e t o f o p p o s itio n s : on t h e one s i d e t h e p o w e rfu l E r in y e s , t h e hu g e
G ia n ts , and t h e o b sc u re M e lia e ; on t h e o t h e r , A p h ro d ite i n a l l h e r
b e a u ty and s e x u a l i t y . E a r th h a s h a d h e r re v e n g e and h a s la u n c h e d
7n
t h e p r o c e s s t h a t w i l l r e s u l t i n t h e r e ig n o f Z e u s .” She h a s a l s o
g iv e n b i r t h t o a s e t o f so n s who b e c a u s e o f t h e i r f e a r f u l d e ed a r e

71
d e s t i n e d t o f e e l t h e w ra th o f v e n g e a n c e . The l o g i s t i c s o f t h e
Theogony a r e a lr e a d y made c l e a r .
I n t h e se c o n d g e n e r a tio n more te n s e d o p p o s itio n s c o n f r o n t
an u n s ta b l e r e i g n . As Cronos was t o H eav en , so Zeus i s t o b e t o
C ro n o s. The n e g a ti v e c a ta lo g u e s do n o t c e a s e i n t h i s g e n e r a tio n .
H e sio d h a s p r o v id e d t h e g e n e r a t i o n ’ s s im p le l o g i c a l o p p o s itio n b y
ju x ta p o s in g t h e c a ta lo g u e s o f t h e c h ild r e n o f N ig h t and N ereus

72
(2 2 6 -2 6 U ), b u t t h e r e i s y e t m o re. Thaumas weds E l e c t r a t o p ro d u c e
t h e n e u t r a l s e t o f I r i s (Rainbow ) and t h e H a rp ie s ( 262- 9 ) . C eto
b e a r s t o P h o rc y s a s e t o f h o r r o r s : th e G r a ia e , t h e G orgons (S th e n n o
E u r y a le , and M edusa w hose h e a d when s e v e re d b y P e rs e u s p ro d u c e s
P e g a su s an d C h ry s a o r who h im s e lf f a t h e r s t h e th r e e - h e a d e d G e ry o n e s ).
73
C eto c o n tin u e s h e r b i z a r r e p ro g e n y . The n e u t r a l E c h id n a , h a l f -
sn ak e a n d h a lf-n y m p h ( t^ u c c t u p.ev vuûprjv . . . ‘Tp.tou 6 ’ a o r e neXcopov . . .
298 - 9 ) who o f h e r s e l f w ith T ypheon, t h e o u tr a g e o u s , t e r r i b l e , and
l a w l e s s , p ro d u c e s t h e h o u n d s , O rth u s and C e r b e r u s , t h e b a n e f u l -
m inded H y d ra o f L e rn a who i s t h e m o th e r o f t h e a w fu l C him aera.
E c h id n a i s t h e m o th e r o f t h e S p h in x and t h e Nemean L io n . C e to ’ s
y oungest i s th e Snake. T h e re can b e l i t t l e d o u b t o f t h e n e g a ti v e
q u a l i t y o f C e t o 's c h i l d r e n .
A p o s i t i v e c a t a l o g u e , h o w ev er, b a la n c e s o f f t h e n e g a ti v e
one once w a i n i n +.he l i s t o f t h e c h i l d r e n o f T c th y s and O cean.
T h e ir so n s a r e t h e r i v e r s ; t h e i r d a u g h te r s , t h e h o ly r a c e o f
nymphs (3 3 7 -3 7 0 ). They a r e d e e p -e d d y in g , b e a u t i f u l , s i l v e r - s w i r l i n g

85
an d g o d lik e . E u r y b ia w ith C rio s b e a r s A s t r a e u s , P a l l a s , P e r s e s ,
t h r e e s u r p a s s in g a l l i n k n o w le d g e. Eos h e r s e l f i s t h e m o th e r o f
t h e p o w e rfu l w inds and t h e s t a r s .
A t t h i s p o i n t f o llo w s t h e p ro g e n y o f S ty x . She was
O cean s‘ s m o st e x a l t e d d a u g h t e r , and i t ' i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t sh e
assum es t h e s p e c i a l p la c e s h e d o e s i n t h e Theogony a s a w h o le . H er
m a rria g e w ith P a l l a s and h e r o f f s p r i n g t e l l u s much a b o u t t h e t h i r d
g e n e r a tio n o f t h e gods an d c e r t a i n l y p r e p a r e s u s f o r t h e a p p ro a c h in g
e n d o f t h e r e i g n o f C ro n o s. S ty x i s b y no means a g o d d ess o f t o t a l l y
p o s itiv e a s p e c t. H er c h i l d r e n a r e G lo ry , V ic to r y , P ow er, and
S tr e n g th ( 3 8 3 - 5 ) . H er im p o rta n c e l i e s i n h e r own p r e r o g a t i v e s and
th o s e o f h e r c h i l d r e n , f o r , a s P h il ip p s o n n o t e s , th e y no lo n g e r
i ?U
p o s s e s s q u a l i t i e s a p a r t from t h e Tipr) w hich Zeus h a s g iv e n them .
Zeus i n h i s s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e T i t a n s p ro m ise d e a c h god who s u p p o rte d
him h i s p r e v io u s p r e r o g a t i v e s o r new o n e s . 75 S ty x and h e r c h ild r e n
a c c e p t Z e u s ' o f f e r an d l o c a t e th e m s e lv e s i n t h a t r e i g n o f t h e t h i r d
g e n e r a tio n o f gods t h a t , a s I s h a l l a rg u e ( i n f r a p . 89 ),
m i t i g a t e s o r i n t e r m e d i a t e s t h e fo rm a l o p p o s itio n b etw een t h e
g e n e r a tio n s o f H eaven and C ro n o s. T h is sc e n e w ith S ty x p o i n t s a lr e a d y
t o th e t h i r d c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f g o d s . H er " n e u t r a l i t y " i s i n d i c a t i v e
o f w hat i s t o come. The H e c a te e p is o d e t h a t fo llo w s p ro d u c e s y e t
pYompi o o £ —cl— iisz* p in c c i n ilic c ccn cc
t h e h o n o r g iv e n h e r by Z e u s . I t i s c e r t a i n l y t r u e t h a t i n th e a f f a i r s
o f men H e c a te i s t h e p o s i t i v e p e n d a n t t o P ro m e th e u s' n e g a tiv e o n e .
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohib ited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

86
As Brown s a y s : "The c a ta lo g u e o f B e n e f a c tio n s c o n f e r r e d By H e c a te
shews h e r t o Be a g o d d ess who com bines i n h e r own one p e rs o n th e
a t t r i b u t e s o f t h e f i f t y d a u g h te rs o f U e r e u s .. . .P ro m e th e u s , on t h e
o t h e r h a n d , ’t h e c u n n in g t r i c k s t e r ’ who ’ q u a r r e l e d w ith t h e p u rp o s e s
o f t h e a ll - p o w e r f u l son o f C ro n u s ,’ em bodies seme o f t h e m ost p e r n ic io u s
f o r c e s among t h e d e s c e n d a n ts o f H ig h t: D e c e it , S t r i f e , L a w le s s n e s s ,
76
a n d M adness. The m ost im p o r ta n t p o i n t i n te rm s o f t h e l o g i s t i c s
o f t h e Theogony a s a w h o le , h o w e v er, i s t h a t Zeus h o n o re d h e r above
a ll ( t t jv n e p t navroiv/ Zeuq K p o v £ 5 T ]q t tn'noe . . . U l l - 1 2 ) . I t was he
who made h e r th e n u r s e o f t h e young from t h e B e g in n in g (&£ ip x fis ) —
t h a t i s from t h e B e g in n in g o f t h e t h i r d and f i n a l s t r u c t u r i n g and
r u l i n g o f t h e w o rld t h a t Z e u s’ r e i g n r e p r e s e n t s .
I n t h e m id d le o f t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l e p is o d e s o f H e c a te and
P rom etheus (I*0i»-U52 an d 5 0 7 -6 l6 ) l i e s t h e o p p o s itio n t h a t i s t o d e s tr o y
t h e sec o n d g e n e r a tio n o f g o d s: t h e m a rria g e o f Cronos and E hea. The
a g e n t o f d e s t r u c t i o n i s Z e u s, th e c h i l d o f t h e i r m a tc h . H e re , a s i t
was i n t h e c a s e o f E a r th and H eaven, we a r e f a c e d w ith a p ro g en y
-com p risin g B o th n e g a tiv e and p o s i t i v e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . I n f a c t , th e
re s e m b la n c e o f t h i s e p is o d e (^ 0 5 -^ 5 2 ) t o t h a t o f E a r th and Heaven
(1 3 ^ -2 1 0 ) i s s t r i k i n g , and one c a n n o t h e l p s p e c u l a t i n g t h a t t h i s
r e p e t i t i o n m ust h av e a g r e a t d e a l t o do w ith a c e r t a i n B a la n c e and
a p p o s i t i o n a l i d e n t i t y B etw een t h e f i r s t an d s e c o n d g e n e r a tio n s o f
gods. W hile H e s t i a , D em eter, and H e ra a r e t o ta k e t h e i r p la c e a s

87
p o s i t i v e members o f t h e Olympian p a n th e o n , th e t r i l o g y o f H ades o f
t h e p i t i l e s s h e a r t ( vqXeeq rprop ex<*>v), i n t r i a d a lo n g v i t h th e
p o s i t i v e o r n e u t r a l E a r th - s h a k in g P o se id o n o f t h e g r e a t blow s (fcpuxxonov
*EvvoaCYtttov, and Zeus t h e w is e ([lrjrto s v ra ) c r e a t e s a sp e c tru m t h a t
.can o n ly b e com pared t o th e s t r u c t u r e o f H e sio d ’ s cosmos i t s e l f a s
h e c o n c e iv e s i t a f t e r t h e g r e a t b a t t l e w ith t h e T i t a n s . I s h a ll
exam ine t h i s sy m b o lic p ro b lem l a t e r . The p o i n t h e re i s t h a t th e
O lym pians to o p o s s e s s t h e i r n e g a ti v e m em bers, b u t t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p
t o t h e p o s i t i v e ones i s no lo n g e r t o t a l l y a n t i p o d a l . I t is
p e c u lia rly tr i a d ic .
V
I n any c a s e , t h e e p is o d e o f Rhea and Cronos c o n tin u e s t o
p a r a l l e l t h a t o f E a rth and H eaven. C ro n o s, so t h a t no o t h e r god
m ig h t h o ld t h e r i g h t o f r u l i n g an d b e c a u s e from E a r th and Heaven
h e h a s l e a r n e d t h a t h e i s t o b e o v e rth ro w n b y h i s own s o n , sw allo w s
h i s c h i l d r e n a s Heaven f o r c e d h i s in t'o E a r t h . As E a r th was i n
d i s t r e s s s c Pk.ee. i s s e i s e d w ith i n s u f f e r a b l e g r i e f (nevtfo^ a X ao ro v ).
She t u r n s t o h e r p a r e n ts so t h a t sh e m ig h t c o n c e a l.Z e u s* b i r t h and—
w h a t i s more i n d i c a t i v e o f th e l o g i s t i c s o f t h e w ork— so t h a t sh e
m ig h t make Cronos pay f o r th e v e n g e f u l s p i r i t s o f Heaven

77■—t h a t i s ,
s e t t l e up t h e d e b t. E a r th r e c e i v e s Zeus (1*79) and h id e s him away.
She g iv e s Cronos a s to n e w hich h e s t u f f s i n t o h i s b e l l y . She a l s o
t r i c k s him i n t o spew ing f o r t h h i s c h i l d r e n . I n e t h e r w o rd s, i t i s
E a r th a g a in who i s th e a g e n t o f a g e n e ra tio n !A d e s t r u c t i o n , an d i t

88
i s im p o r ta n t, I t h i n k , t o m ark h e r in f l u e n c e a s a k in d o f u n d e rly in g
*tO
ground a g a i n s t w hich t h e l o g i s t i c s o f th e poem p l a y . H er p re s e n c e
i s o f m a jo r im p o rta n c e f o r a l l t h r e e g e n e r a t i o n s .
Z e u s , t h e n , i s b o r n , and t h e t h i r d g e n e r a tio n o f gods comes
i n t o pow er much i n t h e same way a s d o es th e s e c o n d w ith t h e s i g n i f i c a n t
e x c e p tio n t h a t Zeus p e rfo rm s no b r u t a l e m a s c u la tio n upon h i s f a t h e r
b u t b r i n g s t h e c o n f l i c t o n to a more g e n e r a l l e v e l b y f r e e i n g h i s
f a t h e r ’ s b r o t h e r s whom Heaven h a d e n c h a in e d , th e r e b y o b ta in in g n o t
o n ly h i s th u n d e r b o lt and l i g h t e n i n g b u t a l s o t h e g r a t i t u d e o f a
p a r t o f th e sec o n d g e n e r a tio n w ith whom h e m ust b a t t l e . Zeus and
t h e O lym pians a g a in move t o d e s tr o y th e r e i g n o f t h e se c o n d g e n e r a tio n
b y f r e e i n g B r i a r e u s , C o tto s , and Gyes o f whom C ronos was e x c e e d in g
je a lo u s . They a c t a s t h e u l t i m a t e a g e n t b y w h ich t h e se c o n d r e i g n
i s d e s tr o y e d (6 1 7 -6 2 8 ). The Theogony h a s now re a c h e d t h e p o i n t o f
t h e g r e a t w ar b etw een t h e sec o n d and t h i r d g e n e r a t i o n s , and u n lik e
t h a t s i n g u l a r a c t o f Cronos upon H eaven t h a t m arked t h e movement
betw een t h e f i r s t and t h e s e c o n d , t h i s v io le n c e i s g e n e r a li z e d .
I s h a l l d is c u s s t h e fo rm a tio n o f t h e sy m b o lic s t r u c t u r e o f th e
t h i r d w o rld l a t e r ; h e r e I w is h o n ly t o a llu d e t o t h e c a ta c ly s m ic
c o n d itio n from w hich th e O lym pians a r i s e : a f t e r a lo n g w ar b etw een
t h e g e n e r a tio n s ( 6 3 5 - 6 ) , Zeus t u r n s C o tto s and h i s b r o t h e r s upon
th e T i ta n s ( 6h U f f .) . The b a t t l e becom es much w o rs e . The s e a r i n g s .
' The e a r t h c r a s h e s . H eaven i s sh ak en and g ro a n s ( 678- 81 ) . Zeus no
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e c o p y rig h t o w n e r . F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n p rohib ited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

89
lo n g e r r e s t r a i n s h i s pow er ( 687 ) , and soon f i r e e n g u lf s t h e e a r t h ,

79
s e a , and e v en O cean. The e x t e n t o f t h i s s t r u g g l e i s s i g n i f i e d
h y C h ao s' f i l l i n g w ith h e a t (700) and" when i t seems E a r th i s b e in g
sm ashed and H eaven c r a s h in g down upon h e r ( 7 0 2 - 3 ) . I n o t h e r w o rd s,
t h e O lym pian r e i g n o f t h e t h i r d g e n e r a tio n a r i s e s from a c o n d itio n
n o t u n lik e t h e b e g in n in g o f t h e w o rld w here C haos, E a r t h , and Heaven
h a v e n o t t h e i r p r o p e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s and f u n c t i o n s . I t o rig in a te s
from t h e a lm o s t t o t a l d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e s t r u c t u r a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s
w i t h i n t h e f i r s t and s e c o n d . The r e i g n o f t h e O lym pians th e n m ig h t
b e s a i d t o r e p r e s e n t a n e c e s s a r y g e n e a lo g ic a l and l o g i c a l s y n t h e s i s
o f t h e o p p o s itio n s b e tw e e n and w ith in t h e g e n e r a tio n s p r e c e d in g
th em . T h e re i s p r o b a b ly no c l e a r e r exam ple o f a t r i p a r t i t e l o g i c
i n G reek l i t e r a t u r e th a n h e r e i n t h e l i n e s o f H e s io d 's T heogony.
The t h i r d g e n e r a t i o n i t s e l f i s one o f i n t e r m e d i a tio n i n
t h a t i t i s one o f c o n c i l i a t i o n . The t e n s i o n o f o p p o s itio n s t i l l
re m a in s , b u t i t i s s t r u c t u r e d — t h a t i s , Zeus r e l e g a t e s t h e f o r c e s
o f t h e p a s t g e n e r a tio n s t o t h e i r p r o p e r n ic h e i n th e u n i v e r s e ,
th e r e b y c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e cosmos a lo n g h i s own l i n e s i n te rm s o f an
i n h e r e n t o p p o s itio n t h a t u s u a l l y in c lu d e s t h a t d e le g a t io n o f x tn rj
we h av e n o te d p r e v i o u s l y i n t h e c a s e s o f S ty x , h e r c h i l d r e n , and
H e c a te . The T i t a n s , t h e a d v e r s a r i e s , a r e im p ris o n e d b e n e a th th e
e a r t h ( 716- 19 )» c h a in e d i n a s p e c i f i c p la c e a s f a r below e a r t h as
h e av e n i s above— c f . i n f r a p . 9^ —u n lik e th e a d v e rs a rie s o f
e a r l i e r g e n e r a tio n s who w ere s im p ly h id d e n away i n E a r t h 's d e p th s

90
(dnoxponxaoxs 1 5 7 ). B r i a r e u s , C o tto s , an d G yes, T i ta n s y e t a l l i e s
o r Z e u s , a r e t h e r e t o o , b u t i n t h e p o s i t i o n o f g u a r d s , d w e llin g on
t h e bottom , o f Ocean ( i n ’ 'S x e a v o to 0&p.£9\oi.q) (7 3 ^ -5 and 8 1 5 -1 9 ).
T h e re a r e t h e homes o f N ig h t, o f h e r c h i l d r e n , S le e p and D e a th , and
o f H ades and P e rse p h o n e (7 5 8 -7 7 3 )* S ty x a g a in t s h e s h e r p r o p e r p la c e
(7 7 5 -7 ).
Zeus c o n tin u e s h i s c o n c i l i a t i o n b y m a rry in g v a r io u s
n o rm a tiv e g o d d e ss e s o f t h e o l d e r o r d e r , th e r e b y e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e
O lym pian g e n e r a tio n (8 8 6 -9 2 9 ). F i r s t i s M e tis (C o u n se l) who
c o n c e iv e s A th e n a and th e n i s sw allow ed b y Zeus on t h e a d v ic e o f
E a r th a n d H eaven so t h a t sh e c o u ld n o t g iv e b i r t h t o t h e one f a t e d
t o b e t h e s u c c e s s o r t o Zeus h im s e lf and so t h a t h e h im s e lf m ig h t
d e v is e b o t h good and e v i l (coq o t outxcppaooatTO 0 sa dyaGov xe xaxov x e
9 0 0 ). Zeus h a s i n e f f e c t in c o r p o r a te d i n t o h im s e lf t h e h e u r i s t i c
p r i n c i p l e t h a t s e t g e n e r a tio n a g a i n s t g e n e r a t i o n . The o p p o s itio n s
w h ich w ere s u s t a i n e d by i t a r e now p a r t o f a s i n g l e god r a t h e r th a n
tw o o r m o re . H is n e x t m a rria g e w ith Them is (Law) p ro d u c e s t h e
t h r e e H ours and t h e t h r e e F a te s . By Eurynom e, an O c e a n id , h e b e g e ts
t h e t h r e e G ra c e s . N ote i n t h e l a s t two c a s e s t h a t t r i a d s o f c h i ld r e n
h av e b e e n p ro d u c e d . P e rh a p s su ch t r i a d s , e . g . Z e u s, P o s e id o n , and
H a d e s, r e p r e s e n t n o t o n ly a new s t r u c t u r i n g o f t h e cosmos b u t a ls o
one t h a t i s somehow more s t a b l e . By D em eter P e rse p h o n e i s b o r n , t h e
p r i z e o f t h a t n e g a ti v e f o r c e , H ades. By L e to h e b e g e ts th e n in e
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n pro hibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

91
Muses— a n o th e r t r i a d i c phenom enon. Zeus* o n ly d u a l p ro g e n y i n h i s
c a ta lo g u e i s A rte m is and A p p o llo . H ere t h e p o l a r i t y i s s e x u a l; its
id e n tity is c le a rly s ta te d : th e p ro g en y i s l o v e l i e r th a n any i n
h eav en ( tp e p o ev x a yovov n s p i navxcov 0 &pavca>vcov 919 )* I n o t h e r w o rd s,
t h e p o l a r and o p p o s i t i o n a l n a t u r e o f t h e poem c o n tin u e s i n th e t h i r d
g e n e r a t i o n , e . g . t h e b a la n c e d j u x t a p o s i t i o n o f Zeus* f a t h e r i n g
A th en a and H e ra m o th e rin g H e p h a e sto s (9 2 U -2 9 ), b u t w h ile t h e t e n s i o n
r emai n s , th e d e s t r u c t i v e p o t e n t i a l o f t h e o p p o s iti o n seem s c u rb e d .
H is l a s t m a rria g e w ith H e ra p ro d u c e s th e t r i a d o f H eb e, A re s , and
E ile ith u ia . The t h i r d g e n e r a tio n o f gods i s c o m p le te .
The T heogony. t h e n , r e v e a l s th e f o llo w in g l o g i c a l
p e c u lia ritie s : a g e n e r a l o p p o s i t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e t h a t i s made
p a r t i c u l a r i n t h e o p p o s itio n o f E a r th and Chaos i s l i n k e d w ith a
h e u r i s t i c t h i r d te r m : E ro s. E r o s , i n t u r n , i s in v o lv e d i n a
g e n e a lo g ic a l o p p o s itio n t h a t i s made p a r t i c u l a r i n t h e o p p o s itio n
o f E a r th and H eaven. T h is o p p o s itio n li n k e d w ith t h e h e u r i s t i c
e le m e n t o f h a t e and v e n g ea n c e le a d s to a d i a l e c t i c b etw een
g e n e r a tio n s . Two g e n e r a tio n s a r e b a la n c e d o f f a g a i n s t one a n o th e r
and i d e n t i f i e d b o th by t h e r e t r i b u t i v e p r i n c i p l e o f v en g ean ce and
by th e f i g u r e s o f Heaven and C ronos and t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e s o n s .
The t h i r d g e n e r a tio n in tr o d u c e s a t h i r d te rm on a n o th e r l e v e l .
R e f le c tin g t r i a d i c s t r u c t u r e s ( e . g . Z e u s, P o s e id o n , and Hades and
t h e t r i l o g i e s o f Z e u s' c h i l d r e n ) , i t s t r u c t u r e s o p p o s iti o n s i n such
a way a s t o i n d i c a t e some in te r m e d ia tio n o r s y n t h e s i s h a s ta k e n
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p ro d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

92
p la c e . A harm ony w ith in t h e cosmos i s r e v e a le d a s a te n s io n e d

i
s ta b ility . The H e s io d ic c o n f i g u r a t i o n i s an im m ed iate f o r e r u n n e r
o f th e " h id d e n ” harmony o f H e r a c l i t u s . ^ -

93
c*
The sy m b o lic s t r u c t u r e s and e f f e c t s c a r r y n o t o n ly th e
id e a o f o p p o s itio n b u t a l s o h e u r i s t i c phenomena t o a h i g h e r l e v e l
i n b o th t h e Theogony and t h e Hymn t o A p h ro d ite , I ncv tu r n to
p a r t i c u l a r s t r u c t u r e s and .e v e n ts i n b o th w orks t h a t we s h a l l s e e
a g a in i n one form o r o t h e r i n t h e fra g m e n ts o f H e r a c l i t u s and
P a rm e n id e s .
Sym bolic s t r u c t u r i n g , i . e . , a s I h a v e s a i d b e f o r e , t h a t
a c t i v e fo r m a tio n o f phenom ena n e i t h e r o f t h e p u r e l y " o b j e c t i v e "
w o rld a s we d e f in e i t to d a y o r t h e p u r e ly s u b j e c t i v e o n e , b u t
b e lo n g in g t o t h e h o l i s t i c , a r c h a ic c a te g o ry o f m ean in g and p o s s e s s e d
02
o f a f f e c t i v e , e m o tiv e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , f in d s a c l e a r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
i n H e s io d 's Theogony. I sp e a k o f th e w o rld s t r u c t u r e d i n t h e r e ig n
o f Zeus b y t h e o p p o s itio n o f Olympus and T a r t a r u s . T h is o p p o s i t i o n ,
a s I p o in te d o u t i n an e a r l i e r c o n t e x t , f i r s t a p p e a rs when t h e two
a r e ju x ta p o s e d i n l i n e s one h u n d re d e ig h te e n and n i n e t e e n , b u t th e
c o n s t r u c t i o n o f th e cosmos a s a sym bol does n o t o c c u r u n t i l l i n e
s e v e n h u n d re d and tw e n ty when t h e sec o n d g e n e r a tio n o f T i t a n s i s
f i n a l l y d e f e a te d .
A t t h i s p o i n t t h e m y th ic a l s p a t i a l and te m p o ra l d im e n sio n s
o f t h e cosmos a re d e l i n e a t e d , f o r th e T ita n s a r e lo d g e d i n a " p la c e "
a s f a r b elo w e a r t h a s H eaven i s above i t ( t 6 ctoov sv e p 9 , '‘ tmd
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p ro d u c tio n prohib ited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

£oov ofipavoq ten:' duo yai/nq 7 2 0 ). The d im e n sio n s a r e g iv e n "by t h e
l e n g t h o f tim e o f a f a l l i n g b r a z e n a n v i l : n in e n i g h t s and n in e
d ay s from H eaven t o E a r t h , n in e n ig h t s and n in e day s from E a r t h
to T a rta ru s :
iv v s a yap v u x tc lc x a t . ■fûxT'ci ^ X x s o ^ av.-jzov

o 6pav 60 ev xaxtcov, Sexa-cr) x ' £q y a ta v l x o l t o *
t v v i a 5* au vux-raq t s x a l- "qpaTa x&Xxeoq axutov
fex yaLT]q xaxubv, Sexanrg x* eq T ap rap o v txou
Theogony 7 2 2 -2 5 .
H ote t h e s t r o n g p a r a l l e l i s m t h a t i s a c c o m p lish e d b y t h e n e a r i d e n t i t y
o f t h e f i r s t and t h i r d l i n e s . H e sio d i s c r e a t i n g a s t r u c t u r e o f
s y m m e tric a l and opposed p a r t s . T hese p a r t s , m o re o v e r, a r e b a s e d on
a t r i a d i c a rra n g e m e n t t h a t p a r a l l e l s t h e t r i a d i c s t r u c t u r e o f Z e u s '
r e i g n we n o te d e a r l i e r . The " s p a t i a l ” d im e n sio n s o f t h e cosmos
g iv e n i n m y th ic a lly te m p o ra l num bers i s :
Heaven
9 n i g h t s & 9 days
E a r th
9 n i g h t s & 9 d ay s
T a r ta r u s

95
The o p p o s i t i o n o f H eaven (Olympus) and T a r ta r u s i s
s t r u c t u r a l l y and s y m b o lic a ll y r e p r e s e n te d b y t h e a d d i t i o n o f a
t h i r d te rm ( E a r th ) and b y a " te m p o ra l" e q u a tio n t h a t s t a t e s t h a t
H eaven i s t o E a r th a s E a r th i s t o T a r t a r u s . We s h a l l o b s e rv e an
i d e n t i c a l s t r u c t u r i n g i n t h e th o u g h t p a t t e r n s o f H e r a c l i t u s . In
an y c a s e , H e s io d h a s c r e a t e d a cosmos i n sy m b o lic te rm s o f a
c e r t a i n m y t h i c a l l y te m p o ra l and s p a t i a l c h a r a c t e r . H is s ta te m e n t
i s s im p le an d s t r u c t u r a l l y e x a c t i n i t s e l f . The r e l a t i o n s h i p s can
h e d raw n , b u t o n ly i n a h i g h ly s c h e m a tiz e d g e o m e tr ic a l f a s h io n so
t h a t th e y s t i l l r e t a i n t h e i r sy m b o lic m e a n in g s. We have h e r e a
c l e a r exam ple o f sym bol i n H e s io d .
F u r t h e r sy m b o lic phenomena a p p ea l 5 i n H e s io d ’ s d e s c r i p t i o n
o f T a rta ru s i t s e l f . I sp o k e e a r l i e r o f t h e t h r e e T i t a n s a c t i n g a s
g u a rd s o f t h e i r b r e t h r e n e n c h a in e d i n T a r ta r u s and o f t h e f u r t h e r
Qo
p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e i r l i v i n g on t h e f l o o r o f O cean. The v a g u en e ss
i n te rm s o f any r e a l o b j e c t i v e , m a t e r i a l l o c a t i o n i s one o f th e
f e a t u r e s o f sy m b o lic r e g io n s .( c o n s i d e r , f o r i n s t a n c e , th e I s l e o f
O r ty g ia o r t h e Land o f t h e L o tu s E a t e r s i n t h e O dyssey) ; a g e o m e tr ic a l
s t r u c t u r i n g o f s y m b o lic phenomena does n o t , h o w ev er, p a r ta k e o f t h i s
v ag u en ess. T a k e , a s an e x a m p le , t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f Olympus’ o p p o s ite :
i t i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y s u rro u n d e d b y a c i r c u l a r fe n c e o f b r o n z e ,
a w a l l i n t o w hich P o s e id o n h a s i n s e t g a t e s . A t r i p l e lin e o f n ig h t
8U
e x te n d s a b o u t i t s t h r o a t . The g e o m e tric c i r c u l a r s t r u c t u r e o f t h e

96
fe n c e and movement (p o u rin g — x s x o t c l l ) o f n i g h t r e i n f o r c e th e
e x is t e n c e o f a sy m b o lic phenomenon we s h a l l s e e a g a in i n P arm en id es
f r a g men t tw e lv e . T h e re i s no m a te r ia l, o r p h y s i c a l q u a l i t y t o th e s e
c i r c l e s — t h e p re s e n c e o f n i g h t te n d s ev en t o p r e c lu d e a r a t i o n a l ,
o r a t l e a s t a p o s i t i v e , one i f we rem em ber N i g h t 's n e g a tiv e p o s i t i o n
i n t h e Theogony i t s e l f and i n t h e proem t o P arm enides* m ain w ork.
Y e t, c i r c u l a r i t y i s a d e c id e d f e a t u r e . T h is a - m a t e r i a l , y e t
s t r u c t u r a l , c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f T a r t a r u s and i t s n e ig h b o rin g re g io n s
i s d e s c r ib e d ev en f u r t h e r : th e re a l l in o rd e r ( ar e a l l th e
Or
s o u rc e s and l i m i t s ( tisCogtc:) o f T a r t a r u s , s e a , and h e a v e n . A lth o u g h
t h e d i v i s i o n i s d i f f i c u l t t o r e p r e s e n t i n sc h e m a tic te r m s , s t i l l
H e s io d 's u s e o f i£&Zyfc i n d ic a te s , t h a t f o r him some ty p e o f o r d e r
e x is te d . Y et m a t e r i a l l y T a r t a r u s i s a g r e a t chasm w here a man
w ould b e b u f f e t e d f o r a y e a r b e f o r e r e a c h in g t h e f l o o r .
86 The
" l i m i t s " o f T a r ta r u s a r e , t h e r e f o r e , n o t o b j e c t i v e l y m a t e r i a l .
I t i s t h e s a n e i n t h e c a s e o f th o s e r e g io n s " a d jo in in g "
T a rta ru s : t h e home o f murky N ig h t and t h e h a l l s o f P ersep h o n e and
H a d es, t h e home o f S ty x , e l d e s t d a u g h te r o f O cean. The l o c a t i o n i n
p h y s i c a l te rm s o f t h e home o f N ig h t (Noxxoq fepepevuSfc o t x t a ) i s
e x tre m e ly d i f f i c u l t t o a s c e r t a i n . T h e re i s no l o c a t i v e i n th e l i n e
t h a t p la c e s i t i n any r e l a t i o n s h i p t o T a r t a r u s . In f r o n t o f t h i s
u n d e fin e d home ( tw v npooQ' 7 ^ 6 ) , h o w e v e r, s ta n d s A tla s h o ld in g w ide

un*
h eav en on h i s h ead and unw eary in g h a n d s . The p i c t u r e i s a g ra p h ic
o n e , n o t i n o b j e c t i v e l y s p a t i a l te rm s b u t sy m b o lic o n e s . T h is

97
a r c h a ic sym bolism c o n tin u e s i n t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e h o u se i t s e l f

I
and i t s g r e a t b ra z e n t h r e s h o l d . H ere i s t h e m y th ic a l p o i n t w here
N ig h t and Day draw n e a r , m e e t, and p a s s one a n o th e r . We s h a l l
exam ine a s i m il a r p i c t u r e i n P a rm e n id e s ' proem . H e s io d 's t h r e s h o l d
i s t h e one p o i n t w here th e y c o - e x i s t , and w h ile t h e h o u se i t s e l f
n e v e r h o ld s them b o t h , t h i s p la c e o n , a s I s h a l l a rg u e s u b s e q u e n tly ,
88 The h a l l s o f Hades and P e rse p h o n e
t h e h o r iz o n a llo w s t h e i r m e e tin g .
( 6 o p o l) a r e e q u a ll y d i f f i c u l t t o p la c e a lth o u g h th e y to o a r e d e s ig n a te d
t o b e i n some r e l a t i o n s h i p t o T a r t a r u s . They a r e b o th ” t h e r e ” (e v 6 a )
and ” i n f r o n t ” (npoo0sv jo j). T hese a r e , h o w ev er, once a g a in n o t
o b j e c t i v e l y s p a t i a l phenomena an d can b e i n t e r p r e t e d , a s f a r a s I
can s p e c u l a t e , o n ly i n te rm s p f a g e n e r a l r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e sym bol
o f T a r ta r u s i t s e l f . I t s p a r a l l e l i s m i n l o c a t i o n t o t h e home o f N ig h t
i s p e rh a p s made c l e a r by th e f i g u r e t h a t s ta n d s b e f o r e (n p o n a p o tS s
Q q
769 ) th e s e h a l l s . C erb eru s b e f o r e Hades p a r a l l e l s A tla s b e f o r e

♦ .•
N ig h t. One c o u ld s p e c u la te how much e a c h a c t s a s a s ig n f o r i t s
r e s p e c t i v e m y th ic a l r e g io n .
I n t h i s m y th ic and sy m b o lic l o c a t i o n (s v 8 c 775) a ls o

» 90
d w e lls S ty x , a g o d d e ss.w h o , a s I h av e s a i d b e f o r e , i s p la c e d by
Zeus i n t h e s t r u c t u r i n g o f h i s re a lm a n d , a lth o u g h r e l a t i v e l y
n e g a tiv e i n a s p e c t , p o s s e s s e s p r e r o g a t i v e s i n a cosm ic s e n s e . She
l i k e t h e a w fu l home o f murky N ig h t (Noxroq £pe{3evvrjq o t x t a 5suva)
and t h e e c h o in g C'^xfie.vT&q) h a l l s o f Hades and a w fu l ( £nauvT)q)
P e rse p h o n e b e f o r e w hich s ta n d s t h e f e a r f u l (SeLvoq) and p i t i l e s s
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n p roh ibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

98
(vTpieC7fc) C e rb e ru s i s d e s c r ib e d i n a f f e c t i v e em o tiv e te r m s . S ty x
i s l o a t h e d b y t h e im m o rta ls ( otuys P'H dSavaTOLCTi.) and t e r r i b l e
(SeLVTj). She a l s o c o n t r i b u t e s an added d im e n sio n t o t h e sym bol o f
T a r t a r u s , and sh e d o es so a s " t h e e l d e s t d a u g h te r o f b a ck w a rd -
flo w in g Ocean" (GoyaTrjp tyoppoou * 2 x e a v o to / upeogoTavn . . . 7 7 6 -7 ) .

%.
A t t h i s p o i n t I s h o u ld l i k e t o d ig r e s s s l i g h t l y i n t o a n e x a m in a tio n
o f th e sy m b o lic phenomenon o f Ocean i n o r d e r t o r e v e a l more c l e a r l y
th e n a tu r e o f a r c h a i c sym bolism i t s e l f b y an a n a l y s i s o f one o f th e
m ost p ro m in e n t G reek m y th ic a l, sy m b o ls.
Ocean i n H e sio d i s th e r i v e r w h ich i s T&Xrjetq (p e rh a p s
" c irc lin g " ) and i s d i f f e r e n t i a t e d c l e a r l y from S e a . The l a t t e r

92
i s b o r a o f E a r th w ith o u t lo n g e d - f o r l o v e ; t h e f o r m e r , h o w ev er,
i s t h e p ro d u c t o f t h e u n io n o f o p p o s i t e s , E a r th and H eav en , an d i s ,
i n f a c t , t h e f i r s t c h i l d o f t h i s f i r s t m a tch . The im p o rta n c e o f
t h i s phenomenon i s i n d i c a t e d by t h e a d d i t i o n o f t h e accom panying

n „ 93
a d je c tiv e , d e e p -flo w in g . I t i s a c t u a l l y d i f f i c u l t t o im a g in e
w hat t h i s "O cean" m ust b e , h o w e v er, by an e x a m in a tio n o f H e sio d
a lo n e . I n Homer, t h e r e i s r e a l l y l i t t l e more h e l p , f o r t h e r e Ocean
i s d e s c r ib e d b a s i c a l l y a s a p la c e from w h ich t h e gods s p r i n g and a s

9h
a g e n e s is o f a l l . A lso i n Homer a s w e ll a s H e s io d , Ocean i s
95
d e s c r ib e d a s " b a c k w a rd -flo w in g " . The id e a o f Ocean a s an
" u n re a c h a b le stre a m " (Ibooq acmeToq) a p p e a rs i n H o m e r .^ Nor a r e

# 97
h i s " s tre a m s o f Ocean" ( *S2xeavoto jbeeGpa) unknown t o H e sio d .

99
T h ere i s , t h e n , a d e f i n i t e s e n s e o f movement a t t r i b u t e d t o t h i s
m y th ic a l s tre a m i n a d d i t i o n t o a s e m in a l pow er o v e r t h e b i r t h o f
gods and men. T h e re i s , m o re o v e r, no r e a l o b j e c t i v e a n d m a t e r i a l
lo c a tio n f o r t h i s re g io n . One m u st s u s p e c t t h a t we sire d e a lin g
w ith a sy m b o lic phenomenon w ith s tr o n g a f f e c t i v e q u a l i t i e s .
The m o st t e l l t a l e sy m b o lic a t t r i b u t e o f O cean, h o w ev er, i s
t h a t i t can b e draw n , and i t i s drawn u l t i m a t e l y a s a c i r c l e s in c e
i t i s , i n v i s u a l te r m s , a c i r c u l a r phenomenon c o n n e c te d w ith th e
h o r iz o n . T h e re i s no b e t t e r p r o o f o f t h e s t r o n g l y s u b j e c t i v e t e n o r
t o a r c h a ic th o u g h t th a n O cean , f o r i t can e a s i l y b e p ro v e n t h a t
s t r u c t u r a l l y t h e phenomenon i s t h i s n o n - o b j e c t i v e , n o n - m a te r ia l
c i r c l e a t t h e f u r t h e s t l i m i t s o f a man*s v i s i o n . E a r ly G reek
l i t e r a t u r e p r o v id e s u s w ith an abundance o f c l u e s . In th e I l i a d
Homer s p e a k s o f t h e c o n s t e l l a t i o n o f O rio n t h a t i s w ith o u t a s h a r e

.. qO
(a.upopo^) o f t h e b a th s o f Ocean — t h a t i s , t h e c o n s t e l l a t i o n does
n o t d ip b elow t h e h o r iz o n . I n t h e H om eric Hymn t o Hermes we a re
t o l d o f Sun s in k in g e a r th w a rd to w a rd s Ocean an d o f E o s , Dawn, r i s i n g
from d e e p -flo w in g O c e a n . M i m n e r m u s to o s in g s o f Dawn le a v in g
Ocean and c lim b in g i n t o t h e s k y . ^ ^ S te s ic h o r u s t e l l s o f H e lio s i n
h i s sy m b o lic g o b l e t , h a v in g p a s s e d th ro u g h O cean, come t o t h e d e p th

102
o f n ig h t. E ach o f t h e s e exam ples p o i n t s t o Ocean a s a phenomenon
c o n s tr u c te d on t h e c i r c l e form ed by th e h o r iz o n i n t h e sy m b o lic
p e r c e p tio n o f t h e o b s e r v e r . A gain I m ust em p h asize t h a t t h e r e i s
no c l e a r e r exam ple o f t h e s u b j e c t i v e q u a l i t i e s o f a r c h a ic sym bolism
th a n t h i s one sym bol.

100
T he l a s t ty p e o f sym bolism I w ish t o d is c u s s i n H esiod* s
Theogony i s more p u r e ly l o g i c a l and a l s o more s u b o r d in a te i n n a t u r e
s i n c e i t i s u n d e r s ta n d a b le o n ly i n c o n ju n c tio n w ith o t h e r sym bols
a n d th ro u g h th e l o g i c w hich i n t e r r e l a t e s t h e s e sy m b o ls. I th in k t h a t
i t w i l l b e f a i r l y e a s y t o form a c o n v in c in g arg u m en t l i n k i n g i t w ith
c e r t a i n q u a l i t i e s o f t h e sym bols I h av e exam ined ab o v e. E ro s a s
a t h i r d te r m m ust b e an exam ple o f a r c h a ic sy m b o lism . I have
i n d i c a t e d above t h a t a sym bol i n H e sio d p o s s e s s e s t h e fo llo w in g
a ttrib u te s : s t r u c t u r e , a te m p o ra l and s p a t i a l c h a r a c t e r t h a t i s n e i t h e r *
s o l e l y o b j e c t i v e n o r m a t e r i a l i n o u r te rm s b u t t i n g e d w ith a s tr o n g
s u b j e c t i v e q u a l i t y , an d f i n a l l y an a f f e c t i v e , e m o tiv e to n e t h a t
im bues t h e sym bol w ith b o th movement an d a non-hum an o r g o d lik e
p o w er. E r o s , a s I h a v e i n d i c a t e d b e f o r e , m u st b e a h e u r i s t i c , t h i r d
te r m i n H e s io d 's T heogony. I t ta k e s i t s p la c e i n t h e i n i t i a l
s t r u c t u r i n g o f t h e w ork a lo n g w ith Chaos and E a r t h . As one m ig h t
e x p e c t i n a phenomenon a s n o n - m a te r ia l and s u b j e c t i v e a s E r o s , t h e
p e c u l i a r te m p o ra l and s p a t i a l p r o p e r t i e s we fo u n d i n T a r ta r u s and
- i t s r e g io n s sire n o t im m e d ia te ly e v i d e n t , b u t i t s p la c e m e n t i n
c o n c e r t w ith Chaos and Love does s u g g e s t a t r i a d i c , g e o m e tr ic a l
sym bol. I t s m ost c h a r a c t e r i s t i c q u a l i t y a s a h e u r i s t i c phenom enon,
h o w e v e r, a r e i t s e f f e c t s : Love i s t h e m ost b e a u t i f u l among th e
d e a th le s s gods. He makes p u t t y o f t h e k n e e s and c o n q u e rs th e m ind

103
an d w is e c o u n s e ls o f a l l gods and men. He a l s o , as I h av e a rg u e d
a b o v e , moves t h e g e n e o lo g i c a l d i a l e c t i c o f t h e Theogony a s a w h o le .

101
E r o s , t h e n , c o u ld b e c o n s id e r e d a s t e r l i n g exam ple o f a l o g i c a l
sym bol a r i s i n g from a more g e n e r a l a r c h a ic s y m b o liz a tio n .
T h is more g e n e r a l s y m b o liz a tio n i s t r a c e a b l e n o t o n ly i n
t h e Theogony b u t — t o r e t u r n t o a more b a s i c i f n o t more e x a c tin g
body o f l i t e r a t u r e — a ls o i n t h e H om eric Hymns. I n t h e Hymn to
D ionysus sym bols { a fp a ra ) a r e lin k e d d i r e c t l y t o th e v a r io u s form s
o f th e god. I n t h e m id s t o f th e c o n fu s e d crew D io n y su s shows f o r t h
a s t h e s h a g g y -n e c k e d , r a v in g b e a r . On t h e d eck h e a p p e a rs a s a
10U
f ie r c e , r o a r in g , g la rin g lio n . T h ese sym bols a r e a f f e c t i v e ,
em o tiv e and b e c a u s e o f t h e i r im m ediate and s t a r t l i n g a p p e a ra n c e
r e v e a l an im m a te r ia l q u a l i t y and d e fy c a l c u l a t i o n by c a u s e and
e ffe c t. T h ese t h i n g s a r e t e r r i f y i n g t o t h e crew ; i t is not
s u r p r i s i n g t h a t th e y a r e f i l l e d w ith f e a r (tcfo^rjdev hj). An even
g r e a t e r exam ple o f t h e a f f e c t i v e , t e r r i f y i n g q u a l i t y o f an a r c h a ic
sym bol i s t h e e a r l i e r d e s c r i p t i o n o f D ionysus i n th e form o f w ine
and t h e i v y - v i n e : as t h e s h ip s a i l s away w ith i t s s t r a n g e p a s s e n g e r ,
u n to w a rd e v e n ts ta k e p la c e t o th e amazement o f t h e cre w . The" s m e ll
— -o f s w e e t, f r a g r a n t w ine s tre a m s th ro u g h th e s h i p , an a m b ro s ia l
f r a g r a n c e a r i s e s , and a d a rk iv y - v in e tw in e s i t s e l f a b o u t t h e m a s t,
b lo sso m in g flo w e rs and b e r r i e s * T hese a r e a l l w orks (epyct) o f
t h e g o d , and th e y a r e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y w onderous (G aouaxa)
T h is am azing "grow th o f a v in e i s p a r a l l e l e d i n th o s e v in e s A p o llo
u s e s t o b i n d Hermes i n t h e Hymn t o H erm es. T h ese m ir a c u lo u s ly
f a l l aw ay, i n t e r t w i n e and q u ic k ly grow t o c o v e r t h e w il d c a t t l e ,
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n p roh ibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

102
and w h ile n o t a sym bol o f t h e god p e r se a r e s t i l l r e l a t e d t o th e

106
a f f e c t i v e pow er o f h i s godhead Then to o b o th h i s s a c r i f i c e
o f t h e oxen and th e g i f t o f t h e l y r e t o A p o llo a r e sym bols (c%jurra)
o f H erm es' pow er as a g o d , t h e one s i g n i f y i n g h i s t h i e v i s h "bent, th e
T h e re can b e l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t v a r io u s
a c t i v i t i e s and a p p e a ra n c e s a r e ta k e n o u t o f an o r d in a r y c o n te x t and
assum e m eaning on a sy m b o lic l e v e l . C e r ta i n ly a good i n s t a n c e o f
t h i s o c c u rs i n t h e Hymn t o t h e D io s c u ri when t h e d em i-gods "become

108
s t a r s , p o w e rfu l s ig n s (offturra) t h a t d e l i v e r s a i l o r s fro m t o i l .
L a s t l y , i n t h e H om eric Hymns one may f i n d a h a n d fu l o f i n t e r e s t i n g
exam ples o f f i r e a s a sym bol— exam ples t h a t w i l l h e lp i n o u r
s u b se q u e n t e x a m in a tio n o f t h e phenomenon i n H e r a c l i t u s . I t is
s i g n i f i c a n t a t one p o i n t , I t h i n k , t h a t i n t h e Hymn t o Hermes
we f i n d H erm es' e y es tw in k lin g f i r e (nup dixapooowv^15) f o r h e r e
we h a v e a u s e o f f i r e (n u p ) t h a t i s n o t m a t e r i a l i n any way b u t
a f f e c t i v e a n d , t h e r e f o r e , p o t e n t i a l l y s y m b o lic . H er i s i t u n im p o rta n t
t h a t one o f t h e sy m b o lic w orks o f t h e god i s th e d is c o v e r y o f f i r e

109
its e lf. F i r e i s r a i s e d th e r e b y i n t o a sy m b o lic re a lm . F ire
becomes a - n a t e r i a l and sy m b o lic h e r e j u s t a s i t d o es i n t h e Hymn t o
D em eter when t h e g o ddess u s e s i t t o d e if y p a r t i a l l y th e i n f a n t
DemophoBn, th e r e b y producing " g r e a t w onder i n th o s e who w a tc h him
g ro w .^ "^ Then t o o i n t h e Hymn t o P y th ia n A p o llo , t h e god e n t e r s
h i s s h r in e t o make t h e fla m e (<pXo$) i n h i s t r i p o d b u rn b r i g h t and

103
a f f e c t i v e l y r e v e a l h i s s p le n d o r . S u r e ly f i r e (nup) an d fla m e (<pXo£)
a r e h a r d ly m a t e r i a l c o n c e p ts h e r e h u t h a v e a t t a i n e d t h e i r p la c e a s
phenom ena i n a s y m b o lic re a lm .
Exam ples o f sym bolism may a l s o b e fo u n d i n t h e Hymn t o
A p h ro d ite . The g o d d e ss s u rro u n d s h e r s e l f w ith h e a v e n ly o i l s , f i l l e d
v i t h an u n e a r t h l y f r a g r a n c e , and d r e s s e s h e r s e l f i n a g o ld e n costum e
b e f o r e h e r v i s i t t o A n c h is e s . ^ 1 I t i s t h e sy m b o lic pow er o f h e r
s h in in g ornam ent a t io n t h a t A n c h ise s l a t e r rem oves when h e d is r o b e s

112
h e r b e f o r e th e y l i e t o g e t h e r , a m o r ta l w ith a n im m o rta l. I t is
n o t b y a c c id e n t t h a t t h e p o e t n o te s h e r d r e s s i n g a g a in ( i T l ) and
th e n d e s c r ib e s h e r i n h e r g o d lik e h e i g h t — a n o th e r exam ple o f m y th ic a l
s p a c e — and h e r u n e a r t h l y (ajig p o ro v ) b e a u ty . T h is " b i g g e r - t h a n - l i f e "
a p p e a ra n c e o f a god i s n o t w ith o u t p a r a l l e l . D em eter r e v e a l s h e r s e l f
i n a. s i m i l a r way i n t h e hymn d e d ic a te d t o h e r ( h . h . D em eter 2 J 5 -2 8 0 ).
As A p h ro d ite shows an u n e a r th ly b e a u ty so D em eter f i l l s t h e h o u se
w ith t h e b r i g h t n e s s o f l i g h t e n i n g (abyr\q 5* £nXna9n j iu x lv o c Souoc
doTsponqq oSq . . . h . h . D em eter 2 8 0 ). A f f e c tiv e q u a l i t i e s i n b o th
c a s e s overcom e n o rm a l s p a t i a l d im e n sio n s and p la c e t h e s e g o d d e sse s
i n th e re a lm o f s y m b o lic phenom ena. How f a r A eneas i n t h e Hymn
t o A p h ro d ite may b e c o n s id e r e d a sym bol i n h i s own r i g h t i s d i f f i c u l t
t o s a y , a lth o u g h h i s r e a r i n g i n th e la n d o f t h e Hymphs ( 275 f f . )
a lm o s t as a god and t h e f a c t t h a t h e i s th e p a lp a b l e s ig n o f t h e g e n e r a l
them e o f th e i n t e r m e d i a t i o n b etw een men and gods i n d i c a t e s t o me t h a t
h i s p re s e n c e p a r ta k e s o f some k in d o f sy m b o lism , p e r h a p s , c o n s id e r in g

10U
t h e s tr o n g o p p o s i t i o n a l n a tu r e o f t h e poem , e v en o f a l o g i c a l
n a tu re .
I h av e i n t h e p a s t p a g e s e x p la in e d an d exam ined t h e
s t r u c t u r a l a n d sy m b o lic c h a r a c t e r "both o f t h e H om eric Hymns i n
g e n e r a l and t h e Hymn t o A p h ro d ite i n p a r t i c u l a r and a ls o o f H e s io d 's
Theogony. From t h i s "basic i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f ex am p les i n t h e l a t e r
e p ic l i t e r a t u r e I i n t e n d t o draw a num ber o f p a r a l l e l s t h a t v i l l
f a c i l i t a t e my i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f H e r a c l i t u s an d P a rm e n id e s. At th is
p o i n t I t u r n t o an e x a m in a tio n o f t h e fo rm e r i n o r d e r t o r e v e a l t h e
a r c h a ic n a t u r e o f h i s th o u g h t and t o i n t e r p r e t h i s fra g m e n ts i n su ch
a way t h a t th e y make some s e n s e n o t o n ly i n th e m s e lv e s b u t e s p e c i a l l y
i n t h e c o n te x t o f w h at h a s gone b e f o r e .

105
F o o tn o te s C h a p te r 2
^ C a s s i r e r , o p . c i t . I I . 2 51.
2.
to; e t 0eot3 tyrf&ynZmi h . h . Dem. 2 37.
3 # # # % ■ '* » 0
dQavaTOv xsv t o l xau dyripaov Tyaxa n a v ra
n a tS a <ptXov Tiotôa x a l a<p6tx o v wnaoa xupfiv
i h l d . 260- 1 .
(ifc id e rlin in g s i n d i c a t e p a r t i c u l a r w ords t h a t w i l l h av e c o n s id e r a b le

im p o rta n c e i n my s tu d y o f t h e Hymn t o A p h ro d ite ♦ I am m aking u s e o f
t h i s ty p e o f f o o tn o t e t o draw t h e r e a d e r 's a t t e n t i o n b o th t o t h e s i n g l e
o c c u r re n c e s o f a w ord and a l s o i t s s y n t a c t i c a l j u x t a p o s i t i o n s w ith
o t h e r w ords o f s i m i l a r im p o r ta n c e .)
^xat vu x e napnav SXeaae y s v°9 psponcov dv8o&ntiw

Xupoo fm* dpYaXsTy;, Yspacov t * fepLXoSea xt.pT]v
x a t GuatSv Tjiiepasv 'OXojaJua Sanax’ ex0vTa<» • • • •
i b i d . 310- 12 .
^ H6YuXt]v 06 naxrjp icpuxecCTe (lepuuvav

8vnxoTc dvQp&nocoi. xctl dOnvgTOLO1. 9so~o;.
h . h . Hermes 1 6 0 -1 .
6 0 ^ 0 w V
x epxopov, o to v tyoz 8 stov o 6x aXXov oncona
066 * dv5p5>v. . . .
' i b i d . 3 3 8 -9 .
7
vuv 6 J aY£ {JOu xo5e etn e noXuxpone HauaSoq u te
r» o o t y* £x Yevs'^te Ta5' ap' eonexo Sauuaxa epYU
^j6 Ttq dSgvaxcov ^]6 9vtttS>v dvGoasncav
Saspov dYtt^v eScoxe xau ecppaae Geoxuv douSfjvj
i b i d . U39-U 2 .

106
8
nacb 5* o ye GvrrrotoL x a t AQavgTOiCTLV 6 plXeZ i b i d . 576 .
I u s e t h e w ords " in te r m e d ia t i o n ” , " i n t e r m e d i a t e " , " in t e r m e d i a t o r " ,

and " in te r m e d ia r y " i n tw o s e n s e s : ( l ) c o n c e rn in g any a c t i o n p a r t i a l l y
i d e n t i f y i n g o r l i n k i n g t h e tv o o p p o s ite s p h e r e s ; and ( 2 ) i d e n t i f y i n g
any t h i r d te rm t h a t m ig h t r e s t i l t from su ch a l i n k i n g .
f] coq a s nporcov Arycco texe B potoicti h . h . A p o llo 25-
êvG ev dnopvu^x&voq itaau Gvnroio'i.v Avaco'euq i b i d . 29 -
^T tT T )V 6 q ts 8 so t t o t 6 no x®°v t vausTaovTsq
Tfiprapov d^cpt (leyav, tS v gvSpsq ts G sot te.
i b i d . 3 3 5 -6 .
12
ev9* 8 ve x a t 9&oq (Sv ââporpixa p^X* ivopeoev
AvSpt nd pa Gv t jt S .
h . h . Pan 3 2 -3 .
“ i am in d e b te d t o H.H. P o r t e r , " R e p e tit io n i n t h e Homeric Hymn to

.A p h r o d ite " , AJP 1 9 ^ 9 : 70 f o r p r o v id in g n o t o n ly t h e f o llo w in g l i s t
f o r t h e a d j e c t i v e xaTaGvqroq b u t a l s o s t r e s s i n g t h e f a c t s t h a t i n th e
hymn " w o rd s , p h r a s e s , and w hole l i n e s once u s e d come up tim e and tim e
a g a i n . . . . " an d t h a t t h e r e p e t i t i o n o f an i d e a i n t h i s form i n th e
w ork i s a " d e v e lo p m e n ta l an d s t r u c t u r a l l y u n if y i n g d e v ic e " ( p . 251 ) .
I n f u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e id e a s o f m o r t a l i t y and im m o r ta lity I
s h a l l a l s o a d o p t h i s d e f i n i t i o n o f a th e m a tic r e p e t i t i o n : "T hem atic
r e p e t i t i o n o f a s y l l a b l e , w o rd , o r p h ra s e w hich c l e a r l y d e s c r ib e s
o r h a s r e f e r e n c e t o some a s p e c t o f a m a jo r o r m in o r them e o f th e
poem ." F o r t h e s a k e o f e a s y r e f e r e n c e and p r o o f t h a t id e a s o f
m o r t a l i t y and im m o r ta lity a r e c e n t r a l t o th e poem, I l i s t th e fo llo w in g
w ords d e a l i n g w ith t h e two s p h e r e s : th e a d j e c t i v e xaTgGvrjroq
m o d if ie s avGptonoq. s i x tim e s i n t h i s hymn o f two h u n d re d and n i n e t y -
t h r e e h e x a m e te r l i n e s ( 3 , 5 2 , 1 2 2 , 1 9 2 , 2 0 0 , 2 8 l ) . I t i s fo u n d w ith
yuvrj t h r e e tim e s ( 3 9 , 50 , 250 ) and a p p e a rs a s a s u b s t a n t i v e i n l i n e s
f o r t y - s i x , f i f t y - o n e , and one h u n d re d an d o n e . Gvrjroq i s u s e d a lo n e
tw ic e ( 1 U5 a n d 2 5 9 ) . The v a r i a t i o n , xcûyevecdv AvGoomcov, o c c u rs
once ( 108 ) , a c o l l o c a t i o n r e m in is c e n t o f th e 5v6pgq ' femxOovtooq o f
l i n e 12 .

107
The p h rase Qvtjtwv dv0pomcov appears tw ic e (35 and 1^9) •

The word pporoq i s used s u b s ta n tiv e ly fo u r tim e s (3 2 , 1 6 7 , 2 5 5 , 268)
and a d j e c t i v a l l y once in l i n e one hundred and n in e t y - n in e . There are
th r e e in s t a n c e s o f av0pconoq w ith o u t OvTjroq (lU 2 , 1 8 8 , 2 ^ 5 ). The
a d j e c t iv e pporeoq o ccu rs once ( h j ) . As one would e x p e c t b ecau se o f
th e r e l i g i o u s n a tu r e o f the.hym n, th e a d j e c t iv e dGavaxoq appears much
more fr e q u e n t ly th an xaTaOvrjroq. E ig h teen tim es i t i s used s u b s ta n tiv e ly
(5 1 , 5 5 , 9 6 , 1 0 9 , 1 2 9 , lV f , 2 0 3 , 2 0 5 , 2 1 1 , 2 lU , 2 1 9 , 2 2 1 , 2 3 9 , 2U0,
2 5 0 , 2 5 3 , 26l , 2 68) and f i v e tim es i t appears as an a d j e c tiv e m od ifyin g
0e6q ( U l, l h 2 , 1 6 7 , 19 0 , 2 U7 ) . The in s ta n c e s o f v a r io u s forms o f
0c6q in th e hymn number t o tw e n ty -th r e e ( 3 2 , 3 5 , ^ 1, W , 5 0 , 5 2 , 6 2 ,
9 5 , 1 0 9 , 1^2 , 1U9 , 1 5 3 , 1 7 2 , 1 8 5 , 1 8 6 , 1 9 0 , 1 9 5 , 2 0 H, 2 U6 , 2U7 , 2 7 5 ,
2 9 0 , 2 9 2 ). Of r e la t e d w ord s, udxap i s vised once a s an a d j e c t iv e
m o d ify in g 0coq (3 5 ) and once s u b s t a n t iv e ly ( 1 9 5 ) , a^pporoq appears
a d j e c t iv e ly th r e e tim e s ( 6 2 , 1 7 5 , 2 6 0 ) , and dM.pp6ai.oq o ccu rs tw ic e
(63 and 2 3 2 ) .
lU . . '
x o S to re xaTaQvTrrov dv0pa>TKav i b i d . 192.
^ d y y tB c o t 5c MaXtora xaTaQvprSv dvOo&ncov

alet &<p' biieTcpnrjq yevcTjq ei5oq r e <pur)v t c .
i b i d . 2 0 0 -1 .
I p la c e t h i s example h ere b eca u se i t i s a h e lp in r e v e a lin g

A p h r o d ite 's p o s it io n v i s A v i s m o r ta ls . The dYX^soi. does co u rse
in d ic a t e t h a t I . l b i s a ls o in e f f e c t .
^ n a t S a 6'^no £0ep.T]v BpotS c6 vt]0etaa. i b i d . 255.
IT
6 s x a t AtvsCaq ovop.' eo a era t oovsxa p.* a tvov
caxsv axoq evexa Bpotou dvspoq spnsoov sbvij
i b i d . 1 9 8 -9 .
18 ... 6<ppa x ax to ra
pnr]6' afiTrj Bpotstk efiv^q dftospYP-svr) slt)
i b i d . U6-7.
19 # #
BooxoXeecrxev Bouc 6suac dGava'toi.aLV fcoixax: i b i d . 55-
20 v * %
... fcnet "n <ptXoq £aat 0 so t a t ib id . 195.

21 %
o6x av tyos ye as -rotov tv dSgygxPuauv lXoupx]v
dSgygxoy x* suvau xau £a>suv rmara navxg
i b i d . 23 9 -^ 0 .
22 «. » ;
vov 6s 5tj o&xsxt pou oxopg x£^CTeTai- ££ovour|vn i .
xouxo psx' d8gygxouauv. fens! ugXg noXXov id a0T]v
i b i d . 253—U.
23 % # ^
a6xap ipou lily* SvsuSoq £y dBqygxouau 8souauy i b i d . 2^7.
Zh » » . ,
« .. xaXXoq 6s ngpstgcov dn£Xg(J.nsv
gugporroy. . . .
ib id . n k - 5 .
257 , % ; ■
. H x o t (isv £gv06v rgvoaf|5sg pr)XLSXg Zsuc .
■^pngasvôv 5 tot xdXXoq uv* dSgygxouau g.sxsur)
i b i d . 2 0 2 -3 .
26
xaC x s Auoq xaxd Scoug 6sot<; inuouvoxosuou,
6gupa Id stv , itavxsaau xsxuixsvoq dSgygxPuau
i b i d . 20U -5.
97 -
'xau p,uv Zsoq feXsrps, 5 u5oo 6s o t duoq gnouvg
unnooq dpaunoSgq, x o t x* dSgygxouc (popsooau
i b i d . 2 1 0 -1 1 .
23 7
ix; sou dSgygxoc xgu dYTjposq uoa 8 so uauv i b i d . 2lU .
(Note th e same p a r a lle lis m o f concepts in h .h .Dem. 260.)
OQ ^
S’ ao Tu8oavdv xPuCT°6p °vo<» "npnaasv *H<oq
dtisxspnq y sv£^T9 Cs c i l . A nchises] InusuxsXov 'dSgygxouau
i b i d . 2 1 8 -1 9 .

109
l it i s i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t t h i s same l i n e , dGavaxov x* suvau x a t

£ a su v "quaxa Jidvxa ( i b i d . 221) i s u s e d a g a in b y A p h ro d ite i n r e f e r e n c e
t o A n c h is e s . She w ould n o t h av e h im , a s T ith o n u s , re m a in among th e
im m o r ta ls . She d o es n o t o f f e r t h e p r e r o g a t i v e s o f im m o r ta lity Zeus
c o n f e r s upon Ganymede.
31 % & % ».
ctCt<£ x ’ ddBPQotri x e xau euuaxa xaXa 5u5ouaa ib i d . 232.
32 ^ # v
Srpdv (lev £<uouctu xau ap.{3poxov su6ap sSooau,
xau x s n sx ' dQavaxouou xaXov x°P °v Ippoxravxo
i b i d . 260- 1 .
33T hese nymphs m u st r e p r e s e n t an i n t e r m e d i a t i o n b etw een men and

gods i n t h e re a lm o f n a t u r e . T h is i s n o t p e c u l i a r t o t h i s one hymn,
lo o k f o r i n s t a n c e a t t h e "b ee g o d d e s s e s " , t h e t e a c h e r s o f d i v i n a t i o n ,
i n t h e Hymn t o H erm es, 5 5 0 f f . o r t h e Hymn t o P a n , t h e p ie c e t h a t s e t s
t h e god i n h i s r e a lm , i . e . n a t u r e , i n a p a s t o r a l s e n s e .
3U « % ~ >«. . »
xau n ap a naau Bpoxouou 9s5v n p sapeupa xsx u x x au i b i d . 32.
35 •• • • 1
fxrfuStcoq aovsjxuê - [s c i l . Z eus] xaxaS vrjrâu yuvauguv i b i d . 39*
36 jr
jas ^cavx* &(jlsvt)v6v iv dvOp&nouauv eacnrjq
vausuv, dXX* feXsaup* • feneu 06 {3uo8aX[iuoq dvrp
yuyvsxau j5c^ x s Qsauc e6va£sxau dQavaxr^CTu
iV J j OO
l U X U t •
37 * v 0
. . . xo x* sn su x a napuoxaxau dv 8 pamouauv.
— o 6X6 |asvov xcuaxrjpov, c5 x s oxoysouou 8 sou Jisp
i b i d . 2 U5- 6 .
. . . yuvau s t g u u a QstVju i b i d . 153.
39 I c o u ld a t t h i s p o i n t b e g in s p e a k in g o f t h e j u x t a p o s i t i o n o f men
and gods i n te rm s o f fo r m u la ic l i n e s , b u t w here t h e i d e a o f a fo rm u la ic
l i n e i s a u s e r u i c o n c e p t m e x p la i n in g t h e o r a l c o m p o s itio n o f p o e t r y ,
I f i n d i t , a s a l i t e r a r y o r p h i l o s o p h i c a l t o o l i n t h e hands o f th e

110
critic, without use and perhaps even harmful since it blinds him to
a lover order of phenomena that build and bolster a work's more
obvious themes and structure— phenomena such as I have discussed
above. I shall, then, characterize the following examples as sim ply-
more "formal1? than the others, and while acknowledging their greater
importance leave the matter of formulae at rest.
llQ
VChiasmus is the natural outcome of the appositional mode of
thought and expression-.--", Thornton h Thornton, Time and StyIs»
p. 3.
* 1 . both the hymns .to Demeter and Hermes the exposition contains
a significant line pointing to a juxtaposition of. men and gods in a
correlative, parallel sense: AQgygrol C x t 9s o u q Qvrrrotc dvQoSnotc
(h.h. Dem. 11) and Xrjdcov dQavd-row; Te Qsouc Qvnrouc x* dv6 od>nouc (h.hT
Hexm. 9). It cannot be too strongly argued that the opening lines of
these hymns act as a prologue to the central content and that since
in all three the juxtaposition of men and gods is so obvious, the
poems themselves are somehow based or dependent upon the theme.
^Porter, loc. cit. p. 2 5 8 .
jbo 8eouc xaTaSvrrrfjou v u v a ig t

x a t x c xaTa6vTrroug o te tq rexov dQavgTOLOi.v*
£? T6 Qeac dvep.i.^6 xaTaQvrrrotc &v8pa>noic
h.h. Aphrodite. 50-52.
Perhaps the children of the second type of match are not mentioned
because it is Aphrodite herself who will, by giving birth to Aeneas,
satisfy that condition, and after all this is what the story is all
about. Line fifty-two finds an almost exact repetition at line two
hundred and fifty (dQgvgTOuq ouveuiâ xgrgSvrrriiq-i yovgigt) where
Aphrodite speaks of her disgrace and of the fear the other immortals
held of her because of her wiles and ability to mate gods with mortals.
^6V06V dnOpvU(J.£VgL, X6Xg\UjJU£VgU f]£pc 7TOXX^>,

twuxiai ore!x°v 'nepcxgXXsg oaaav tetcxn.,
bnvcuoat dec x* atytoxov xot, ..norvtgv "Hpryy ...
Theogony 8-10.

I ll
k5
Hate how the primary opposition of light and dark is indicated
by the endline positions of Moon and Night vith their proper adjectives
in lines nineteen and twenty:
*HS t* *HeXt6v re lieyav Xaunpav re ZeXnvnv

ratdv t' 'Sxeavov te neyav xat Noxxa u.&XaLvav
The generations and transitions I have delineated here are obviously

not possessed of a strict order. The important point, however, is
that. Hesiod is generally working through the generations from the
third to the first.
1»6
For a similar argument see Hans Flach’s Das System der Hesiodischen '
Kosmogonie, Leipzig 1871*. Also in an article that has formed a basis
for much of my own argument on the subject, Paula Philippson in her
"Genealogie als Mythische Form", Symbolae Osloenses Fasc. VII, Oslo
1936 also insists that the idea of unity is central to the poem:
"Die gesam ten E rs c h e in u n g e n . K r& fte u n d G e se tz e d e s Kosmos b i l d e n
cine g e n o s a r tig e E i n h e i t 1* ( p . \ ) .
X7
Snell has already spoken of "The Rise of the Individual in the
Early Greek lyric", The Discovery of the Mind. New York i9 6 0 , Chap. 3»
pp. U3-70, and indicated strongly that here is the major distinction
between the epic and lyric mentality. Hesiod must represent some sort
of transition between these categories, for not only is his consciousness
as a poet great but also his consciousness of himself. The Muses teach
him glorious song (at vo no0* 'HaCoSov xaXrjv I5t6a£av &oc&r|v Theogony 22).
What the Muses speak to him are &Xr]0ea, although interestingly enough
they also know how'to speak "false things as though they were true".
The question of the duality of truth and falsity will arise again when
I speak of the fragments of Parmenides as will the question of a
substantive choice for the way of truth. ''No one can deny that the
germ of both ideas is lodged in these lines: cSuev >|reu6ea noXXa Xeyecv
ferupotauv 6nota,/ u6p.ev 6' eux* iGeXoijiev &Xr)9ea yrpocaaOau (ibid. 27-8).
But what I should like to suggest at this point is that perhaps the
rise of the sense of the individual is linked inexorably to philosophic
speculation, that a view of the world is predicated upon a view of
oneself.
^8The opposition between men and gods appears in the Theogony as it

did in the Hymn to Aphrodite« although not so much as a thematic
phenomenon as Just merely a given. M.L. West in his Hesiod Theogony,
Oxford i9 6 0 , p. 233, comments on the phrase SvryroXau fpoTOuou (223)

112
a s one m o s tly . u s e d a s an a n t i t h e s i s t o t h e im m o rta l g o d s , c i t i n g

l i n e s 296 ( 9v n x o tc &v6 panoLC. 066 * &9gvgTOcoi. S s o t o t v ) , 588 ( 0goptg
6 ? ex* dSavgTOuc t c Qeouc Ovtttouc t* &v9o&nooc) . and 967-8 ( 8 ooau
9vrrTOLCTL nap* A vSpgaiv e & v n 0 sto u t/ &0avcTgc• . . . ) . T hese a r e
exam ples o f w hat I d e s c r ib e d p r e v i o u s l y a s " fo rm a l J u x t a p o s i t i o n s " .
O th e r " l e s s fo rm a l" o n e s a p p e a r i n l i n e s U7 , 197 , 20U, 2 2 0 , 3 0 2 ,
372—3* and U07 . An a n a l y s i s i s n o t n e c e s s a r y . What i s im p o r ta n t i s
t o r e a l i z e t h a t t h i s o p p o s itio n seems t o b e c e n t r a l i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e
o f t h e p e r io d and w h a t a p p e a re d i n t h e Hymn t o A p h ro d ite as an im p o r ta n t
t h e mat i c a n d s t r u c t u r a l d e v ic e i s m a in ta in e d i n t h e Theogony i n a
d e c id e d ly s u b o r d in a te r o l e a s one ty p e o f o p p o s itio n ta k e n f o r g r a n te d
i n a w ork s t r u c t u r e d on o p p o s itio n s o f a l a r g e r an d more r e f i n e d
c h a ra c te r.
U9 0 ,
Xatpexe tc x v c Ac6q, 56rs 5* tuepdeooav AoiSrjv Theogony lOl*.
5°ot ££sY£v °vv o xgl 06pgvoo dcrrepoevroq,

Noxr6^ T6 6vo<pepT^, ooq 0* dXjiopSq &xps<ps Hovroq
i b i d . 1 0 6 -7 .
^ C f . F.M. C o rn fo r d , P r in c ip iu m S a p i e n t i a e . Cam bridge 1967 , p p .

1 9 ^ f f . and G .S . K irk and J . E . R av en , The P r e s o c r a t i c P h i l o s o p h e r s .
Cam bridge 1962 , p p . 2 6 -3 2 .
52W est o p . c i t . p p . 1 9 2 -3 . I r a t h e r l i k e t h i s a s a d e f i n i t i o n
b e c a u s e i t sums up a b o u t e v e r y th in g H e sio d h im s e lf h a s t o s a y a b o u t
t h e phenomenon w ith o u t p u t t i n g i r r e l e v a n t s t r i c t u r e s on t h e te rm s
i n t h e way o f K irk and R aven.
53
A gain i t i s P h il ip p s o n ( l o c . c i t . p . 9 ) who s t r e s s e s t h i s
o p p o s i t i o n . Hermann F r S n k e l, Wege und Formen f r f lh g r ie c h is c h e n D en k en s,
Munich i 960 , p . 3 1 8 , s t a t e s t h e n e g a ti v e a s p e c t o f t h e c h i l d r e n o f
H ig h t.
^ F r M n k e l, i b i d . 3 1 7 - 1 8 ,f i n h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f N ig h t an d Chaos
a l s o i n d i c a t e s t h e im p o r ta n t d i f f e r e n c e in v o lv e d h e r e : "Denn w i r k l i c h e
G egensE tze s i n d e s ; d ie N ach t i s t f f tr H e sio d n i c h t d e r N u llz u s t a n d :
Tag m inus Tag und Chaos i s t n i c h t : W elt m inus W e lt. S o n d e m Chaos
und N ach t s in d n a c h H e sio d s A ussage gew orden; s i e s in d a l s o n i c h t e in
r e i n p r i v a t i v e s N ic h t. s o n d e m e in n e g a tiv e s F tw a s . Sc s i n d und b l c i b c n
s i e e i n Z w e ite s , a n d e re s n e b e n dem P o s i t i v e n . "

C f .P h il ip p s o n , l o c . c i t . p p . 11 -1 2 f o r a v e ry p e r s u a s iv e argum ent
for t h e c l e a r l y form ed o p p o s itio n b etw een E a r th and C haos. She does
make i t d e a r , h o w e v e r, t h a t b etw een t h e s e tw o o p p o s ite s t h e r e i s no
t i e an d no f i g h t . The o p p o s itio n i s p r e s e n t b u t im m o b ile. T h is i s ,
of c o u r s e , n o t t h e c a s e b etw een t h e g e n e a lo g ic a l o p p o s itio n o f E a r th
a n d Heaven.^ %
^GSgVGTTuSV Gt &)£Gu<JL XCtp7| VLl£*5tVTO<J *OXuunOU,

Tdpxnpa x* fieposvxa p.ux§ X®°v°<» efipoodeCriq
Theogony 118-119
W est, o p . c i t . p . 193-1+, a rg u e s f o r t h e r e t e n t i o n o f l i n e one

h u n d re d an d e ig h te e n even th o u g h b o th l i n e s one h u n d re d an d e ig h te e n
an d one h u n d re d an d n in e te e n a r e ig n o r e d b y P l a t o Symposium 1 7 8b and
A r i s t o t l e M e ta p h y sic s 981+a 2 7 . He n o te s t h a t l i n e one h u n d re d and
e ig h te e n r e c u r s a g a in a t l i n e sev e n h u n d re d and n i n e t y - f o u r . (I
s u s p e c t t h a t some i n t h e p a s t h av e th o u g h t one o f t h e two s p u rio u s
b e c a u s e o f t h e r e p e t i t i o n , a lth o u g h now su ch r e p e t i t i o n i s a c c e p te d
a s e s s e n t i a l t o a r c h a ic t e c h n i q u e .) W est d o es n o t p e r c e i v e , h o w ev er,
a lth o u g h com m enting on T a r ta r u s as a " lo w e r l i m i t " , t h a t an " u p p e r
l i m i t " i s n e e d e d t o c o m p le te t h e s t r u c t u r a l im a g e , h en ce t h e m e n tio n
of Olympus and t h e a u t h e n t i c i t y o f l i n e one h u n d re d and e ig h t e e n .
5T
fj5* "Epoq, 8q x&Wtoroq fcv dSavaxoto’t Oeoto-t,
XuoLêXnq, navrcov t c 6scov jiovtgw t ' &v0pamcov
Theogony 120-121.
H ote a g a in t h e s t r i c t p a r a l l e l i s m o f noun and a d j e c t i v e . The

phenomenon we o b s e rv e d i n t h e Hymn t o A p h ro d ite i s o b v io u s ly u n i v e r s a l
eg
C f. P h i l i p p s o n , l o c . c i t . p . 1 2 .
59
T h ere i s a n o th e r exam ple o f a p o w e rfu l h e u r i s t i c f o r c e i n H esiod*
Works and D ays. T h ere E r i s i n h e r sec o n d n a tu r e ( i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g
t h a t h e r e H e sio d e x p la in s t h i s phenomenon b y o p p o s i tio n i n w hat we
s h o u ld c a l l " e t h i c a l " te rm s ) i s d e s c r ib e d a s l o c a t e d i n t h e " r o o t s
o f th e . e a r t h ” (yuCiTq ev pC ôn. . . . i y ) . tsne moves t h e s h i f t l e s s t o
'w o r k (fyce x a t dnaXapov nep £ n t epyov e y stp e v 2 0 ) . She i s a
wholesome f o r c e f o r men (dya©?) 6 * "Epcq 7^5 e p p o x o ta tv 2k) i n t h a t
s h e f o s t e r s h e a l t h y e m u la tio n b etw een th em . I n so f a r a s E r i s i s a

hidden, heuristic force in the universe its resemblance to Eros in
the Theogony is considerable; yet, ve must rememberthatin the
Theogony itself Eris assumes an inferior position toEros asthe
offspring of Night (Theogony 225), and is herself mother of a catalogue
of horrors (226-232). It is important that the "kinder" Eris of the
Works and Days is still the daughter of Night there, and one feels
that while'-she is "good for men" she is good for them in the same way
fes a spoon of cod-liver oil, that is, while Eros in-he Theogony is
described as a purely positive and pleasant force, Erls, even in her
better form, still maintains certain negative characteristics derived
from her mother, Night. Eros, then, is by genealogy(or really lack
thereof) a more potent and certainly purer force.
6°ix X&eoq 6* rEpefJoq xe uelcuvd xe. Nu£ fcyevovxo

Noxx&q 5* aux* Ate-rjp xe xat 'Hpepri tZeyevovro
ibid. 12U-5.
~LCf. West, op. cit. p. 197, also FrSnkel, op. cit. p. 3 1 8 , where
he argues that the negative phenomena must precede the positive.
62
One senses that the categories of Sleep and Dreams bear an
oppositional relationship to Death in somewhat the same manner as
Day and Aether do to Night and Erebus. The positive/negative
■polarization of the two phenomena appears again in the Theogony
758-766 where sleep is described as gentle to men (ixeCXtx0? 4 v 0 p & io l< 7 l) ,
death as possessed of a heart of iron and pitiless (xou 6 e ai.Srjpe'n P>sv
xpaSCt], X&^xsov 6 e ot Tjtop/ vriXeeq fev oxrjQeaotv ... 76U-5 ).
w This is another example of a category formed by opposition.

Friendship appears because of Deceit. Smaller oppositions are
possible within one term of a larger opposition, even if they seem
to contradict the larger.
6k .
Friedrich Schwenn, Die Theogonie des Hesiodos, Heidelberg 193^,
p. 83 remarks at some length on this point.
65 m
"The principle of symmetry is conspicuous in Greek cosmologies
as in early Greek geography; it is assumed that the great divisions
of the world are of equal size and at equal distances apart," West,
op. cit. pp. 197-8 .

115
66A i d . p p . 2 3 2 -3 .
67
There is an interesting point here in the description of Nereus
in relationship to the meaning of i-X^Gsta. The argument that "truth"
is "not-forgetting" is straightforward enough if the word he analyzed
as an alpha.privative negating XrjGr) ("forgetfulness"), hut etymology
does require a philological or contextual proof. One step towards
such a nroof mizht aooear here in the Theogony lines two hundred and
thirty-three through two hundred and thirty-six. Nereus is horn
dXnGea (233) and is called the old man because he is infallibly true
(vrjieprfte 235) and does not forget the laws of righteousness (o65s
0entcmav/ XnGcrat ... 235-6). In other words, Nereus' qualities of
truthfulness could easily he construed as somehow dependent on, or
in conjunction with, his ability not to forget. Cf. Ebeling, Lexicon
Somericum and the Etymologicum Magnum under the entries of &\r)0T]q.
^This is a selection of the adjectives describing the daughters of

Nereus in the catalogue encompassing their fifty names (Theogony 240-264),
69
"Norman 0. Brown, Theogony. New York 1953, in his introduction,
page seventeen, describes Earth and Zeus as the alpha and omega. Earth
and the first generation from her are physical; Zeus and the Olympians
are essentially anthropocentric. He too sees the human "conditioning"
of the universe in this poem as a telos.
70„
It is the revolt of Earth against the despotism of Sky which
sets in motion the whole process culminating in the supremacy of
Zeus," ibid. p. 23. Friedrich Solmsen, Hesiod and Aeschylus, p. 25,
also comments on the perfection with which the emasculation of Heaven
fits into Hesiod's theogonic construction. The movement of the
narrative is dependent upon a highly tensioned opposition.
71 » . . ' .
6 l na-tfjp Tltt)vo<; fenCxXrjotv xaXseaxe
natbaq veuxstev p-cys? 06pav6q, oDq rexsv a&roq.
<paoxe 6& TcxatvovTaq d'cacjGaXu'g [ l i y a 6e£at
epyov, Toto _5' snei/ra tiolv usroncoGsv eoeaQau
Theogony 2 0 7 -1 0 .
7 2 ^ ----- _ _ -----------------
+ — ------ --------- - ------------- f i s a t u . , *
more complicated generational oppositions in Hesiod, I submit the
following table of simple "logical" generation which I discussed
previously— that is, a table that excludes the generational oppositions
traceable from the m i on of Earth and Heaven:

116
CHAOS ( - ) EARTH
I
" S ig h t-E re b u s ( - ) /A e th e r - D a y (+) H eaven
I + ) , H i l l s ( + ) , P o n t u s (+
Doom D e c e it ( - ) / F r ie n d s h ip (+)»
E ris ( - ) H ereu s (+) = D o ris (+)
T o i l ( - ) , F o r g e tf u ln e s s
I O ath ( - )
I
N e re id s (+)
( P lo to ( + ) . . ( + ) , N em ertes (+ ))

117
^Line two hundred and ninety-five presents somewhat of a problem

because the antecedent for the subject of the sentence is not clear.
Bichard Lattimore, Hesiod, Ann Arbor 1968, pi 223, in his genealogical
tables believes that it refers to Callirhog. West, 0£. cit. p. 2 U9 ,
thinks that the antecedent is more probably Ceto. I should agree
because the% latter is more consistent with my argument that a forceful
category o'f negative members be of one mother in correspondence to
the categories of the children of Night and Nereus.
Philippson, loc. cit. p. 2 U.
T5
t8 v .6* ctpaQ*, Sort? aTcnoq 6nd Kpdvoo •fj5*
TLHrfc xat yspacuv Ijitprjoeixcv, Sent? feortv
Theogony 395-6
76
Brown, op. cit. pp. 28-9, argues this interesting point well.
77 •
... TstoauTO 5* feptvoq rorcptx; toto Theogony U7 2 .
78
Solmsen, op. cit. pp. 22-3 comments on the place of Earth in the
Theogony and stresses the point that she is never superseded.
79
It is important that the 'Sxeavoto jbeeSpa in line six hundred
and ninety-five are included in this list because of the mythical and
symbolic importance of this stream. I shall look at its place more
closely in my ensuing discussion of symbols in the Theogony and the
Hymn to Aphrodite.
®°West » °~P» cit. pp. 356-359 argues for every part of the description
of the underworld (720-819) except lines 73^-5 and 7^0-5. He asserts
that the former contradicts what we learn in lines 815-19. In the
note referring to the lines themselves (p. 363 ) he argues that ntorot
<pu\axe£ Atoq "probably refers to.their [Cottos’, Briareos', and Gyes']
help in the battle" and that "their return to the underworld after
their hour of glory is sufficiently explained by the fact that that
is their home." I find his position unconvincing because the Tupx) of
guarding Tartarus is essential to the structure of Zeus' reign.
Phenomena of negative import yet helpful to Zeus, e.g. Styx, must
attain posiuions or honor even within their negative context. For
this reason alone I should argue for the inclusion of lines 73^-5.

118
Moreover, given the physical imprecision in respect to areas of the

negative realm (cf> infra pP* 95ff. ) the three could quite conceivably
be guards of Tartarus and at the same time live on the floor of Ocean,
a mythical place in itself.
^Thrown, op. cit. p. 1*3, also makes this point. The relationship
between ttfe' way of thought in both Hesiod and Heraclitus is a close one.
Sa
^Supra p. 9 .
Q *3
S u p ra p. 9 0 .
T&v (Tartarus] ntpt x^Xxeov epxoq iXrjXaTat? d|Kpt 5e ptv vu£

Tptcrrocxt' xax'^tat nept Setprjv
Theogony 726-7.
€6paq 5* inEQTjxe nboetSEosv

XaXxeCaq, xetx0? 6e nepotxexat diupOTspccGcv
ibid. 732-3.
85
*Ev9a 6e yrj<; 6vo<peprfe xau Taprapoo fjepoevTOq
nSvroo t* dxpoY&xoto x a t obpavou dorspfievTOq
&£etT]q navTcuv irriYat x a t itetpaT* sa o tv . . .
ibid. 736-8 .
86
X&opa aey’,o66e xe ndvxa xeXeotpopov etq Evta t8v
oo6a<; !"xotT*, et npoara noXecov evxooQe *(ivo\.rot
dXXd xev ev@a xat IvGa <pepot npo 6oeXXa OusXXtk
dpyaXen ...
ibid. 7l*0-7l*3.
West rejects these lines, arguing that there is too great a

discrepancy between the fall of a man and the fall of the anvil
(72l*-5 ), op. cit. p. 361*, but the consistency of material factors,
as we have indicated, is not necessary for symbolic description.
° ,'wv upSaO* *lanexoto natq sxet o6pav6v e&pov

iorriw; xe<paX?j xe xat dxapaxgat x£P&CTa*'v
Theogony 7^6—7 •

119
® \ h a t H e sio d i s s t r e s s i n g t h e o p p o s itio n i s c l e a r , f o r n o t o n ly
d o es h e m e n tio n Day and N ig h t (7 ^ 8 ) h u t draw s a f u r t h e r o p p o s itio n
o f a t t r i b u t e s . The one p o s s e s s e s l i g h t f o r t h o s e on e a r t h ; th e
o t h e r , S le e p , t h e b r o t h e r o f d e a th :
Hcv lmx3ovCo(.oi <paoq noXo6epxeq exoooa

'' fj- 6* WYitvov utra. xspct, •xaoiyvrfzov Qavdroio
i b i d . 7 5 5 -6 .
go 4 # ^
... Seivdq 6e xocav npondpoL0e <poXdooe«.
vrjXetTjg, t &xvt1v 6l xaxf)v exst ...
i b i d . 7 6 9 -7 0 .
^ S u p ra p . 89 .
91 1
C f. Theogony 2k2 w here t h e N e re id s a r e b o r a o f N ereus an d o f
D o r i s , xouprjq 'S x s a v o to , xeXr&vroq n o x a p o to .
92
^ [E a r th ] 6e xau dxpoyexov iteXayoq x e x e v , o c S n a x t G u to v ,
n d v ro v , dxep (puXoxnxoq fc<pmepou . . .
i b i d . 1 3 1 -2
93
'fixeavov paGuStvrjv i b i d . 1 3 3 . How s i g n i f i c a n t th e a d j e c t i v e i s
re m a in s l a r g e l y s p e c u l a t i v e a lth o u g h i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o te t h a t
S n e l l makes q u i t e a b i t o u t o f t h e w ord paGuc a s a p r o t o - p h i l o s o p h i c a l
phenom enon. C f. S n e l l , o p . c i t . p . 1 7 . S p e a k in g o f t h e w ords p<x6o<ppcov
and paG onrjraq, he s a y s , 1*In t h e s e e x p r e s s i o n s , t h e sym bol o f d e p th
alw ays p o i n t s t o t h e i n f i n i t y o f t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l and s p i r i t u a l w hich
d i f f e r e n t i a t e s i t from t h e p h y s i c a l . " I t i s p e rh a p s even more
i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t h e r e h i s e s p e c i a l r e f e r e n t s a r e H e r a c l i t u s and t h e
c o n c e p ts o f t h e s o u l .
•^*Cf. I l i a d lU . 201 and 303 ('S x e a v d v x e , Qecov y sv sa u v ) and 2h6

(* 2 x e a v o o , Sq nep y e v s a tq JtavxeacJL x sx o x x ac ) a s exam ples o f H om eric
d e s c rip tio n .
95_
£ .£ . .Liiad i o . 399 and Theogony 776.
^ C f . I l i a d 18.1*88.

120
07
C f. Theogony 695 .
98 ^
x a i t * 'QpCcava S o x e u c i,
oJt) 5* Supopoq feoTL Xoexpcav 'SZxeavoTo . . .
\.v I l i a d 1 8 .U 8 8 -9 .
^*H sX uoq tiov cSovs x s t s xôvdq 3£xeavO v5c 'n .h .Hermes 6 5 .
^■^'Hwq 5* f)ptY 6veca <p6coq 0 v t } t o l c t l <pepouoa

fipvur* d n ' 'S x e a v o to paGoppooo . . .
i b i d . l81»-5.
.. fence jbo6o5dxxo\oq ’ Hcoq

*2xeavdv npoX enouo' ofepavov eto av ap rj
Mimnermus 1 0 .3 -U ( D i e h l ) .
102
'AeXuoq 5 ' * Y neptovtS aq 6enaq feoxarcpatvc
Xpuaeov, 6<ppa 5 l* ’S x e a v o lo nepdoaq
d^tnot© * te p a q n o r l pfevQca voxxoq . . .
S te s i c h o r u s 6 , 1 - 3 • ( D i e h l) .
103 * 0
*Epoq, 8q xaXXeoroq fev dGavaTOeot 0cotae»
XuaLHcXrjq, ticvtov 5 s 0eSov navnov t * dv0pa>ncov
SdavaT at fev ottjBeocl vccv x u l ItCcppcva. poyXfjv
Theogony 1 2 0 -1 2 2 .
8 6* a p a otpe Xeoiv y s v c t* cv5o0e v rp q

Setvoq fen' d x p o x d rn q , \xiyu 5 ' efJpaxev, fev 5* a p a ucctoij
dpxrov fenoer]C6v X aaea& xsva, ofim rm <pa£va>v
fiv 6* c o rn p.ci«iota* Xfecav 6 ' fenl aeXuaTOq axpoo
Scivdv 6no5pa tSasv . . .
h . h . (2 7 ) D ionysus Ul*-U8.
An I .c o n tin u e d e v e io p ia g my d i s c u s s i o n o f a r c n a l c sy m b o lism , i t
v i l l become c l e a r e r t h a t t h e w ord cxrpa m u st s ta n d f o r t h i s phenomenon
in G reek th o u g h t. The c o n n o ta tio n o f an im m ed iate " s i g n ” o r "im age"
seem s i n t e g r a l t o t h i s i d e a . F o r t h i s r e a s o n , p e rh a p s ev en ouiipoXov
c o u ld q u a l i f y a s a u s a b le w ord.

x&xa 5£ oxpLV i<paCv6T0 Gaonaxa ep y a.
Otvoq iiev nparrtoro 0af)v dva vTâ p-eXatvav
fjS&TOroq xeXdpu£' c&oSrjq, eopvoto 6* 68ii?|
dtippoatrj* vaorac 6 l to-cdoc Xdp& navrac tSovTac.
a&rtxa 6* dxporaxov napa tortov ££eTav6a6r|
SlineXoq £v0a x a t ev0a xaTexpr|p.vcovTO 8e noXXot
e6rp'ucq • dpx?* tordv 6e (ie\aq &t\taa&TO xtoooq,
av0cot TTjXe0a»v, 5* £nt xapnoq dpaipet
I b i d . 3 h -h l.
10^toi 6' bno noaat xard xQovSq atâ cpuovro

afrroGsv fcôXaSrjv feorpaniievat dXXrjXgCTt,
£ eta t s x a t nacrgatv fen* dypaoXo tcrt pocoatv
‘ Eptiecij pooXrjat xX6^|rt<ppovo<; . . .
h . h . Hermes U lO -13.
107
dXXa t o {lev x o t£ 0tjx6v 6q auXtov b\|aiieXa0pov,
6rpbv x a t xpsa noXXa, tieTrppa 5* a ty ' dvaetp s,
.grjliSL V6TK (peoprfe . . .
i b i d . 1 3 ^ -6 .
x a t t o p.ev 1Epiifjq
Anrot&rjv fetptXiTae Stanepsq fo; ext xat vuv
o r n ia v * fenet xt0ap tv a iv *Exr)p6\a> feYYuaXtêv
lliepTrjv, 6e6aa>q, 6 8* fenccXevtov x tG ap t^ ev...
ib id . 507-10.
10 8
afrrtxa 6* dpyaXecov dvsiicv xaxsnauaav deXXaq,
xopaTO 8*. feoropeoav Xeoxrfe dXoq £v iteXcYsaut,
vaurot? afiuaTa xaXa novou atptatv . . .
h . h . D io s c u r i lU - l 6 .
109 .» . ...
‘ Epprji; x o t npuTtoro 7i’jpf]‘t"a nub x* iveScoxe h .h .Hem es 111.
^■°vuxTcq 8e xpoinrsaxe nuooc p.evet fjure SaXov

XiSpa ybXiuv yOVfctuv - 'COt>i 06 (X6YU oauu* 6T6TUXTO,
dx; npo9aX?iq xsXeGsaxe . . .
h .h .D e m e te r 2 3 9 -^ 1 .
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r re p ro d u c tio n p roh ibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

evQa 6e jxuv X aptxeq Xouoav x a t xPôav fcXaC^
4 n p p 6 r^ , o t a 0eouq inevfjvoeev a le v feovraq,
& ii£poot$ I5av<jj . . .
h . h . A p h ro d ite 6 1 -6 3 . .
% 7 #
o t 6 ' fcnet oov Xex^cov fc&nocnrcov £n6{3r)cav,
"mSojjov iisv o t TipSfsov i.r.c xp ccs sfa siv o v ,
n6pnoq t b Yvanmaq 0* eXtxaq xaXuxaq r e x a t Sppooq.
Xuae 6e o t SSwvtjv t6 e . etfiaTa ctlyoXosvtcl
bx6 ub x a t xaT60T)xav i n i ©povoo &pYopcnr]Xou
'A rx to n s • • •
i b i d . 161- 166 .

123
C h a p te r 3 : S t r u c t u r e and Symbol i n H e r a c l i t u s
H e r a c lite a n s c h o la r s h ip i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y a c e r t a i n
d if f ic u lty in In te rp re ta tio n . S u rv e y in g t h e body o f se c o n d a ry s o u rc e s
from S c h le ie m a c h e r t o t h e p r e s e n t , one i s a b l e , w ith some modicum o f
e a s e , t o d iv id e t h e v a r io u s s t u d i e s i n t o two g ro u p s p lu s a p o s s i b l e
th ird . My own i n t e r p r e t a t i o n f a l l s i n t o t h e t h i r d . The sco p e o f
t h i s s tu d y does n o t p e r m it a d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s o f n i n e t e e n t h and
tw e n t i e t h c e n tu r y s c h o l a r s h i p . I s h a l l d e a l w ith s p e c i f i c i n t e r
p r e t a t i o n s ! p ro b lem s i n t h e f o o t n o t e s , b u t i n o r d e r t o d i s c l o s e t h e
s h a r p d i f f e r e n c e b e tw ee n t h e f i r s t two g ro u p s an d t o in tr o d u c e my own
p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s ! s t a n c e , I s h a l l d is c u s s i n some d e t a i l an
o u ts ta n d in g exam ple o f t h e f i r s t g ro u p : W.K.C. G u th rie an d tw o s t r o n g l y
r e l a t e d exam ples o f t h e sec o n d : G.W.F. H e g el an d F e rd in a n d L a s s a l l e .
The m a jo r d i f f e r e n c e b etw een t h e two g ro u p s i s t h a t w h ile t h e fo rm e r
h a s z e a lo u s ly d e v o te d i t s e l f t o t h e s tu d y o f s p e c i f i c m eanings o f
te rm s w i t h i n a l a r g e r s c i e n t i f i c c o n t e x t , t h e l a t t e r h a s a p p ro a ch e d
H e r a c l i t u s i n te rm s o f more g e n e r a l i s s u e s , e . g . l o g i c , r e l i g i o n ,
n a tu re . A n o th e r p e c u l i a r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h i s p ro b lem i s t h a t t h e
fo rm e r g ro u p i s p re d o m in a n tly E n g lis h i n b ack g ro u n d an d t h e l a t t e r
p re d o m in a n tly German -

12fc
The f i r s t s c h o o l b e g i n s , a s I s e e i t , b e f o r e t h e t u r n o f
t h e t w e n tie th c e n tu r y w ith B y w a te r's e d i t i o n o f t h e H e r a c l i t i a n
fra g m e n ts a n d Jo h n B u r n e t 's s u b s e q u e n t a n a l y s i s . I f space p e rm itte d ,
i t w ould b e e a s y enough t o show t h a t B u rn e t d e s c r ib e s th e H e r a c li te a n
w o rld v iew i n te rm s b o rro w e d d i r e c t l y fro m m odern s c i e n t i f i c o b s e r v a t i o n , "
b u t w hat i s im p o r ta n t i s t h a t t h e s c i e n t i f i c s ta n c e i s m a in ta in e d o v e r
a h a l f a c e n tu r y l a t e r ev en th o u g h t h e s t r a i n i s e a s y t o d e t e c t . In
1962 G u th rie i n t h e f i r s t volum e o f h i s a m b itio u s w o rk , A H is t o r y o f
G reek P h ilo s o p h y d e v o te d n e a r l y a h u n d re d p a g e s t o h i s e x p l i c a t i o n o f
H e ra c litu s . H is e f f o r t s r e s u l t i n a m ix tu r e o f c l a r i f i c a t i o n and
c o n fu s io n .
H e r a c l i t u s ' "m ethod o f th in k in g " i n t e r e s t s G u th rie c o n s id e r a b ly .
From t h e fra g m e n ts i t i s c l e a r t h a t t h i s m ethod c o n s i s t s n e i t h e r o f
noXupaGta o r tcrropua b u t i s " p o e t ic " somewhat i n t h e way o f A e sc h y lu s .
Fragm ent 101 (fc6L£Todpcr]v fcnetoorfiv) i s f o r t h e E nglishm an a p r o p h e ti c
u tte ra n c e c f t h i s p o e tic n a tu re . B u t one w onders i f H e r a c l i t u s '
" p o e t ic n a tu r e " i s n o t i n f a c t a d i f f i c u l t c o n c e p t t o d e f in e f o r
G u th rie s in c e h e i s f o r c e d t o a d m it t h a t t h e r e i s a c la im t o i n s p i r a t i o n
on t h e p a r t o f H e r a c l i t u s and a t t h e same tim e a co n d em n atio n o f p o e ts

o
i n g e n e r a l. N o tw ith s ta n d in g A r i s t o t l e 's o p in io n , n e i t h e r H e r a c l i t u s '
la n g u a g e n o r th o u g h t p l a c e s him i n t h e camp o f t h e M i le s ia n s . No,
h e i s f o r G u th rie b o th a n i n s p i r e d and r e l a t i v e l y i s o l a t e d t h i n k e r .
H e r a c l i t u s ' v e r y c h o ic e o f F i r e a s an a rc h S b e c a u s e o f i t s ex trem e

125
n a t u r e p l a c e s him f a r o u t s i d e any c o s m o lo g ic a l c o n c e p tu a li z a tio n o f
t h e M ile s ia n s vho alw ay s c o n s id e r e d t h e a r c h e a s in t e r m e d i a t e b etw een

3
tw o o p p o s i t e s . M oreover— an d t h i s s ta te m e n t i s p a r t i a l l y t r u e
>'
b u t somehow u n f o r t u n a t e l y t u r n e d c o n s id e r in g t h e c o n te x t—H e r a c l i t u s
w orked w ith a l l p h y s i c a l e n t i t i e s a s somehow a n im a te d . S in c e t h e
p h i l o s o p h i c a l d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n b e tw e e n s p i r i t and m a tt e r was y e t
"undream ed o f " , t h e r e c an b e l i t t l e s u r p r i s e i f H e r a c l i t u s g o es even
so f a r a s t o t h i n k o f t h e d i v i n e p r i n c i p l e a s b o th im m anent and
k
e x te rn a l. From t h e s e a lm o s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y p re m is e s G u th rie aim s
to w a rd s t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a p a r t i c u l a r l y H e r a c ii te a n p o i n t o f v ie w .
Y e t, i t i s im p o r ta n t t o n o te t h a t t h i s p o i n t o f view i s n o t g o in g
t o b e l i n k e d e i t h e r t o t h e p h i l o s o p h e r ’ s a r i s t o c r a t i c co n tem p t f o r
m ankind o r t o t h e p a r a d o x i c a l n a t u r e o f t h e fra g m e n ts th e m s e lv e s .
T h e re i s , i n o t h e r w o rd s , n o e n d e a v o r t o u n d e r s ta n d t h e fra g m e n ts
i n e i t h e r p s y c h o lo g i c a l o r s t r u c t u r a l te r m s . H e r a c l i t u s ' co n tem p t
i s a c h a r a c t e r t r a i t a n d h i s p a r a d o x i c a l " o b s c u r it y " b o th a p e r s o n a l
" d e l i g h t " an d t h e r e s u l t o f t h e in a d e q u a c y o f t h e la n g u a g e o f h i s
tim e .^ A lth o u g h h e p ro d u c e s a lo n g l i s t o f fra g m e n ts t h a t r e f l e c t an
" a r i s t o c r a t i c c o n te m p t" , h e n e v e r a s k s i f t h e r e c o u ld b e some c o n n e c tio n
b etw ee n t h i s " c o n te m p t" a n d a p a r t i c u l a r m ethod o f t h i n k i n g .
The m o st i n t e r e s t i n g s e c t i o n i n G u t h r i e 's b o o k i s one
d e a l i n c w ith t h e u s e s o f t h e wo r d " lo ^ o s " u r1 t o t h e tim e o f H e r a c l i t u s .
The r e a s o n in g b e h in d t h i s p h i l o l o g i c a l e x a m in a tio n i s somewhat s u b t l e ,

126
f o r G u th rie w is h e s t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e v a r io u s m eanings t h a t c o u ld h e
u n i f i e d i n t o a s i n g l e c o n c e p t i n H e r a c litu s * m ind h u t w h ich rem ain
s e p a r a t e f o r u s s i n c e v e h a v e no s i n g l e w ord t o e x p re s s w h at h e m eant
h y " l o g o s " .6 B ut G u th rie f i n d s d i f f i c u l t y i n e x p r e s s in g t h e u n i t y i n
m eaning b e h in d t h e L ogos, e v e n g iv e n i t s n e c e s s a r y u n i t y fro m t h e
H e r a c l i t e a n p o i n t o f v ie w . He g iv e s u s , i n e f f e c t , l i t t l e more th a n
a p a s t i c c i o o f mean i n g s t h a t a r e m a r g in a lly r e l e v a n t i n t h e u n d e rs ta n d in g
o f w hat t h e c o n c e p t o f Logos m ig h t m ean. One f e e l s an o v e rd ep en d en ce
upon th e l e x i c o n w ith i t s m in u te u n d e r s ta n d in g o f p a r t i c u l a r w ords a t
t h e e x p en se o f a t t e n t i o n t o a l a r g e r , more in f o r m a tiv e c o n t e x t .
G u th r ie a rg u e s t h a t t h e r e i s some n a iv e c o m b in a tio n o f
7
m a tte r and s p i r i t i n H e r a c l i t u s ’ p h ilo s o p h y . The Logos i s , th e n ,
p a r t m a t e r i a l and p a r t s p i r i t u a l . Can t h i s c o m b in a tio n b e s u s ta in e d
w ith o u t t u r n i n g H e r a c l i t u s i n t o a m u d d le -h e ad e d quack? I t depends
e n t i r e l y on w h at G u th rie m ig h t mean b y " m a t e r i a l " . H is C a r te s ia n
m ind/body d i v i s i o n d o es i n d i c a t e , h o w e v e r, t h a t " m a t e r i a l " i n h i s
book i s " p h y s i c a l" and " o b j e c t i v e " . T h e re i s n o sy m b o lic n a tu r e
in v o lv e d . F ragm ent 55 (octov o\|aq Axo?) paGrjatq -rau ra nportjilos)
does* in d e e d i n d i c a t e t h a t H e r a c l i t u s was d e p e n d e n t upon some k in d o f
p e r c e p t i o n , b u t t h e r e i s n o r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s " p e r c e p tio n "
was s tim u lu s - r e s p o n s e on a p h y s i c a l a n d o b j e c t i v e l e v e l a s I s e n s e
G u th rie d o e s . I s h a l l a rg u e s u b s e q u e n tly t h a t i t was n o t a n d c o u ld
n o t have b e en so ( i n f r a p p . l V f f f .) . G u th rie t a k e s i t f o r g r a n t e d ,

127
a lo n g w ith B u r n e t, -th a t i t was— t h a t i s , p e r c e p ti o n f o r him i s o f
n e c e s s i t y a p e r c e p t i o n o f t h e m a t e r i a l , p h y s i c a l , and o b j e c t i v e w o rld .
P o r him " t h e m a t e r i a l a s p e c t o f t h e Logos i s f i r e . " The f i r e " r e p r e s e n ts
f o r H e r a c l i t u s t h e h i g h e s t and p u r e s t form o f m a t t e r . . . o r r a t h e r s o u l
a n d m ind th e m s e lv e s , w h ich i n a m ore a d v an c e d ( s i c ) t h i n k e r w o u ld b e

o
d i s t i n g u i s h e d fro m any m a t t e r w h a ts o e v e r ." I t i s d i f f i c u l t f o r me t o
a c c e p t a s a p p l i c a b l e t o H e r a c l i t u s t h e b a s i c p re m is e o f " m a tte r " w hich
G u th rie assum es tim e a n d tim e a g a in i n h i s s tu d y .
G u t h r i e , th e n a s I r e a d h im , i s so im bued w ith a c e r t a i n
p h y s i c a l a n d e m p i r i c a l p o i n t o f v iew t h a t h e can t h i n k o f t h e fra g m e n ts
i n n o o t h e r t e r m s , a n d a lth o u g h h e a d m its f r e e l y t h a t w hat H e r a c l i t u s
h a s t o s a y a b o u t " m a tte r " h a s n o th in g a t a l l t o do w ith w h at we c o n s id e r
t o b e m a t t e r , h e n o n e th e l e s s p ro c e e d s t o a p p ro a c h H e r a c l i t u s in
m a t e r i a l t e r m s , d iv i d i n g t h e p ro b le m u n n a t u r a l l y i n t o m a t e r i a l and
s p iritu a l c h a ra c te ris tic s . I f H e r a c l i t u s spoke i n te rm s o f m a t t e r ,
th e n a s c i e n t i f i c i n t e r p r e t a t i o n w ould b e i n good o r d e r ; i f n o t , th e n
a n o n - m a t e r i a l i s t i c v ie w p o in t i s c a l l e d f o r . I n any c a s e , i t i s
d i f f i c u l t in d e e d t o s e e t h e r e a l v a lu e o f G u th rie * s a n a l y s i s . The
d ichotom y h e e s t a b l i s h e s was e v en on h i s own a d m is sio n unknown t o
H e ra c litu s . M o re o v er, G u th rie seem s in c a p a b le o f t e l l i n g u s t h e
m eaning o f H e r a c l i t e a n th o u g h t a s a phenomenon i n i t s e l f , a lth o u g h
h e does te n d t o a s k t h e c o r r e c t q u e s t i o n s — e . g . "Wnat do es lo g o s
m ean?" H is e x p l i c a t i o n o f th e fra g m e n ts i n te rm s o f harm ony a s a

" s t a t e o f p r e c a r i o u s e q u ilib r iu m " b etw een " f o r c e s " / * i n te rm s o f
e m p ir ic a l o b s e rv a tio n ,^ ® i n te rm s o f a m a t e r i a l i s m w hich " H e r a c litu s
h a d t h e i n t e l l i g e n c e t o p e r c e iv e an d t h e c o u ra g e t o a s s e r t " i n h i s
d o c t r i n e o f u n i n t e r r u p t e d f l u x , ^ an d i n te rm s o f t h e la c k o f l o g i c a l
12
c o n s is te n c y , i s to o o b v io u s ly an a v o id a n c e o f an y com prehensive
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f H e r a c l i t u s — a ty p e o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n I s h a l l
e n d e a v o r i n my own s u b s e q u e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o t h e n a tu r e o f t h e
fr a g m e n ts .
The se c o n d s c h o o l, i f a n y th in g te n d s t o e r r on t h e s i d e o f
o v e r g e n e r a l i t y and a d i s t i n c t p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l s ta n c e s
o f German I d e a lis m . I tw a s .S c h le ie r m a c h e r who f i r s t d e a l t w ith
H e r a c l i t u s i n a co m p reh en siv e s e n s e . H is book i s an e x c e l l e n t
c r i t i c i s m o f t h e s o u rc e s o f t h e fra g m e n ts t h a t l i s t s e a c h g e n u in e
fra g m e n t o f H e r a c lite a n d o c tr i n e a s h e s e e s i t w ith com mentary and
tra n s la tio n .
13 - He does n o t i n s i s t on t h e s t r i c t i p s i s s i m a v e r b a .
h o w e v er, a s does D i e l s , an d t h e r e f o r e h a s o n ly made a c o l l e c t i o n o f
p o s s i b l e H e r a c l i t e a n i d e a s — a lth o u g h , a s L a s s a l l e s a y s , w ith h ig h
lU
c r itic a l a b ility . H is commentary i s n o t e x c e e d in g ly u s e f u l f o r o u r
p u rp o se s. H e g el i s fu n d a m e n ta lly more i n t e r e s t i n g on t h e q u e s tio n
b e c a u s e o f t h e re m a rk a b le s i m i l a r i t y b e tw ee n h i s own l o g i c a l p ro c e s s e s
and th o s e o f H e r a c l i t u s h im s e lf . H is e x p o s i t i o n o f H e r a c l i t u s '
p h i l o s o p h i c a l c o n te n t i s g iv e n i n and f o r h i s own te rm s and c o n c e p ts ,
a n d t h e form o f a n a l y s i s i s , t h e r e f o r e , r a t h e r l i k e A r i s t o t l e 's i n

129
M etap h y sics A. B u t H e g e l's e x p o s it io n p o s s e s s e s one d i s t i n c t a d v a n ta g e
o v e r t h a t o f t h e f i r s t s c h o o l— a l s o , a s I h a v e show n, g iv e n i n i t s
own t e r n s and c o n c e p ts — i n t h a t H e g e l i s c a p a b le o f c l a r i f y i n g a
%%
m ethod o r s t r u c t u r e o f th o u g h t t h a t l i e s b e h in d t h e fra g m e n ts i n
g e n e r a l r a t h e r th a n m e re ly a s e l e c t g ro u p o f them — a d i s t i n c t c r i t i c a l
a d v a n ta g e . I t i s p e rh a p s u n f o r t u n a t e , h o w e v e r, t h a t H e g e lia n l o g i c a l
n o tio n s w ere n o t a b i t more c o n c r e te o r g r a p h ic i n an a r t i s t i c s e n s e
a n d h e n ce m ore sy m b o lic a s I h av e u s e d t h e te rm .
" B e i H e r a k l i t i s t a l s o z u e r s t d ie p h ilo s o p h is c h e Id e e i n
i h r e r s p e k u la tiv e n Form a n z u t r e f f e n . . . . H i e r se h e n v i r Land; es i s t
k e in Sat.z d e s H e r a k l i t , den i c h n i c h t i n m eine L ogik aufgenommen.
H e g el e v i d e n t l y s e e s h i s own l o g i c i n t h a t o f H e r a c l i t u s — t h a t i s a
s i m i l a r h i e r a r c h i c a l and h e u r i s t i c movement t h a t i s s t r u c t u r e d upon
a d i a l e c t i c o f o p p o s ite s ( G egenst& nde) . As h e s a y s , i n H e r a c lit u s
t h e r e i s a s p e c u l a t i v e m ethod o f th o u g h t t h a t i s c a p a b le o f d e a l i n g
v a l i d l y w ith Becom ing a s w e l l a s w ith t h e O n e.“ ^ T h e re e x i s t s a
" t r u t h o f becom ing" w hose p rim a ry c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i s i t s o p p o s i t i o n a l
n a tu r e — a n a t u r e t h a t a llo w s t h e p r e s e n c e on an e q u a l b a s i s o f B ein g
and N o t-B e in g .
17 H e g e l, a s I read, h im , h a s u n c o v e re d t h e m ost
p e r t i n e n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f H e r a c l i t e a n th o u g h t: t h e s t r u c t u r e o f an
o p p o s itio n a l l o g i c d iv o r c e d fro m , b u t r e g u l a t i n g e n t i r e l y , t h e
ob iec+ .iv e w o rld o f n a iv e s e n s e p e r c e p t i o n .

130
H e g e l a l s o r e f u s e s t o d e a l w ith H e r a c l i t u s a s an " o b s c u re "
p h ilo s o p h e r . C r i t i c s a s e a r l y a s C ic e ro h av e argued, on t h e s i d e o f
o b s c u r i t y ( De H a t. D eo r. 1 .2 6 ; II I .lU ; De F i n i b . I I . 5 ) . H e g e l, i n
a r a t h e r d e l i g h t f u l v a y , h o w e v er, t a k e s t h i s v ie w t o t a s k . He
a s s e r t s t h a t an yone who a rg u e s t h a t H e r a c li w a +.» obs cursly*
i n t e n t i o n c o n t r i b u t e s n o th in g t o t h e u n d e r s ta n d in g o f t h e p ro b le m
l8
and. r e v e a l s , i f a n y th in g , t h e s h a llo w n e s s o f h i s own m in d . H egel
fa c e s H e r a c litu s s q u a re ly ; o th e r s seem p ro n e t o e x c u s e .
I t seem s t o me p o s s i b l e t o a rg u e t h a t b o th H e g el and
H e r a c l i t u s com prehend t h e w o rld from a s p e c u l a t i v e p o i n t o f view
t h a t s u g g e s ts t h e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l re a lm b e tw e e n s u b j e c t i v e an d
i o b j e c t i v e r e a l i t y I h a v e d e s c r ib e d i n a p r e v io u s c h a p t e r ( s u p r a p p .
9 -1 0 ). H ence t h e r e i s a l i k e l i h o o d o f s t r o n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s
b e tw ee n t h e H e g e lia n V e m u n ft and t h e H e r a c l i t e a n i d e a o f p h r o n e s i s .
Q lo f G igon tw e n t y - f i v e y e a r s ago i n d i c a t e d t h a t h e t o o a p p r e c i a t e d
t h e s u b j e c t i v e q u a l i t y o f p h r o n e s is . He c a l l s i t t h e H e r a c l i t i c
„ „ ig
s u b je k tiv e K o rre la t . H e g el e n d e a v o rs t o d e s c r i b e t h e in c o r p o r a t io n
o f t h e o b j e c t i v e w o rld i n t o t h e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l s t a t e o f c o n s c io u s n e s s
i n te rm s o f human e x p e r ie n c e : " e x p e r ie n c e i s c a l l e d t h i s v e r y p r o c e s s
b y w hich t h e e le m e n t t h a t i s im m e d ia te , u n e x p e r ie n c e d .. . e x t e r n a l i z e s
i t s e l f [ i . e . i s r f e l t h y t h e s u b j e c t as. " e x t e r n a l t o h i m s e l f " ] , a n d th e n
ccmes b a c k t o i t s e l f from t h i s s t a t e o f e s tr a n g e m e n t, a n d b y so
d o in g i s a t l e n g t h s e t f o r t h i n i t s c o n c r e te n a t u r e and r e a l t r u t h ,

131
20
a n d becom es t o o a p o s s e s s io n o f c o n s c io u s n e s s . T h ere i s th e n some
i n d i c a t i o n t h a t p h r o n e s is i s f o r H e g e l, a s I s h a l l sh o v i t i s f o r
H e r a c l i t u s , a l o g i c a l way o f t h i n k i n g s t r u c t u r e d on o p p o s itio n an d
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e b e s t m in d s . I t i s i n d i c a t i v e o f m a n 's t r u e
c h a r a c t e r — h i s e th o s t h a t i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r i n s t a n c e i s t h e i o n . ( 7 8 ) .
H e g e l p h r a s e s i t t h i s w ay: "man i s e x p l i c i t l y man o n ly i n t h e fo rm
o f d e v e lo p e d an d c u l t i v a t e d r e a s o n , w h ich h a d made i t s e l f t o b e w h at
i t i s i l l i c i t l y . " 21
One c o u ld a l s o im p u te an a r i s t o c r a t i c o r h i e r a r c h i c a l
o r d e r in g o f c o n s c io u s n e s s t o b o th m en. I n b o th t h e r e i s a jo u rn e y
to w a rd s some k in d o f t o t a l c o m p re h e n sio n . Y e t, t h e acknow ledgem ent
o f t h i s " jo u r n e y " - m u s t e n t a i l a l s o t h e H e g e lia n and H e r a c l ite a n
e m p h asis u p cm "becom ing" o r "W erden" s i n c e any movement i n a w are n e ss
n e c e s s ita te s th e concept o f change. As I s h a l l sh o v s u b s e q u e n tly ,
H e r a c l i t u s b e l i e v e d t h a t man moves fro m an u n c o n sc io u s s t a t e ( a
c o n d itio n o f k a th e u d o n ) to w a rd s a co m p reh en sio n o f t h e s t a t e t h a t
i s s t r u c t u r e d by t h e L o g o s. T h is movement i s o n e form ed upon
o p p o s ite s .
The sy m b o lic q u a l i t i e s o f t h e l o g i c o f o p p o s itio n w ere
exam ined b y H e g e l's p u p i l , F e rd in a n d L a s s a l l e . I t was h e vho a rg u e d
t h a t a num ber o f w ords fo u n d i n H e r a c l i t u s a r e i n f a c t sym bols f o r

22 —
t h e o o u c p rx u c x p x e o r x d e a . n r e , n m e , iri o w ing, e t c . a l l r e p r e s e n t
i n th e m s e lv e s a u n i t y made up o f a ty p e o f o p p o s i t i o n a l p r o c e s s

132
23
betw een B ein g an d N o t-B e in g . L a s s a l l e f i n d s t h e s e sym bols o f a
2k
re lig io u s n a tu re . ( I s h a l l e v e n tu a l ly a rg u e t h a t th e y w ere
o r i g i n a l l y l i t e r a r y o r p o e t i c . ) B u t h e a l s o c o n c e iv e s o f them i n
%*
l o g i c a l t e r m s , and t h i s i s h i s im p o r ta n t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o o u r own
u n d e r s ta n d in g o f H e r a c l i t u s . F o r L a s s a l l e t h e s e v a r io u s l i t e r a r y
o r r e l i g i o u s sym bols r e p r e s e n t i n l o g i c a l te rm s phenomena a s s o c i a t e d
w ith a c e r t a i n ty p e o f p e r c e p tio n t h a t fo rm a p a r t o f a l a r g e r d i a l e c t i c
d i r e c t e d to w a rd s w hat I s h o u ld c a l l t h e co m p reh en sio n o f t h e u n d e r ly in g

25
Logos i t s e l f . A d m itte d ly t h e l o g i c o f I d e a li s m i s s p e a k in g to o
s t r o n g l y i n L a s s a lle * s a n a l y s i s , b u t i t i s im p o r ta n t t h a t t h e sy m b o lic
a s w e l l a s t h e s t r u c t u r a l n a t u r e o f H e r a c l i t e a n th o u g h t i s s t r e s s e d
h e re . L a s s a l l e h a s e n d e a v o re d t o p l a c e c e r t a i n sy m b o lic phenomena
i n t o a l o g ! c a l c o n t e s t t h a t im p lie s somehow a p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l g ro u n d
o f human c o m p re h e n sio n , and w h ile t h e H e g e lia n i n f l u e n c e s a r e o b v io u s ,
i t seem s t o me t h a t b o th H e g el and h e h a v e i n d i c a t e d t h e c e n t r a l
f e a t u r e o f H e r a c l i t u s a s we hav e him i n o u r p r e s e n t c o l l e c t i o n o f
f r agment s .
I t i s , t h e n , t h e s t r u c t u r e and sym bol o f H e r a c l ite a n l o g i c
t h a t i n t e r e s t s H e g e l, L a s s a l l e , and u s . To b e g in w i t h , b o th Germans
d e s c r ib e an o p p o s i t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r t h a t i s a l l - i n c l u s i v e b u t n o t
s t a t i c — t h a t i s , o p p o s ite s a r e n o t a s im p le x / - x b u t an " I d e n t i t & t d e s

2^
W d d erstreb en d en ” . " H e g e lia n an d H e r a c l ite a n o p p o s ite s a r e n o t , t h e n ,
o p p o s ite s on one p la n e o f th o u g h t o r c o n s c io u s n e s s a s th e y a r e f o r

133
someone who m ig h t s e e l o g i c v o r k in g l i n e a r l y and m a th e m a tic a lly
w i t h i n t h e fram ew ork o f o b j e c t i v e s e n s e p e r c e p t i o n — a fram ew ork
wh i c h I t h i n k t o H e g el w ould b e b a s e d on U i c h t s e i n and t o H e r a c l i t u s
on k a th e u d o n . I t i s t h e h i e r a r c h i c a l movement o f o p p o s i t e s , t h e
h e u r i s t i c l o g i c t h a t c o n tin u a l3 y p u t s phenom ena i n t o c o r r e l a t e d
a p p o s i t i o n s , t h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e s b o th m e n 's th o u g h t— a n d , f o r t h a t
m a t t e r , a s we r e v e a le d i n o u r e x a m in a tio n o f t h e H om eric Hymn, t h e
a r c h a ic m e n t a l i t y t o o .
The tw o a r e a s o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n I h av e d e s c r ib e d above
i n d i c a t e t h a t a t h i r d p o i n t o f v ie w mi p i t s o l v e t h e dilewma. o f a
c e r t a i n o v e rly —s c i e n t i f i c p h ilo lo g y on t h e one h an d t h a t c a n n o t s e e
t h e f o r e s t f o r t h e t r e e s and o f a c e r t a i n o v e r ly i d e a l i s t i c p h ilo s o p h y
on t h e o t h e r t h a t s e e s t h e f o r e s t b u t n e g l e c t s t h e t r e e s . I am
r e f e r r i n g t o t h e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l v ie w to w a rd s w hich men l i k e H eg el
and L a s s a l l e a d m itte d ly p o i n t b u t do n o t a c t u a l l y encom pass— one
b a s e d cn t h e sy m b o lic and s t r u c t u r a l p r i n c i p l e s I h av e p r e v io u s ly
s e t f o r th (su p ra p p . lO ff. ).
C o n se q u e n tly I w is h t o t u r n t o Hermann F r e n k e l who h e s , i n
my o p i n io n , opened t h e f i e l d f o r t h e p r e s e n t s tu d y . On t h e one hand
h e h a s shown h im s e lf t o be w i t h i n t h e l i n e s s e t b y H eg el and L a s s a l l e .
F o r him t h e Logos i s " d e r S in n und Grund d e r W e lt. He a s s e r t s th e
"■night" i n 57 r e p r e s e n t s f o r him t h e s u b s t a n t i v e g ro u n d o f b o t h ;
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e c o p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

t h e i r o p p o s itio n im p lie s t h i s u n i t y . From a n a n a l y s i s o f t h i s
o p p o s itio n F rS n k e l p i n p o i n t s t h e m ean in g o f t h e dynam ic r e l a t i o n s h i p
b etw een t h e tw o o p p o s i t e s : "Dem Urnsc h i ag von N a ch t zu T a g , und von
Tag zu H a c h t, i h r w e c h s e l s e i t i g e s E n ts te h n a u s e in a n d e r u n d V ergehn i n
pA
e in a n d e r . i s t d e r Grund i h r e s D a s e is s and d e r I n h a l t i h r e s S e i n s .
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , F rS n k e l h a s come upon t h e s t r u c t u r e o f H e r a c lite a n
th o u g h t i n a much c l e a r e r and s im p le r m anner t h a n H e g e l.
T h is d is c o v e r y came t o l i g h t i n t h e A m erican J o u r n a l o f
P h ilo lo g y i n 1938 w ith an a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d "A T hought P a t t e r n i n
H e ra c litu s " . The argum ent was t h a t b e h in d t h e fra g m e n ts t h e r e l a y
a t r a n s c e n d e n t a l l o g i c , an i n d i r e c t means o f e x t r a p o l a t i o n whose
form E rS n k e l c a l l e d " t h e d e v ic e o f t h e d o u b le p r o p o r t i o n " . The
p a t t e r n was e x p re s s e d —w ith t h e r e s e r v a t i o n t h a t i t was o n ly lo o s e l y
m a th e m a tic a l—a s A:B::B:C. Of t h e s e v e r a l fra g m e n ts u s e d to . i l l u s t r a t e
t h i s l o g i c - i n c l u d i n g t h e t h e r e t o f o r e r a t h e r p u z z li n g 52— th e c l e a r e s t
exam ple was p ro b a b ly 79 (&vnp \rn7i>,oq S ctp cv cq
n a lq np8q & v8poq). Fr& nkel c o n s id e r e d t h a t h e r e w e re r e v e a le d t h r e e
p la n e s — God, m an, an d c h i l d (A , B, an d C ). I n t h e t r a n s i t i o n s from
A t o B and B t o C t h e d e g re e o f p e r f e c t i o n d e c r e a s e d an d t h e d e g re e
o f im p e r f e c tio n i n c r e a s e d i n e q u a l m e a s u re . A n o th e r exam ple o f t h i s
p r o p o r tio n l i e s i n t h e G od/m an/ape c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f 82 a n d 8 3 . The
" g e o m e tr ic a l mean" i n b o th exam ples i s m an. t h e phenomenon w ith whom
F r i n k e l th o u g h t H e r a c l i t u s was e s p e c i a l l y c o n c e rn e d . I s h a ll deal

135
m ore c l o s e l y w ith t h e s e l o g i c a l an d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a l p ro b le m s
la te r.
F r& n k el saw t h a t i n h i s h i e r a r c h i c a l y e t n o n m y s t i c a l ^ mode
o f th i n k i n g — a mode c e r t a i n l y c o n so n a n t w ith h i s own c h a r a c t e r —
H e r a c l i t u s came down h e a v i l y i n f a v o r o f n o t o n ly n a n ’ s s p i r i t u a l
n a t u r e b u t a l s o man h im s e lf w hose v e ry f o o t c o u ld b l o t o u t t h e su n
b u t c o u ld n o t , w a n d e rin g i n any d i r e c t i o n , r e a c h t h e l i m i t s o f t h e
30
liv in g s o u l. " L o g ic " , t h e r e f o r e , s e e n i n t h e s e s t r u c t u r a l te r m s ,
becam e f o r H e r a c l i t u s a s u p r a p e r s o n a l p o w er, b o th common a n d u n i v e r s a l ,
th ro u g h w hose a g en c y man c o u ld r i s e i n t o a h ig h e r s t a t e o f c o m p re h en sio n .
I n s h o r t , i t w as F r& nkel*s argum ent t h a t th ro u g h a p a r t i c u l a r l o g i c a l
d e v ic e , H e r a c l i t u s e x p r e s s e d t h e hope f o r man’ s h i e r a r c h i c a l a sc e n d an c e
i n t o a m ore c o m p le te c o n s c io u s n e s s . I n my f o llo w in g d i s c u s s i o n o f
t h e s t r u c t u r e o f H e r a c l i t e a n th o u g h t, I am h ig h ly in d e b te d t o F r& n k e l's
d is c o v e r y o f 1 9 3 8 .
i t i s b y n o means an e a s y t a s k t o a p p ro a c h H e r a c l i t u s w ith
any a s s u r e d c r i t i c a l ju d g m e n t. The fra g m e n ta ry n a t u r e o f t h e
e v id e n c e a llo w s f o r s e v e r a l p l a u s i b l e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s — e s p e c i a l l y
i f t h e r e b e n o e n d e a v o r on t h e p a r t o f t h e c r i t i c t o i n c o r p o r a t e a s
many o f t h e fra g m e n ts a s p o s s i b l e i n t o some ty p e o f co m p re h en siv e
w h o le . C o n s e q u e n tly , m aking u s e o f c e r t a i n phenom ena I h a v e d e v e lo p e d

136
i n t h i s s tu d y p r e v i o u s l y , my c a t e g o r i e s o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n a r e d e s ig n e d
t o h e a s s im p le a n d , a t t h e same t i m e , as c o m p reh en siv e a s p o s s i b l e .
I h a v e i s o l a t e d t h e fo llo w in g g ro u p s w ith a d m itte d c r o s s r e f e r e n c e :
( l ) t h e d e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h e Logos (2 ) t h e n o n -o b v io u s n a t u r e o f t h e
re a lm o f t h e Logos (3 ) t h e d e s c r i p t i o n s , c o n s e q u e n tly , o f a S u b je c tiv e
I n n e r C ore t h a t e s t a b l i s h e s man a s a m e a su re o r g ro u n d o f * n th i n g s
(U) t h e l o g i c a l sym bols t h a t a r e c l e a r l y g ro u n d e d i n t h e l y r i c and
e p ic l i t e r a t u r e we h a v e exam ined p r e v i o u s l y (5 ) t h e l o g i c a l o p p o s itio n
and t e n s e d p o l a r i t y t h a t may c u lm in a te i n (a ) a r a t h e r s o p h i s t i c
p a ra d o x o r p l a y on w ords o r (b ) a t h r e e - te r m e d o r p r o p o r t i o n a l l o g i c —
e i t h e r s u b - c a te g o r y r e p r e s e n t s t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e Logos i t s e l f . My
b a s i c a p p ro a c h w i l l b e a g a in i n te rm s o f s t r u c t u r e and sym bol. .
W hat may b e s a i d i n a g e n e r a l way a b o u t t h e Logos? It
p o s s e s s e s s t r o n g p s y c h o lo g i c a l o v e r to n e s . I t i s a phenomenon
a c c o r d in g t o w h ic h a l l t h i n g s come i n t o b e in g (yLvojisvcuv y ap ndvxcov
x o ra x6v X6yov x 6 v 5 e - , . . l ) and makes i t s e l f known t o men— a t l e a s t
th o s e who a r e c a p a b le o f u n d e r s ta n d in g i t — i n te rm s o f w ords and
d eed s w h ich H e r a c l i t u s h a s ta k e n upon h i m s e l f t o s e t o u t i n some
d e ta il ( . . . [avSpconou] neupdn-evou x a t i n eosv x a t epywv tolootcov,
6xouov fcyw ScrjyeutxaL x ax a cpuouv 6taupecov exacrrov x a t <ppa£cov 8xcoq
S x ct - l ) . The phenomenon i s a l s o common i n c o n t r a d i s t i n c t i o n t o

31
p r i v a t e an d a p p l i e s d i r e c t l y t o a man’ s p h r o n S s is . The Logos i s ,
h e n c e , a p s y c h o lo g i c a l phenom enon, d e e p ly - r o o te d and dynam ic. The

137
P sy ch e h a s n o l i m i t s , f o r i n s t a n c e , b e c a u s e i t p o s s e s s e s th e dynamism
o f t h e Logos s o d e e p ly ( • • • o&xcd pa9ov Xfryov eyee — +VXTS fcort
Xfrpoq la o rftv a 5 £ w v -1 1 5 ). Men, when a s s o c i a t e d w ith t h e L o g o s, a r e
s e p a r a t e d from t h e day t o day w o rld so t h a t i t som etim es a p p e a rs
s t r a n g e t o then:— t h a t i s , phenomena i n t h e o b j e c t i v e , m a t e r i a l w o rld
do n o t alw ays seem t o r e f l e c t t h e fo rm a l a n d h o l i s t i c n a tu r e o f th e
Logos ($ paXcoxa ScnvexSq fen-uXouox Xoy^> t 5 -ra oXa S u o u x o u v ri. •roup^ duct-
O e p o v ra t, x a t o tq x a 0 * +)jiepav Taura. afrco tq £ ev a <patveTac - 72 ) .
Qae o f t h e m o st d i s t i n c t i v e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e Logos i s i t s
h o l i s t i c c h a r a c t e r — t h a t i s , i t i s o n e and m akes a l l th i n g s one (o 6x
fcpoo dXXa to o Xoyoo dxoooavraq 6îoXoy&tv oo<pov feortv ev u d v ra e t v a t

32
-5 0 ). Hor i s t h e Logos w ith o u t i t s r e l i g i o u s s i d e , f o r t h e One
t h a t a lo n e i s w is e may b e c a l l e d b y t h e name o f Z eus i n one o f i t s
form s (e v t & oocpov pouvov \e y s o 9 a u o6x iG eX et x a t feOeXet Zrjvdq ovopa

33
-3 2 ). T h is w is e One i s s e p a r a te d fro m a l l t h i n g s ( . . . 0090V i o r t
aavTtav xcvuptctuevov -108)= M o reo v er, t h i s One h a s so m eth in g t o do
w i t h t h e know ledge o f a judgm en t o r o p in io n (yv&pr\) c o n c e rn in g how
•11 th i n g s a r e g u id e d th ro u g h a l l t h i n g s ( e t v a t y a p t v xfc oo<p6 v ,
fcntotaoQ at Yv&pr)v # ^ XT1 x u g e p v ax a t n a v ra 5 ta navtcov - U l ) . T h e re i s ,
i n o t h e r w o rd s , some s o r t o f m ethod o r s t r u c t u r e in v o lv e d i n ' t h e

3X
c o n c e p t. The L o g o s, t h i s O ne, i s in h e r e n t i n e v e r y t h i n g , l i e s
b e h in d c h a n g e , and assum es an o p p o s i t i o n a l n a t u r e i n n o n - o b je c tiv e
r e a l i t y o f w hich-w e s h a l l s p e a k l a t e r ( 1:06x 6 x* eve £Ssv x a l x e 6vr]x6 <;

138
x a t [ t 5] iypiyyopdq x a l xa6eu5ov x a l veov x a t yTjpacov* xaSe y ap
(iexaneo6vra i x e l v a i o r t xdxeuva naX tv (icxantoovT a T a u ra - 8 8 ) .
O bedience t o i t s c o u n s e l i n t h e re a lm o f s o c i a l an d p o l i t i c a l l i f e
i s nem os. ( v6uoc x a t pouX^j n etd eo O at iv o q -3 3 )* T h is nomos m ust b e
d e fe n d e d j u s t a s o n e 's own c i t y . A ll men s p e a k in g w ith nous m ust p u t '
f ir m t r u s t i n t h i s common, o m n ip o te n t phenom enon, j u s t a s t h e c i t y
does i n la w . T h is nemos i s , i n f a c t , above a l l p o l i t i c a l l a v . (|jLaxso6ai.
r&v Srfliov bnsp t o o vopoo Sx&xmep T6txcoq-U U ; £uv vocg Xeyovraq
laxuptêoQaL xP^J £ov§ navrtcv, 8xcoanep vopug noXtq, xat noXu
toxopOTcpccq. rp e o o v ra i. yap n a v rs c o t dvG om netot v o u o t bn6 ivoq too
6 eto o * x p a re u y ap ro o o u ro v 6x6oov iSeX ec x a t i£ a p x e l naac xat

35
n e p ty tv e ra u - l l U ) . The m ost im p o r ta n t q u a l i t y o f t h e Logos i s ,
h o w ev er, i t s e x tre m e po w er: i t i s o m n ip re s e n t; i t i s im p o s s ib le t o
a v o id (t& h-?) 5 ovov n o re nwq av x iq X a0ot* - 1 6 ) .
T h e re i s , m o re o v e r, a n o th e r s i d e t o t h e Logos v h ic h d e a ls
w ith v h a t v a r io u s p e o p le have t o s a y and h e n ce e x h i b i t s d e c id e d
l i n g u i s t i c o v e r to n e s . W hile i t m ig h t in d e e d b e a rg u e d t h a t t h i s s i d e
r e p r e s e n t s an e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t u s e o f t h e w o rd , i t i s p o s s i b l e t o
o b s e rv e a p a r t i c u l a r c o n n e c tio n b etw een w h at a p e rs o n s a y s and! t h e
u n d e r ly in g l o g i c a l phenomenon w ith w h ich H e r a c l i t u s d e a l s . A cco rd in g
t o H e r a c l i t u s a lo g o s h a s so m eth in g t o do w ith w h at p e o p le s a y o r
h e ar: " a s t u p i d man i s w ont t o b e a l l a f l u t t e r a t e v e ry lo g o s " ( p \a £
fivQpconoq i n i n a v r l Xoyw irtTOtpQa l <puXel - 8 7 ) ; " i n P ir e n e was b o rn
f
139
B ia s s e n o f Teutames whose logos is more than the others” (tv
n p c fjv T j Btaq fc y e v s T O 6 Teorancw, o«5 nXeCoov Xoyoq ^ tujv aXXwv -39);
" o f a s many (men) a s I h e a r l o g o i fro m , n o -o n e comes t o t h i s , so a s

m %
to know that oo<p6v is separated from all (6x6otov X6yooq tptouoa o&Selq
S q <CwvtW| CiXTTS 'f*i»VujuX5i.V uTi. CC<p£v LoxI iiavT U V XS)£COp LCTJiSVOV
-1 0 8 ) . The f i r s t comment one may make i s t h a t t h e l o g o i i n t h e s e
t h r e e c a s e s a r e q u a l i t a t i v e phenomena— t h a t i s , same lo g o i a r e b e t t e r
th a n o th e rs . They a r e b e t t e r b e c a u s e th e y te n d t o d e s c r ib e o r
com m unicate t h e c o n d itio n o f t h e L ogos. H e r a c l i t u s h im s e lf h a s
com prehended t h a t i t i s " s e p a r a te d from a l l " . I am i n c l i n e d t o
a r g u e , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t lo g o s h e r e i s some s o r t o f e x p la n a tio n o f
t h i n g s a n d t h a t t h e c o n n e c tio n b etw een t h i s " e x p la n a tio n " and t h e
Logos i t s e l f c o u ld p o s s i b l y hav e so m eth in g t o do w i t h th e s t r u c t u r e
o r i n t e n t o f t h i s e x p la n a tio n — i . e . , how o p p o s i t i o n a l o r a r i s t o c r a t i c
i n n a tu re i t v a s . T h e re i s some e v id e n c e , f o r e x a m p le , t h a t i t was
B ia s who u t t e r e d f i r s t th e " H e r a c lite a n " a p h o rism t h a t t h e many a r e
b a d an d t h e few good ( o t noXXot x a x o t fiX tyot 5s dyaG ot -lO U , C f. D ie ls
V o rs . 1 . 1 0 . 6 . 1 f o r t h e a b b r e v ia te d s ta te m e n t o f B i a s ) . The a r i s t o c r a t i c
i n t e n t i s c l e a r , an d i f in d e e d t h e p o i n t may b e p r e s s e d t o t h e e x te n t
t h a t t h e s e c o n d h a l f o f t h e fra g m e n t i s B i a s ' t o o , th e n t h e w hole
o p p o s i t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e o f H e r a c lit e a n th o u g h t i s p r e s e n t . One c o u ld
t h e n a rg u e t h a t i t was t h e " l o g i c a l " way i n w h ich B ia s e x p re s s e d
h im s e lf t h a t a t t r a c t e d H e r a c l i t u s .

I t becom es c l e a r , t h e n , fro m t h i s f i r s t g e n e r a l d i s c u s s i o n
o f t h e Logos o f H e r a c l i t u s t h a t v e a r e d e a lin g w ith a phenomenon
p e c u l i a r t o m an, one t o v h ic h man h a s a c c e s s b y h i s own p a r t i c u l a r
i n t e l l e c t i o n o r c o m p re h e n sio n . The Logos s e e s u n i t y and d i v e r s i t y
t h r e u g h ~ a s w i l l b e shown l a t e r — a n u n d e r ly in g u n i t y b y an o p p o s i t i o n a l
s t r u c t u r e w hich may come o u t i n w h at a man s a y s — p e rh a p s t h e way h e
say s i t . W hat i s m ost e v i d e n t , h o w e v e r, i s t h a t t h e r e g io n o f t h e
Logos i s n o t a lw a y s a p p a r e n t t o men; i t does n o t d e a l i n te rm s o f
w h at we s h o u ld p ro b a b ly c a l l "common s e n s e " o r t h e p u r e ly o b j e c t i v e
w o rld . I t beccm es in c u m b e n t upon H e r a c l i t u s , t h e r e f o r e , t o p o i n t o u t
t h e d i f f e r e n c e s o r d i s c r e p a n c i e s b e tw ee n t h e p h y s i c a l w o rld a n d t h e
w o rld o f t h e L o g o s.
The e a s i e s t fra g m e n ts t o g r a s p i n t h i s " e d u c a tio n a l"
c a te g o r y a r e t h o s e o f a lm o s t p u re i n v e c t i v e w hich i s p ro b a b ly t o b e
u n d e rs to o d a s d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t th o s e who h av e no lo g o s o r lo g o s o f
a n i n f e r i o r fo rm . One c o u ld s a y t h a t th e s e h o ld a " p r o t o - A r i s t o t e l i a n ”
p o i n t o f v iew t h a t does n o t d i f f e r e n t i a t e b etw een e v e ry d a y and
sy m b o lic r e a l i t y . I n any c a s e t h e r e c a n b e no d o u b t t h a t t h e s e
fra g m e n ts assum e a c e r t a i n s o c i a l o r p o l i t i c a l c o l o r . H e r a c litu s , th e
a r i s t o c r a t , d o e s n o t s h i r k fro m l a b e l i n g t h e th o u g h t o f t h e r a b b l e .
They a r e t o him donkeys who p r e f e r sw eep in g s t o g o ld — in th is c a se ,
o f c o u r s e , t h e " e o ld " o f t h e lo g o s (c v c c ^ cuppn.T* £v iXecCai. hSXXov
•fj x P °°^ v - 9 ) • A l l " a n im a ls " o f t h i s s o r t a r e " p a s tu r e d w ith a blow "

% % ■ # 37
(nov y ap fcpnerov TiXriy^ vensT ac - 1 1 ) . The r a b b l e a r e dogs who b a r k
a t th o s e th e y do n o t know (xuveq yop xaTa{3a&£ouacv an) av jxtj ytvoboxciXTt
—9 7 ) . In. t h e i r s e a r c h f o r h a p p in e s s th e y a r e c a t t l e m unching v e tc h
( S i f e l i c i t a s e s s e t i n d e l e c t a t io n ib u s c o r p o r i s , b o v e s f e l i c e s d ic e re m u s ,
cum i n v e n i s n t crcbum a d ccmedendum - ^ ) . They a r e p i g s w ho, h ap p y i n
t h e m ir e , know n o t p u r e w a te r o r a r e y a r d b i r d s (u eq j3opp6p^> Tfaovrac

V 38
(jaXXov f[ x a 0 ap § u S a r t - 1 3 ; s u e s c ae n o c o h o r ta le s av es p u lv e r e v e l
c in e re la v a r i - 3 7 ) . Upon h i s own co u n try m e n , t h o s e whom h e l i s t e d ,
n o d o u b t, among t h e s t u p i d who a r e "w ont t o b e a l l a f l u t t e r a t e v e ry
lo g o s " ( 8 7 ) , H e r a c l i t u s p i l e s e s p e c i a l s c o r n . He p ra y s f o r w e a lth t h a t
t h e w ick ed among th e m m ig h t b e c o n v ic t e d ( ixrj fentXCnot biiaq JtXouroq,
'E < p sato t, W tgeXlYXOLoOe novrjpeooixsvoi. - 1 2 5 a ) . T h e ir s i n ? To
h a v e e x p e ll e d a man b e c a u s e h e was v a l u a b l e . L et th e ir c ity be l e f t
t o b o y s , and l e t th em b e rem oved t o a man (a£ co v 'E tpeoxotq f)pT]5ov
&nay£ao0ai. hclctl x a t x o tq Avrjpotq ttjv jioXiv x a r a X tn s tv , o c f tv s q
*Epu65cooov av 5 p a feworov Avrjtcrrov i^sBcX cv y a v r s q ’ f'1p.e<xv prjSe ecq
6vqtoxoq eoTXo, e l 5 s px], aXXr] t s x a t peT* aXXcov - 1 2 1 ) . F o r H e ra c litu s
who saw t h e n e e d o f a d ep en d en ce upon t h e few who p e r c e iv e d t h e r i g h t
c o u r s e , p ro b a b ly n o t so much i n p o l i t i c s a s i n t h e c o m p reh en sio n o f
t h e Logos ( h e r e a g a in a s ta te m e n t i n one a r e a e a s i l y p o i n t s t o one
in v o lv in g h i s " l o g i c a l " c o n c e r n s ) , one man was w o rth t e n th o u s a n d i f
h e w ere t h e b e s t ( e t q i u o t u u o t o t . £av apL oroc r> -U q) . T’h e b e s t men
" ta k e one t h i n g i n p l a c e o f e v e r y th in g e l s e " — e t e r n a l fam e. The many

Ik2
a r e i n & s t a t e o f s a t i e t y l i k e f l o c k s o f a n im a ls (a tp e u v ra u y ap Ev
d v x l dnavTcov o t a p t a r o t , xXlo<; devavov O v tjtS v o t 5c noXXot x sx 6 pr]vxat
Sxaxniep xxrjvea - 2 9 ) . The d e s i r e d n a t u r e (q>6ouq) o f man i s a
phenomenon b o th h id d e n an d e x c e l l e n t (<poatq xpunxecSau cpiAe! -1 2 3 ) . ^
The b e s t men know and g u a rd t h e th i n g s t h a t a r e tr u s t w o r t h y .
R e t r i b u t i o n (A txrj) o v e r ta k e s t h o s e who do n o t ( Soxeovxa y a p 6
SoxtiidrcaTOq Y tv w o x st, <puXdooef x a t a e v r o i x a t AExr] xaxaXrpjrexaL
ijrsoSSv xcxTOvaq x a t papxupaq - 2 8 ) . The a r i s t o c r a t i c n a tu r e o f t h e
a u th o r o f t h e s e fra g m e n ts may e a s i l y b e s e e n i n h i s a t t i t u d e s to w a rd s
t h e m asses and t h e i r i n a b i l i t y t o g r a s p t h e L o g o s. T h is n a t u r e — one
t h a t alw ay s p r e f e r s t h e q u a l i t y o f an e x p e r ie n c e o r th o u g h t o v e r any
q u a n t i t y — i s a l s o in v o lv e d i n t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e th o u g h t i t s e l f .
I s h a l l a d d r e s s m y s e lf t o t h a t p o i n t s u b s e q u e n tly .
On a m ore p u r e l y i n t e l l e c t u a l p l a n e , H e r a c l i t u s i s a l s o
fo u n d on t h e a t t a c k i n b e h a l f o f t h e L o g o s. ” M u c h -le a rn in g (noXupwQt'n)
do es n o t t e a c h one t o h a v e i n t e l l i g e n c e ( e x &LV voov) f o r i t w ould
h av e t a u g h t H e s io d , P y th a g o r a s , X en o p h an es, and H e c a ta e u s ( noXupxiQCt}
v6 ov exei.v 06 SufidoxsL* *HatoSov y a p nv i6u5a£& x a t TIoQaYoprjv
a u x tq r e Eevoqsavea x e x a t ‘ E xaxatov -Uo) . P y th a g o ra s w in s t h e a lm o s t
s o p h i s t i c o p p ro b riu m o f b e in g t h e " f o u n d e r o f w r a n g le r s " (xonC 6cov
fcoxtv dpxTY0 ? - 8l ) . H e r a c l i t u s a c c u s e s H e sio d o f n o t know ing t h a t
day and n i g h t a r * one— he i s no t e a c h e r (SlSccxoX c:; 5s nXstoxsiv *MoCo5oq
xooxov fenCoxavxaL nX etoxa e tS e v a u , 8 o x t? +pepriv x a t e 6<pp6 vr]v o 6x

1U3
iY tvcooxev s o r t yoP tv - 5 7 ) . H e sio d comes u n d e r a t t a c k once a g a in
f o r n o t know ing th e e s s e n t i a l u n i t y o f each day ( ‘ Hat66w Ayvoouvtl
<pcatv tjpepaq Anaariq pitav ouoav - 1 0 6 ) . ^ The m a jo r t h i n k e r s b e fo re
H e r a c litu s a r e " s i n g e r s o f th e p e o p le " who do n o t , i n H e r a c l i t u s '
s p e c i f i c l o g i c a l s e n s e , s e e t h a t t h e o p in io n s o f t h e many a r e b ad and
th e few a r e g ood. They a r e n o t n o e tic (rc q Y&P a&rftv vooq t) <ppf)v; Srpcov
A o tb o ta t netQ ovxat x a t 6t5aoxaX ^ xP6â)v'c a ‘> 6ntX<g o6x std o x eq 8 t l 'o t
noXXoi. x ax o c, AXlyol 5e AYa0oC' -1 0 * 0 . The men p r e c e d in g H e r a c lit u s
n o t o n ly f a i l t o g ra s p t h e a r i s t o c r a t i c dependence upon t h e few who
a re c a p a b le o f com prehending t h e Logos b u t a l s o , i n c o n se q u e n c e , \ *
ig n o re t h e n o e t i c (v6uq f) q>pfjv-)-—a re a lm t h a t looms l a r g e i n any
c o n s id e r a tio n o f th e L ogos. I t i s im p o r ta n t alw ay s t o sx£<*v voov ( Uo).
C e r t a i n l y , m o re o v e r, i n so f a r a s men p a r ta k e o f r e l i g i o u s
c e re m o n ie s , th e y p a r ta k e n o t a t a l l in t h e " t r u e " i n i t i a t i o n : " th e
m y ste ry r i t e s w ith t h e i r b a c c h a n ts and maenads r e s u l t i n u n h o ly — i . e .
n o t " l o g i c a l " — i n i t i a t i o n ( voxtltiAXo l c . uAy o l c , B ax v o te. X nvatq,
g.ooxutq . . . r a yap vout£op.eva xax* AvGpamooq pooT npta Avteocoorc
po&ovxat - l U ) . B e t t e r t o p e rfo rm r i t u a l s o v e r dung th a n human b o d ie s .
The l a t t e r ty p e have no m eaning w h a tso e v e r (vexoeq y &P xojiplcov
txpXrrrorepOL - 9 6 ) . H e r a c l i t u s r a i l s a g a i n s t t h e p r o c e s s io n and p h a l l i c
hymns t o D ionysus and H ades; i f t h e a u ra o f t h e godhead d id n o t
p r e v a i l , th e w hole a f f a i r w ould b e c o m p le te ly s h a m e le ss ( e t ph Y°P
Atovootp nopjrrjv fcnotoovxo x a t Spvsov a to p a a l& o C o tc tv , A v atd eo rax a
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e c o p y rig h t o w n e r . F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n p rohib ited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

Ikk
•CpYUOT* dv» Axrroq 5e *At6rjq xal Auovoaoq, ^latvovrat xal Xrjvat-
goocnv -15). Rites have something to do vith healing (axea -6 8 ),
b u t i t i s evident that Heraclitus has another "realm" in mind as may
b e s e e n i n fragment 69 which, although not containing ipsissimg- verba..
does seem tc indicate that Heraclitus made a distinction between a
p u r e sacrifice as performed by few or only one man and ordinary

Uz
sacrifices. Pure sacrifice is almost analogical in character
i n so far as sacrifice in "logical" terms seems to have very little
t o do with the traditional action or experience ; for the traditional
b lo o d sacrifice is for Heraclitus a'doable blunder, "as if someone
stepping into mud would wash it out." Such acts are "mad" along with
prayers to statues and temples. Men involved with such insanity do
n o t know "what a sort god and heroes are" (xaBaCpovrau 6 ' aX)ug> alfuiTc
Hurtv6nevot otov et Ttq stq irrjlov itrjXqp dnovt£ca*ro. natvso6at
6 * dv 60x0 lX), et Ttq a6rov dvGpdmov LnnppdaaLTO ourto noueovra. xal
xoTc 4vd>4i"oi. 5s 'ro*j*rsoio»v euxcvtuc, ix o to v sc xcq 56ôl<jc Xsox^vs Go ltd ,
00 Tt Ytvcboxcov Gsouq 066* iipcaxq OLTtveq elou - 5) . The trappings of
religion allow man to avoid the real meaning of the Legos. They are
o f little help. Heraclitus rejects these customary approaches; they
evidently deny somehow the noetic quality of the experience.
In his search for the Logos, man must guard against a series
of pitfalls. A multiplicity of e x p e r i e n c e en d re»ct-ions yields no
insight; "it is not better for men to become as many things as they

Ifc5
w is h (dvdp& noiq Y^vcoSau 6 x 6 o a QcXouctlv o6x ap.eivov - 1 1 0 ) . Man
easily l o s e s his way ( t o o fciuXavedvonsvou • ^ +) 65o<; ay cl - 7 1 ) , f o r
nan's nature (ethos) possesses no critical judgment or means of

**
knowing (gnbme)— that is the province of the gods, or, as I shall
indicate subsequently, of an especial noetic realm within man (r]0o<i
y a p dv9pwnei.ov jiev o6x ex& t 0 clo v 6e exs< - - 7 8 ) . Many escape
knowing by disbelief (dnuorcq 6 ta(poYY&veL prj Y>-Yvôxea0au — 8 6 )—
evidently again following other inconsequential paths on which he
staggers like some drunk led by a boy. His psyche is "wet"--that
is, it is not being properly used. It loses the properties of fire
snd is therefore disfunctional. Man's critical faculties are debauched
(&v?p 6 x£rav iie0 oo0Tj# &Y6Tat bn& natSdq &vf){3ou otpa\\6 (j.svo<;, o6x
fcsatajv &TO} patvcu, i>YPnv t t jv lfuxnv &x“v -117). Men generally are an
uni magi native lot. They cannot fancy the underlying relationship
between ultimate opposites: e.g. life and death; for many it is far
better to conceal their real lack of understanding of the Logos.
Perhaps Heraclitus believes that in this way they will not lead others
onto the paths of disbelief (dv0pcbnooq jievet dnoGavovraq aaaa o6x
sXnovrak o65s' Soxsoootv -27; &pa9ltjv yop anetvov xpOnrcuv -95).
Large numbers do not comprehend in terms of their phrgn "logical"
phenomena even when they encounter them, and having learned or been
told, still have net really comprehended, although they fa n c y they
have (06 y&P <ppoveooau TOtaura noXXot, 6 xooot iYxupeuatv, o&6 e
pa06vxEq Ytv&oxouatv, loiurotau 6c 6oxcouat -17).

Ib6
In another group of fragments Heraclitus seems to point to
man's perception of the world as his most faulty, yet potentially most
reliable, possession. Man's best perception possesses strong
psychological overtones. His ambivalence towards perception indicates
what could very possibly be a reliance upon what I have described as
"symbolic perception”. The symbols are certainly there, as I s h a l l
show below, and from what Heraclitus has to say about perception,
I think one can conclude that the context for these symbols in present
too. He sees man ’’deceived by the knowledge of Visible things"
(i^rjnaTrjvTaL o t avOp&moi. nodq *rf)v yv&atv tSv pavcoasv... 56). Homer,
for instance, was deceived— even though he was the cleverest of all
>
the H ellen es—-b y a sim ple paradox concerning c h ild ren and l i c e ( . . .
napan\T)CTL£oq'Qurf]pî, 8q fcyevcTO -m>v *EXXtjvcov oocp&repoq ndvrcov.
fcxelvov Te yap nalScq <p0etpaq xaTaxxecvovreq fe^TjndTrjoav elndvTeq *
Sou etSouev xal £Xdpop,cv, raura dnoXe£nop,ev, ooa 5e oore ctbojiev our'
fcXaponev, Taura pepouev -56).^ Man's eyes and ears deceive if the
psyche or the phenomenological ground is barbarian— that is, not
working properly (xaxol tidprupcq dvSpobjiotauv dxpOaXôl xal cora
paopdpouq \iraxaq fexovrcov -107). Sense perception in its most
uncomplicated sense is clearly rejected by Heraclitus: "if all
things that a^*e were smoke, nostrils would distinguish them" (cl

a a v ra m 6\rra xanvoq y s v o l t o jbtveq av Stayvotcv -T)• The point is,
of course, that gnosis (StaYvotcv) is hardly in the nose nor in any
of the five senses. It is someplace else. People "hear" yet do not
"understand1*; they, the deaf, are at the same time "present" and
"absent" (d£oveTos, dxouoavTsq xaxpototv toCxciCL • <paT:.q a6rctc:.v
Hapropel Ttapeovraq dnetvac -3*0. They know n e ith e r how t o l i s t e n nor
how t o s p e a k (d x o o o a i o 6x ix to r a p e v o i. o68* e ln e tv - 1 9 ) . They a c t and
speak like sleeping men— men who have no comprehension of the Logos.
This state is not necessary (0 6 Set coonep xaGsuSovraq ixouetv xal
Xeyetv -73). No, Heraclitus argues for a special type of sight-and
hearing-— one that concerns îtself with mathesis—

- that is, the obtaining
of know ledge t h a t w i l l l e a d t o t h e co m p reh en sio n o f t h e Logos (Sctov
6i|rtq dxof) pd& nacq, r a u r a £y2> npoTcpeco - 5 5 ) . ^
Heraclitus calls -upon men not to conjecture at random about
the greatest things (pr) elxrj nspt rSav nsYtorcov crun.paXXflip.69a -Uj) but
to inquire as philosophers into a great many things (vprS yap eu paXa
noXXwv toropaq <piXoo6cpouq avSpaq etvat -35)— always, one suspects,
with a "logical" intent in mind. Yet, as I indicated previously this
"inquiry" or collecting facts (mathgsis)— cf. fn. U5— is not total
comprehension of the Logos; Heraclitus sees this ultimate phenomenon
as something that is "not to be searched out and without passage"
(anopov). He calls upon man to sustain hope that he might discover
the "unhoped f o r " ( tav p?) e X n rira t, dveXiruarov o6x fe^soprqact, d v c ^ e o so v q ro v

xal anopov -1 8 ). In other words, whatever the Logos is, once a
man sees it, it loses its non-obvious character and becomes absolutely
clear, unadorned, and without the incense of obscurity (IcpuXXa 5s

^1
pntvonsv^ ot6(jut t dyeXaora x a l dxaXXwntora x a l'd jio p to ra (pQeyYOHcvr]
'-92). The "clearing ground” of the comprehension of the Logos is the
self. Heraclitus warns against self-conceit as a sacred disease (xrjv
T6 Otrjoxv tepav v6oov -U6)— "sacred”, perhaps, because it is located
in the one phenomenon capable of understanding or "seeing" the Logos
and a "disease" because the self is misused in the case of self-
deceit just as it is misused in the case of hybris. Let hybris be
quenched over any ordinary conflagration (Spptv xP^l opevvuvat paXXov
itopxatr]v -U3 ). After many false starts and incontrovertible blunders,
man somehow finds the Logos, in a: noetic sense, within himself if he
follows that which is best and makes use of his nous. It becomes
imperative, then, to examine in more detail what Heraclitus has to
say about the mind or spirit of man.
"I sought for myself" (i5t£r)oup.T)v ip,sojur6v -101). This is
probably the most telling fragment of all in terms of the importance
Heraclitus put upon the region of the self or the subject, for, as
Snell points out, the all-important divine or logical element is
anchored for Heraclitus in the "depth of the soul".^ Heraclitus
clr>~!TTtTr i.3 inksrent in s.11 lu^n to know tkcmSciv<=s cuiu. to tuiuk
soundly (dvGpamouo't naou ( j s t s o t c y lv w o x s c v fewurooq xal ooxppovetv -116).

lU9
E v id e n tly t h e r e i s some c o n n e c tio n b e tw ee n t h e s e l f and t h i n k i n g o r
t h e m ind t h a t H e r a c l i t u s e s p e c i a l l y w a n ts t o em p h asize i n te rm s o f
t h e L ogos. I n any c a s e , a man’ s s e l f i s e x tre m e ly im p o r ta n t and
c e n t r a l f o r H e r a c l i t u s — so im p o r ta n t, i n f a c t , t h a t h e i s moved t o
p o i n t o u t t h a t a s f a r a s man h i m s e lf i s c o n c e rn e d , t h e su n i s o n ly
_ # w
t h e w id th o f h i s f o o t (eopoq no6dq dvQpconstou - 3 ) .
G iv en t h e fr a g m e n ts , a s I r e a d th e m , i t i s e x tre m e ly
d i f f i c u l t t o d i f f e r e n t i a t e c o m p le te ly b e tw ee n v o w ;, \|roxn, <j>uctl<;, an d
tpprjv. E ach w ord seem s t o b e u s e d t o e x p re s s t h e m o st e x c e l l e n t a r e a
o r f u n c tio n w i t h i n man. The c o n c e p t o f nous i s in v o lv e d w it h a c e r t a i n
com m onality o r c o l l e c t i v e c o n s c io u s n e s s ; men " s p e a k in g w it h nous m u st
p u t a f ir m t r u s t i n t h a t w hich i s common t o a l l (guv voa> Xcyovtck;
toxopL^&oQa l xP^l ***£ govca navrcov . . . l l U ) . So to o i s t h e u s e o f t h e
p h rg n common t o a l l (guvov feoru Jiacrt tppovcetv - 1 1 3 ) , a n d i n so f a r
a s i t i s r e g u l a t e d b y t h e L o g o s, i t m a in ta in s i t s g e n e r a l c o m m o n ality .
I f i t does n o t , t h e p r o c e s s o f p fa ro n c sis r e v e r t s t o t h e u n d e s ir a b l e
p r i v a t e r e a lm o f t h e many (6ud S e t en so fiat rig xotvqp» guvdq y ap ^
xouv6$» too Xoyoo 6* i6 v ra q guvou i5x>aoauv o t noXXol (S la v
SxovTcq (ppovryrtv - 2 ) . Wisdom (oo<pt-n) and so u n d t h i n k i n g (oaxppovclv)
depend upon p e r c e p t i o n r e g u l a t e d b y p h y s is (oaxppovclv dper?] n e y la r n ,
x a l co<plTj dXrjGea X eyetv x a l no (.civ x ax a <p6atv fenalovraq - 1 1 2 ) . T h is
c o u ld e q u a ll y v e i l b e s a i d o f t h e nous o r - and l u s t a s p h y s is
h id e s i t s e l f (123) so d o e s t h e nous an d p h rg n . A l l t h e te rm s seem
in v o lv e d w ith , a v ie w o f a m a n 's s e l f o r w hat u l t i m a t e l y m u st b e
d e s ig n a te d a s h i s p sy c h S .

150
H e r a c l i t u s h a s much t o s a y a b o u t t h i s r a t h e r u n d e fin e d
phenom enon, and w here I s h a l l make n o a tte m p t t o d e s ig n a te v h a t t h e
w ord m ust mean i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r s t a g e o f i t s d ev elo p m en t— " l i f e " ? ,
" s p i r i t " ? , " s o u l " ? , " s e l f " ? — i t d o es seem t o b e a so u n d i d e a t o lo o k
a t w u c V o x lC U S CCuJiuicuwS u c r a C l l w u o uO cS w a k e C G u C S x u lI lg w u S p u C u G IH S u G II•
He d i s t i n g u i s h e s s p e c i f i c , ty p e s o f p s y c h a i , c la im in g t h a t some a r e
" b a r b a r ia n " and h e n ce a r e in c a p a b le o f i n t e r p r e t i n g p r o p e r l y t h e
.e v id e n c e o f t h e e a r s a n d e y e s ( x a x o t napxupeq dvOpamoiotv 6<p6a\pot
x a t Ztza. papfapouq ijroxac; £x°vtcov “ 107) • The g r e a t e s t fo e o f t h e p sy c h e
4g 9u[i6^ c r d s s i r s | *To2t v h s t s v s r d s s i r s v i s h s s i t "buys th s p ric e
o f t h e p sy ch e " (8 o p § piaxeoOat xa ^sn o v 8 y a p av 0 e \ g , ''jroxn? AveTxai,
-85). O v e rly s tr o n g e m o tio n s c a n , t h e n , h av e d e l e t e r i o u s e f f e c t s on
t h e sy m b o lic re a lm . T hey a r e d e a th o r w e tn e s s f o r t h e p sy c h e (\Jrux?jaLv
Gavaxoq u5cop YevsoOau, o 5 a x t 6 s Gavaxoq ynv Y evsoG at, fex 5s
S6cap Y tv s x a t, o6axo<; 5 s T|rv>xn “ 3 6 )• A d ru n k en man p o s s e s s e s a
c c n s s tjiis iitly i s I s d s n d t r i p p s d up ijy 2xis i n f s r i o r " '*
a boy. He lo s e s h i s p a t h , (iv rjp 6 x o ra v neGuoGrj, ayexau bno natSoq
Avfjgou otpa\\6y.evo<;, o bx fenatow Sxt) p a t v s t , byorjv xrjv ûxflv exccv - 1 1 7 ) .
I n c o n t r a d i s t i n c t i o n , t h e b e s t and w i s e s t s o u l i s th e d ry one (a6yf)
^rjpî ûx^l oocparuaTT) x a t ApCorr) - 1 1 8 ) . I t s b e h a v io r do es n o t l e a d i t
i n t o f a l s e p a th s b u t r e f l e c t s t h e " d ry n e s s " in d u c e d b y t h e sym bol
o f Logos i t s e l f — p v r ( c f . i n f r a pp. 1 5 1 f f .) . P s y c h a i. t h e n , a s
t h e i n t e r p r e t e r s o f p e r c e p t i o n — i . e . t h e g ro u n d o f sy m b o lic p e r c e p t io n —

151
may b e s a i d t o p e r c e iv e b o th i n l i f e and a f t e r d e a th ( a t \jroxau iojaSvTat
xa0' "AtfjTjv -98) •
The o p p o s itio n b e tw ee n l i f e and d e a th i s b r i d g e d b y t h e
psyche. Hence a r e d e r iv e d t h e v a r io u s d e s c r i p t i o n s o f i t t h a t p u t i t
i n t o w hat 1 h a v e d e s c r ib e d p r e v i o u s ly a s t h e sy m b o lic re a lm — i . e . one
i n w hich m a t e r i a l r e a l i t y h a s l o s t i t s p o w er. ( I am i n c l i n e d t o t h i n k
t h a t i t i s t h e p sy c h e t o o fro m w h ich one may n o t h i d e , s i n c e , u n li k e
t h e sun ta k e n l i t e r a l l y , i t h a s n o t t h e p h y s i c a l a b i l i t y t o s e t [ to
6ov6v n o re nSq av t i «; X&Go l j - l 6 ] . )
T h e re a r e no l i m i t s one can d is c o v e r t o t h e p s y c h e , ev en
i f one w ere t o go a l l t h e way down i n t o i t . The d e p th o f t h e p sy ch e
i s r e g u l a t e d o n ly b y t h e Logos (ilroxTfe ite tp a x a twv o6x av £ £sopoco,

U8
sao av fcnuJiopeoonevoq 65ov« oorto |3a0uv Xoyov s x s t -^ 5 ) « T h is Logos
o f t h e p sy ch e i s n o t o n ly u n li m it e d b u t a ls o s e l f - i n c r e a s i n g
fcorc Xoyo? fcaordv au£a>v - 1 1 5 ) . I a o t h e r w o rd s , t h e p sy c h e h a s an

4 W ■? 4 " A O W A O A A ^ ■? A W a ! A A / T A ^ A A W J
»»*i a h a ww a v m v w a m w wm V 4 w ««w v a v u O A Pw ow C O \a ia x c c u iu
D e a th ) . The o n ly " b o u n d ary ” i s t h e " l o g i c a l " one b e tw ee n o p p o s ite s .
(I s h a l l s u b s e q u e n tly s p e a k o f t h i s " l i n e " i n P a rm e n id e s , in f r a .p . 206 ) .
The o p p o s i t i o n a l n a tu r e o f t h e Logos n e c e s s i t a t e s t h e d y a d ic s t r u c t u r e
o f t h e psychS a t a l l l e v e l s and a t a l l tim e s and i s c o n s t a n t l y
i n c r e a s i n g i t s e l f "b ecau se o f t h e i n f i n i t y in v o lv e d a t e a c h e x tre m e .
T h e re i s a s t r o n g p a r a l l e l b etw een t h i s Logos and t h e unbounded Chaos
o f H e s io d 's Theogony ( s u p r a p p . 1 ^ -1 1 )•

152
The a ll-e n c o m p a s s in g q u a l i t y o f t h e p sy ch e comes o u t c l e a r l y
i n th o s e fragm en t s d e a li n g w ith s l e e p i n g an d w a k in g . W hether awake
o r a s l e e p , a man p o s s e s s in g a f a u l t y Logos w i l l m iss many th i n g s ( . . . .
TO&q 6 s aXXouq AvQpeonouq XavGavec 6 x 6 o a iyepGevTsq to l o o o u v , oxwanep
dxooa su 5 o v ts< ; SnsX dvSivevT a:.-!) Y e t, ev en s le e p i n g men h av e t h e i r
p la c e a s w o rk e rs i n t h e cosmos (x o u q . xaGsoSovxa*; ip y a x a ^ e tv a u x a t
auvepyolx; -c£v t v xpovug ycvopevcov - 75 ) , a lth o u g h i t i s c e r t a i n l y
n e i t h e r n e c e s s a r y n o r d e s i r a b l e t h a t men a c t and s p e a k a s do t h e
s l e e p i n g (06 5 s t cocmsp xaGsu 6o\rra<; noteT v x a t k e y s tv - 7 3 ) . In
H e r a c l i t u s t h e r e i s a movement to w a rd s and an a r r i v a l a t a c o n sc io u s
s t a t e and l i g h t a s t h e r e i s i n P a rm e n id e s ( c f . i n f r a p . 229 )•
and I t h i n k t h a t b o th men acknow ledged t h e c o m p re h en siv e an d c o n t r a d i c t o r y
c h a r a c t e r o f t h i s c o n s c io u s n e s s o r cosm os.
I t h a s become c l e a r b y now t h a t I u n d e r s ta n d H e r a c litu s * u s e
o f kosmos t o b e i n a p a r t i a l l y s u b j e c t i v e , n o n - m a te r ia l s e n s e and t h a t
I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e r e i s some i n d i c a t i o n t h a t H e r a c l i t u s d o es too* To
b e g in w ith t h e r e a r e c e r t a i n s ta te m e n ts t h a t b r i n g i n t o q u e s ti o n any
dependence upon t h e o b j e c t i v e o r m a t e r i a l co sm o s. I t w i l l b e rem em bered
t h a t H e r a c l i t u s a t t a c k s Homer (U 2 ). One o f t h e r e a s o n s , we know , i s
t h a t Homer was an a s t r o l o g e r (4orpoX 6yov t 6 v w0|ar]pov-105) — t h a t i s , h e
p u t t h e Logos i n t h e s t a r s . T h e re i s , m o re o v e r, same q u e s ti o n a s t o
how we a r e t o t a k e t h e fra g m e n t c o n c e rn in g t h e bounds o f dawn and
e v e n in g (fjouq ; x a l loTtepaq reppa-ra +] apxxoq x a l d v x lo v xrjq apxxoo

153
oopoq a lG p to u b to q - 1 2 0 ) . U n lik e t h e sk y th e Logos p o s s e s s e s no
v i s i b l e l i m i t s b e c a u s e o f i t s s u b j e c t i v e o r p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l p r o p e r t i e s .
W hat m e asu re s t h e r e a r e a r e n e c e s s a r i l y " l o g i c a l ” o n e s . ^ I n o b je c t iv e
te rm s — t h a t i s , i n a s t r o l o g i c a l ones a s t h e m asses ta k e them —th e
fra g m e n t i s n e g a ti v e i n i n t e n t . I n l o g i c a l o r p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l o n e s ,
h o w ev er, i t i s p o s i t i v e — t h a t i s , i n so f a r a s t h e su n and s t a r s
sy m b o liz e d t h e phenomenon o f t h e L ogos—an i n t e r n a l and p a r t i a l l y
s u b j e c t i v e phenomenon— a s t r o l o g y p ro b a b ly w ould n o t h av e b o th e r e d
H e r a c l i t u s , b u t t h e one g ra v e f a u l t w ith a s t r o l o g y i s t h a t i t
o s t e n s i b l y p la c e s a dependence upon a p u r e ly o b j e c t i v e s p h e r e . T h is
w as th e i n t o l e r a b l e i d e a . A cosmos lo d g e d i n p u r e ly p h y s i c a l te rm s
i s c e rta in ly n o t to h is lik in g . The cosmos h e c o n s id e r s t h e m ost
b e a u t i f u l , h e l i k e n s u n to sw eep in g s p i l e d up a t random (& m ep o&pixa
etxr} xexup-svttv 6 xaXXuoroq [6 ] x6onoq -1 2 U ). I u n d e r s ta n d t h i s t o
mean t h a t t h e r e i s no p h y s i c a l cosm os, t h a t p h y s i c a l l y w h at H e r a c l i t u s
i s d e s c r ib in g lo o k s a s i f i t i s " p i l e d up a t random ". I t i s , ho w ev er,
t h e h id d e n Logos t h a t g iv e s t h e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l cosmos i t s m e a su re .
The cosmos i s t h e same i n a l l t h i n g s and i s made n e i t h e r b y men n o r
gods (xocTjiov -rovSe, tov <x&t 6 v dndvTtov, • o u rs t l <; &ecov o o x s AvQpwntov
fcn o cn asv .. . 3 0 ) . I t i s c o l l e c t i v e o r common— t h a t i s w i th in man b u t
n o t c r e a t e d b y h im .
m. 9 . ____ .______
X N 1C C 9 iU U X C U V C i )
tt__ _v
U C ia C X X U U O IC X O W C O
t «. _
litO ll i» WVUU4WXVU
««. J
t o a c o n c e p tio n o f t h e cosmos— e s p e c i a l l y f o r men awake a n d , one

151*
s u s p e c ts , p r o p e r ly a t t u n e d . T h is cosmos i s c o l l e c t i v e o r common and
u n ifie d , (ro&q xaGeoSov-raq IpyaTaq s tv a u x a l auvepyoo? tS v t v -c§
x6op^ ycvop.evcov - 7 5 ; T olq fcypTjYOGoatv eva x a l x o tv o v xooyov e c v a t
- 89 ) . ^ T h e re a r e , i n o t h e r w o rd s , a t e v e r y t u r n i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t
t h e phenomenon H e r a c l i t u s d e s c r ib e s ——i . e . t h e Logos——i s lo d g e d , n o t
i n some o b j e c t i v e w o rld o r. cosm os, b u t i n some k in d o f p a r t i a l l y
s u b je c tiv e o r p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l o n e . M en's p e r c e p tio n s b a s e d on t h e
p h y s ic a l w o rld a r e f a u l t y ; b a s e d on t h e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l o r sy m b o lic
o n e , ho w ev er, th e y become t r u e . Man m ay, t h e r e f o r e , s e e t h e t r u t h
i n sym bols o f a p r o p e r s o r t . H is e y es a r e more e x a c t w itn e s s e s th a n
h i s e a r s (6<p9a\nol y ap icov Srmv d x p tp e o re p o i. naprupeq - 1 0 1 a ) . The
Logos i s r e v e a le d t o man i n a s e t o f sym bols t h a t man i n t u r n u s e s

52
t o ap p reh en d i t s n a t u r e .
W hat, t h e n , a r e t h e sy m b o ls, t h e o r a c u l a r s i g n s , h e i s
e x p e c te d t o s e e ? (6 a v a £ , ou t d p a v rs lo v feart t v At\<poZq, o o re
X \ >X no ^ T.n x. 4. ___—j ~
A & | PW VWWO a p w tu o w U/VAU " 7 J / • n u o w C U C ) XU V/WUCl NVXUO I
t h e l o g i c a l sym bols t h a t a r e c l e a r l y g ro u n d ed i n t h e l y r i c and e p ic
l i t e r a t u r e we h a v e exam ined p r e v io u s ly ? T h e re a r e s e v e r a l m in o r
o n es. As I m e n tio n e d e a r l i e r ( s u p r a p . lUO ) , " g o ld " s ta n d s f o r
and sy m b o liz e s t h e Logos ( 2 2 ) . P e rh a p s m e n 's c o n je c tu r e s th e m s e lv e s
a r e sy m b o liz ed a s " b e a u t i f u l o b je c t s o f c h il d r e n " (natJxov &06ppurca
—70) 53— " b e a u t i f u l " i n t h e s e n s e t h a t th e y m ig h t r e l a t e t o t h e L o g o s.
" o f c h ild r e n " b e c a u s e man does n o t n e c e s s a r i l y l i m i t h i s th o u g h t s ,

155
ms h e s h o u ld , t o " l o g i c a l " o n e s . T h e re i s some i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e
c i r c l e i s a l s o im p o r ta n t f o r H e r a c l i t u s : "Common a r e t h e b e g in n in g
and e n d i n a c i r c l e " (£ovdv yup dpxh x a t nepaq t n t xuxXou - 1 0 3 ) .
P arm en id es (5 ) a l s o u s e s t h e sy m b o l. F o r H e r a c l i t u s i t v e ry p o s s ib ly
h a s so m e th in g t o do w ith a c e r t a i n c i r c u l a r d i a l e c t i c t h e Logos i s
c a p a b le o f f o llo w in g ( c f . i n f r a p . 160 ) . The r o a d i n H e r a c l i t u s
s y m b o liz e s b o th t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l and t e n s e d q u a l i t y o f t h e s t r u c t u r e
o f t h e L o g o s: "T he r o a d up/dow n i s o n e an d t h e same" (65oq av© xdxw
liCa x a t 4>ut ^ - 6 0 ) . ^ The r o a d may a l s o i n d i c a t e d i a l e c t i c a l a s w e ll
a s o p p o s i t i o n a l q u a l i t i e s o f t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e L o g o s: " th e road,
o f l e t t e r s i s s t r a i g h t and c ro o k e d " . I t to o i s "o n e an d t h e same"
(Yputpeoxv 66oq s 60e t a x a t oxoXltj* uCa h a rt x a t fj a&rrj - 5 9 ) * ^ In
o t h e r w o rd s , t h e Logos moves b a c k an d f o r t h i n a n o p p o s i t i o n a l f a s h io n
w h ile m a in ta in in g a fo rw a rd c o u r s e . We s h a l l s e e exam ples o f t h i s
d i a l e c t i c s u b s e q u e n tly . The hodos o r h e u r i s t i c q u a l i t y o f t h e hodos

-A. V
JOuSu u€^ ■*,6 pu
l£ A. iX l SLL&U CuuS _• uuc- .....
iuo^ .uuo
.X ivi^cw wucic XUi . . . . Jl
1*1uo xvcux
le a d s (7 1 )— i . e . t o a t o t a l co m p reh en sio n o f t h e Logos i t s e l f . The
u n d e r ly in g , t e n s e d q u a l i t y o f t h e " l o g i c a l " s t r u c t u r e i s r e p r e s e n te d
a ls o by E r i s . We h a v e e n c o u n te re d t h e te rm p r e v io u s l y i n H e sio d
w here I com pared i t t o E ro s a s a s y m b o lic , l o g i c a l t h i r d te rm ( s u p r a
fn . I I . -d. 59 ) . H ere a g a in i t t a k e s on t h e u n if y i n g and c o n n e c tin g
w iir o > » e 4 : . —m Wot* t _c B T lf l r i l l ^ r o f p i 1 n . T t O T * P W/fr*. P S
o p p o s ite s : men an d gods a n d , among m en, some s l a v e s and same f r e e

156
(n 6 Xeiioq navTwv jilv naxrp icrcx., navxtov 5e paatX s& q, x a t Touq p.ev
6 eouq s S e t^ s xooq 5 s dv0pa>nooq, xouq- nev SooXouq inotT jae xouq 5e
£Xeo0epooq - 5 3 ) . " I t i s n e c e s s a r y t o know t h a t w ar i s common" ( i t
s h a r e s t h a t a t t r i b u t e w ith t h e Logos - 2 ) . "D ik e i s E r i s . " J u s t as
a l l tilin g s e w e i n t o b e in g a c c o r d in g t o t h e Logos^ ( l ) , so " a l l th in g s
come a b o u t b y E r i s a n d Need" ( e tS s v a t 6 s XP^) T° v n6 Xeôv i6 v x a £ uvov,
x a t 6 txrjv s p tv x a t Y ^ o n s v a n d v ra xaT* s p tv x a t xP^wv - 8 0 ) . S trife
i s a sym bol o f a t h i r d te rm u n i t i n g t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e o f
t h e L ogos. I t i s a sym bol e a s i l y ta k e n from H e r a c l i t u s ' H e s io d ic
b a c k g ro u n d .
The su n i s u s e d a t tim e s a s a sym bol t o o . I t i s n o t alw ays
c l e a r how much im p o rta n c e H e r a c l i t u s p u t s i n i t s i n c e , a f t e r a l l , he
r e f u s e s t o a b id e w ith p u r e l y o b j e c t i v e , a s t r o l o g i c a l phenomena (c f .
s u p r a p p . 152-53 ) , b u t i f one w ere t o ta k e t h e s u n a s a p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l
sym bol w i t h i n t h e re a lm o f sy m b o lic p e r c e p tio n — t h a t i s , a su n whose
n a t u r e , a s H e sio d d o es n o t know , i s d i r e c t l y c o n c e rn e d w ith u n i t y o r
b e in g one ( 'H ctl 66<£ AyvoouvTt <pocrtv fiuspaq dnacrnq n£av ouoav -1 0 6 )—
th e n i t v e r y l i k e l y becom es a n o th e r sym bol f o r p y r . The im p o r ta n t
f a c t i s t h a t we h av e a lr e a d y s e e n t h e su n u s e d i n sy m b o lic s e n s e s i n
t h e l y r i c p o e ts ( e . g . Mimnermus and S t e s ic h o r u s — s u p r a p . 37
& f n . I . 90 ) , and a g a in i t i s n o t u n u s u a l t h a t H e r a c l i t u s w ould a d o p t
t h e sym bol f o r h i s own u s e . H e r a c l i t u s s p e a k s o f t h e c i r c u l a r b o u n d a ry
o f b r i g h t Zeus (oopoq d tG p to o AuSq -1 2 0 ) w ith much t h e same m eaning
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n p roh ibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

157
a s Mimnermus a n d m akes t h e r a t h e r d i f f i c u l t s ta te m e n t t h a t t h e " su n
i s new e a c h day” (v so q £(p’ •fyisp^ - 6 ) w h ich I i n t e r p r e t a s a way o f
d ra w in g a t t e n t i o n t o t h e i n s u b s t a n t i a l n a t u r e o f t h e o b j e c t i v e sun
t h a t i s alw ay s b e in g c r e a t e d anew an d w h ich may b e c o v e re d b y a m a n 's
f o o t (3 ) and d o es s e t (h e n c e b e in g "new e a c h d a y " ) . What H e r a c l i t u s
i s p i n p o i n t i n g i s a sy m b o lic phenomenon t h a t d o es n o t s e t o r r i s e
( l 6). Y e t, i n t h e l a s t a n a l y s i s t h e su n i s p ro b a b ly o n ly a n o th e r
sym bol f o r f i r e — i n t h e i r e f f e c t i v e q u a l i t i e s th e y h o ld much i n
common— and i t i s t h i s f ir e or lig h t t h a t man " to u c h e s upon" o r
^ k in d le s " f o r h i m s e l f , even a t n i g h t when t h e p h y s i c a l su n d o es n o t
s h in e a n d h e c a n n o t s e e i t (avSpconoq t v s6< pp6vT ) tpaoq anTSTai. taurtS
4 ro o p s o 6 e tq o \ ^ e c q .... 26 ) .
The p re d o m in a n t sym bol i n H e r a c l i t u s , t h e n , i s f i r e (p y r ) .
I t i s t h e m ain sym bol f o r t h e L o g o s. F i r e w ith i t s accom panying
Im ages o f movement a n d c o lo r i s a phenomenon u s e d e x t e n s i v e l y in
Homer and t h e l y r i c p o e t s . I t s h o u ld n o t s u r p r i s e u s t h a t H e r a c l i t u s
p ic k e d i t a s h i s p rim a ry sy m b o l. A t mafly tim e s i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e
t h e phenomenon i s l a r g e l y n o n - m a t e r i a l , n o n - p r o s a ic . T ake, fo r
i n s t a n c e , H om er's co m p ariso n o f g o d - l i k e H e c to r t o a flam e ( . . . <pXoy
etxsX ov *E xtopa 5 to v - I I . 1 3 .6 8 8 ) o r t h e a n g e r i n A n tin o u s ' ey es
t h a t b u rn l i k e f i r e ( . . . ocrae 8 s o t nupu XannsrocjvTL £txTT]v -O d.

), \ X— * tT——— - _* ^ ^ 1. I . a l.lc N j . t. - r • — -----------
”t • w w c f # au w uc wv y tty / ouc guu o ix c u u c
(<pXog) and h i s s h i n i n g , b r i l l i a n t a p p e a ra n c e a r e u s e d w ith d e f i n i t e
r e l i g i o u s a n d s p i r i t u a l o v e r to n e s . R ad ian c e and l i g h t a r e i n d i c a t i o n s

158
o r sym bols o f t h e god h i m s e l f . ^ The sy m b o lic im p o rta n c e o f f i r e
may a l s o b e s e e n i n H e s io d 's Theogony a t t h e p o i n t when Zeus no lo n g e r
h o ld s b a c k h i s m ig h t b u t h u r l s h i s l i g h t n i n g ; a g a i n s t th e enem y. He
h u r l s " a n awesome f la m e " . The e a r t h b u r n s . F i r e i s a l l a b o u t. An
" u n s p e a k a b le fla m e " (<pXo^ c o tis to ^ ) r i s e s t o t h e u p p e r e i r i and th u n d e r

57
and lig h tn in g * b lin d h is fo e s . The d e s t r u c t i o n o f one re a lm and
e s ta b lis h m e n t o f a n o th e r ta k e s p l a c e i n a g r e a t h o lo c a u s t o f l i g h t
and f i r e . T h e re a r e h u n d re d s o f o th e r exam ples o f f i r e a s a phenomenon
w ith , w ide n o n - m a t e r i a l i s t i c o v e rto n e s i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e —P i n d a r , f o r
i n s t a n c e , made w id e u s e o f i t — e . g . O ly . 1 . 1 . The p o i n t i s t h a t a s
a sym bol i t came r e a d y made f o r H e r a c l i t u s , and i t s h o u ld n o t s u r p r i s e

cQ
u s t h a t he s h o u ld t u r n t o su ch a t r a d i t i o n a l phenomenon f o r th e
sym bol o f h i s L o g o s.
F o r H e r a c l i t u s t h e sym bol o f t h e th u n d e r b o lt s t e e r s a l l
much i n t h e sam e way i t does i n t h e above exam ple from H e s io d 's
Theogony ( t o n a v ro o t a x t e e t Kepauvoc - 6 U ) . ^ The p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l
cosmos w a s, i s , an d w i l l b e e v e r l a s t i n g f i r e , k in d l i n g and q u e n ch in g
i n m easu re (xoopov tov 6 b . . . tjv d e l x a l sotlv x a l c o r a t noo A sl& cov.
d nro n ev o v (xexpa x a l dnoapevvup.evov -3 0 ) F i r e 's m ost s a l i e n t
f e a t u r e i s t h i s a b i l i t y t o m easure and b e a m e a s u re , and i t i s by
t h i s f e a t u r e t h a t i t i s t i e d so s t r o n g l y t o l o g i c . " F i r e h a v in g
come w i l l ju d g e and w i l l ta k e h o ld o f a l l th i n g s " (n a v ro yap to
nop fene\9dv x p L v ei x a l xaroXrtyerot. - 66 ) . T h is "ju d g m en t" h a s

159
im m ediate r e f e r e n c e t o f i r e ' s a b i l i t y t o m e a s u r e . ^ The "m easure"
is exchanged f o r a l l th i n g s i n t h e p h e n o m en o lo g ica l re a lm j u s t a s
i n t h e p h y s i c a l one goods a r e ex changed f o r g o ld , and g o ld f o r
goods (nupoq T6 dvrojiotpfj t o navra xat nup dnavTtov Sxucmep xPuo°u
^TTjjiciTa x a t XP7TM^'TOV X P ^ ^ s “ 9 0 } . The id e a s o f m e asu re d , o p p o s i t i o n a l ,
and d i a l e c t i c a l change a re -s y m b o liz e d b y F i r e . I t a c ts as a th i r d
te r m , u n d e r ly in g and c o n n e c tin g s p e c i f i c te rm s i n a l o g i c a l p r o p o s i t i o n
o r som etim es t h e w hole p r o p o s i t i o n i t s e l f . The o p p o s ite s d a y / n i g h t ,
w in te r/s u m m e r, w ar /p e a c e , s a t i e t y / f am ine a r e m a n if e s t a t io n s o f one
god (5 who l i k e f i r e when m ixed w ith s p i c e s a llo w s a man t o
name a n y th in g a c c o rd in g t o h i s p l e a s u r e (6 6&6q +lnepT| c&ppovr],
Xetn&v Gepoq, ndXepoq etprjvr), xfipoq Xujioq, AXXotoorat 6s oxaxmsp <nop>,
6n6rov aujijitYrji Qowjiaatv, dvo n d êx at xaG'+jSovfjv fexaoroo-67). In
c o n s id e r in g t h e s o l s t i c e s o r c i r c u l a r t u r n i n g s (rponaC ) o f f i r e ,
H e r a c l i t u s s p e a k s o f s e a form ed o f t h e o p p o s i t e s , e a r t h and p r e s t g r
(a n i n d i c a t i o n o f c e l e s t i a l f i r e ) .
62 S e a i s a n o th e r sym bol o f a
t h i r d te rm u n i t i n g and p a r t i a l l y i d e n t i f y i n g e a r t h an d f i r e (nupoq
x p o ital n p c o rro v GdXaaoa, GaXdcory; 5 s to jis v T T jii.a u y r r t o 5l T a tto o
npTTorfjp - 3 1 ) . He goes on t o make t h e p o i n t t h a t i n i t s t r a n s f o r m a tio n
t h e s e a i s m e asu re d o r b a la n c e d o u t (m e t r e e t a i ) b y w hat I ta k e t o b e
t h e same Logos w hich e x i s t e d b e f o r e s e a became e a r t h (< y ^ GdXaaoa
SkayeeT O L x at usT oeeT O L s t.c t? > v c t 6 t o v -n p cirrf)t,n £•» -A
Y ev£o0at YH - 3 1 ) . Logos and f i r e a r e one and t h e same t h i r d te rm o r

l6 o
a re a u n itin g o p p o s ite s . A t a n o th e r p o i n t , a lth o u g h t h e r e e x i s t no
ip s i s s i m a v e r b a t o v e r i f y t h e s t a t e m e n t, f i r e i s s a i d t o " l i v e t h e
d e a th o f e a r t h ” i n a fra g m e n t i n w hich t h e u n d e r ly in g t h i r d te rm i s
r e p la c e d b y a new sym bol a s i t s d i a l e c t i c c o n tin u e s u n t i l t h e th o u g h t
comes f u l l c i r c l e — i . e . f i r e , a s t h e t h i r d te rm i n t e r m e d i a t i n g t h e
l i f e and d e a th o f e a r t h , c h an g es e a r t h t o i t s d e a t h , w h ich i t s e l f
in te r m e d ia te s t h e l i f e and d e a th o f f i r e . W ater i n t e r m e d i a t e s t h e
l i f e and d e a th o f a i r , an d f i n a l l y e a r t h t h a t o f w a te r ( 7 6 ) . H ere
i s a good exam ple o f a m a jo r sym bol ( p y r ) b e in g re d u c e d t o an
e q u a l i t y w ith a s e t o f o t h e r sy m b o ls. Y et a l l t h e s e sym bols r e p r e s e n t
i n t h i s c a s e w h a t t h e one sym bol o f p y r d o es a t o t h e r t i m e s : th e
m easu re o r t h i r d te rm b e tw e e n o p p o s ite s .
B e fo re t a k i n g up t h e f u r t h e r e x a m in a tio n o f t h e f u l l
s t r u c t u r e an d d i a l e c t i c im p lie d i n t h e L o g o s, i t w ould b e w e l l ,
I t h i n k , t o c o n c e n t r a t e on t h e s m a l le r u n i t o f l o g i c a l o p p o s i t i o n
an d te n s e d p o l a r i t y and t h e v a r io u s exam ples H e r a c l i t u s g iv e s u s o f
t h e ru d im e n ta ry an d b a s i c phenom enon. He makes u s e o f " l o g i c a l "
o p p o s itio n s a t a v e r y s im p le l e v e l t o r e v e a l i n t h e m o st uncom plex
m anner p o s s i b l e t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l n a t u r e o f t h e L o g o s.
S e v e r a l o p p o s itio n s a r e s t a t e d b y a s y n t a c t i c a l p la c e m e n t
back to b ack . T a k e , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h e s im p le o p p o s itio n o f im m o rta ls
an d m o r ta ls i n 62 (&0avaTOt Qvryzot, Q vtttoI dQ avaxot . . . . ) . The
o p p o s ite s h a v e no g ra m m a tic a l r e l a t i o n s h i p e x c e p t t h e i r im m e d ia te

l6 l
c o r r e l a t i o n w ith one a n o th e r . T h is p la c e m e n t i t s e l f i n d i c a t e s t h e
u n ity o r p a r t i a l i d e n t i t y H e ra c litu s se e s in o p p o s ite s . (I s h a ll
a p e a k f u r t h e r o f t h i s i s s u e when I exam ine t h e more e x te n d e d p h r a s in g
o f o p p o s itio n s t h i s fra g m e n t c o n t a i n s . ) I n 6 j H e r a c l i t u s once a g a in
m akes u s e o f t h i s g ra m m a tic a l j u x t a p o s i t i o n ; "The god o r Logos i s
d a y /n ig |h t, w in te r/s u m m e r, w ar / p e a c e , s a t i e t y / f a m i n e " (6 0eoq •fin.spr]
e6<pp6vT], Q epo?, noXsnoq e tp n v q xopoq X c n o q .. . . 67 ) . A n o th e r
exam ple i s 6 0 : "The ro a d up/dow n (avco xa'Tco) i s one and t h e sam e .”
T h is ty p e o f im m e d ia te j u x t a p o s i t i o n e x te n d s t o id e a s o f d i f f e r e n t
g ra m m a tic a l fo rm s— e . g . " i t i n c h a n g in g r e s t s " ( uexaGaXXov d v a n a u e ra t
- 8 4 a ) . 63
A s l i g h t l y m o d if ie d m ethod o f p r e s e n t i n g o p p o s ite s i s t o
l i n k them b y a c o n ju n c t io n . T h is m ethod i s e s p e c i a l l y e f f e c t i v e i n
th o s e fra g m e n ts w h ich s u g g e s t o r a c t u a l l y s t a t e a t h i r d te rm .
F ragm ent 65 i s m e re ly a s ta te m e n t o f c o n n e c te d o p p o s it e s : "N eed and
s a t i e t y " ( yotxjuoctuvtiv x a l x S p o v ). b u t a s ta te m e n t su c h a s " th e ro a d
o f l e t t e r s i s s t r a i g h t and c ro o k e d " (s 6 & s ta x a l axoXtf) -5 9 ) o r " th e
seme t h i n g i s i n h e r e n t i n o n e , l i v i n g and d e a d , an d awake and a s le e p
and young and o l d , f o r t h e fo rm e r h a v in g ch anged i s t h e l a t t e r and
t h e l a t t e r c h a n g in g b a c k i s t h e fo rm e r" {xabxo x* eve xal
TcSvrpt&q x a l iyprjyopoq x a l xaGeufiov x a l veov x a l yr^patov . . . 88)_ a r e
s ta te m e n ts p o i n t i n g t o a t h i r d te rm ( t h e " ro a d " i n th e f i r s t c a s e
an d " t h e same th i n g " i n t h e se c o n d ) w h ich i s t h e u n if y in g p r i n c i p l e

162
o f t h e L ogos. The " r i v e r fra g m e n ts " make a s i m i l a r u s e o f c o n n e c te d
o p p o s ite s : " I t i s n o t p o s s i b l e t o s t e p tw ic e i n t h e same r i v e r . . .
th e y s c a t t e r an d com bine . . . b o th a p p ro a c h and d e p a r t" ( noranqo Y&P
o 6x scrruv fcp.pT}vat. 5l<; r £ a&rw . . . axCSvrpx x a l [ n a X t v ] ^ o o v a y c t . . .
x a l np 6 oeu<Tu x a l a n e u a i - 9 1 ) . T h is " a p p ro a c h in g " and " d e p a r tin g " i s .
h o w ev er, i n a s t r i c t d y a d ic form and th o u g h t, f o r a s H e r a c l i t u s sa y s
e ls e w h e re : "Upon men s te p p i n g i n t h e same r i v e r s d i f f e r e n t and a g a in
d i f f e r e n t ( e r e p a x a l e re p a ) w a te r s flo w " (n o ra p o lo i. xolcxtv a d ro la u v
fcâlvooCTev e re p a x a l e re p a o d a ra fenuppel -1 2 ) I t i s t h e d y a d ic
p h ra s e e re p a x a l e re p a ( c f . s u p ra p . 19 ) t h a t encom passes th e
o p p o s itio n a l n a t u r e o f t h e fra g m e n t i t s e l f . The u n d e r ly in g t h i r d
te rm o f t h e r i v e r s y m b o liz e s t h e Logos t h a t u n i f i e s l i f e an d d e a th :
"We s t e p i n t h e same r i v e r an d we do n o t (£p.{3aCvopev r e x a l o&x
felxfaCvopev); we a r e and a r e n o t ( e Ip e v r e x a l o&x eu n ev )"-U 9 a .
I n d e s c r ib in g t h e " j o i n t s " o r harm ony o f h i s " l o g i c a l " s t r u c t u r e ,
H e r a c l i t u s a g a in makes u s e o f b o th ty p e s o f o p p o s i t i o n s : " J o in ts
a r e w hole and n o t w h o le , b ro u g h t t o g e t h e r / s e p a r a t e d , i n tim e /o u t o f
t u n e , b o th fro m a l l t h i n g s one and from one a l l t h i n g s " (ouva\|ri.eq oXa
x a l o&x 8 Xa oup4>ep6 [ievov 8 ua<pepop.evov, auv!j6ov 5 c^5 o v , x a l fcx navrcov
ev x a l fcvo^ n a v ra - 1 0 ) . I s h a l l s p e a k a t g r e a t e r le n g th c o n c e rn in g
t h e s e " j o i n t s " s u b s e q u e n tly ; w hat s h o u ld b e n o te d h e r e i s t h a t
H e r a c l i t u s - h a s h i t upon a c o n v e n ie n t and s im p le s y n t a c t i c a l and
a p p o s i t i o n a l mode t o e x p r e s s t h e u n d e r ly in g u n i t y o f h i s th o u g h t by
p la c i n g o p p o s ite s e i t h e r b a c k t o b a c k o r c o n n e c tin g them w ith " a n d " .
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p ro d u c tio n prohib ited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

\
163
The s t a t i n g o f o p p o s it io n s may a l s o b e d e t e c t e d i n t o t a l
s e n te n c e s i n w hich m ore c o m p lic a te d i d e a s a r e ju x ta p o s e d o r w here
one h a l f o f an o p p o s itio n i s im p lie d . W hether a t h i r d te rm i s
e x p r e s s e d o r n o t , i n many i n s t a n c e s a n i n c l u s i o n o f b o th id e a s i n
a s i n g l e an d s im p le s e n te n c e p e r m its a re m a rk a b le d e g re e o f u n i t y
i n e x p r e s s io n . One may a l s o b e g in t o r e c o g n iz e i n c e r t a i n o f t h e s e
s ta te m e n ts some o f t h e d i a l e c t i c a l p r o p e r t i e s o f H e r a c litu s * l o g i c a l
s t r u c t u r e w h ich I s h a l l exam ine u l t i m a t e l y a s phenomena u n to
th e m s e lv e s . 11
I n t h e u n c o m p lic a te d s e n t e n c e , " I f t h e r e w ere no s u n , i t

~ ~ 66
w ould b e n i g h t " ( e l p,rj T^Xtoq rjv , e6<ppovr) av tjv -9 9 )» H e ra c litu s
m akes u s e o f t h e p o l a r i t y b e tw ee n l i g h t and d a r k , a s d id H e sio d
( s u p r a p p . 79-80 ) t o r e v e a l t h e m u tu a l i n t e r a c t i o n and c o r r e l a t i o n
t h a t o c c u rs w i t h i n h i s l o g i c . T h a t one o p p o s ite m u st im p ly t h e o th e r
i s r e v e a le d i n th o s e fra g m e n ts i n w h ic h o n ly one o f t h e p a i r i s f u l l y
s ta te d . " T h in g s a w a it men who a r e d e a d t h a t th e y do n o t e x p e c t o r
im a g in e " (ivSposnooq jie v s t dnoGavovxaq a a a a o6x eXnovrac o 6 5 i
Soxsouoxv - 2 7 ) — i . e . , a c o n te n t o f d e a t h , a l b e i t unknown, i s im p lie d
b y t h e c o n te n t o f l i f e w hich d o es n o t f i n d s ta te m e n t i n t h e fra g m e n t.
"D o c to rs c u t t i n g and b u rn in g a r e a c c u s e d o f ta k i n g n o w o rth y p ay f o r
t h e i r a c t s " ( o t youv ta x p o t x&p-vovxeq, x au o v x eq , In a u x e o v x a t pr|5&v
S^cOb nuoQdv X anpdvstv x ad x a lpYa£6n.evou - 5 8 ) . They d e s e rv e t h e i r
p a y , h o w ev er, f o r t h e d o c t o r ’ s a c t — a t h i r d te rm —n e c e s s i t a t e s c u t t i n g

164
a n d b u rn in g — phenomena t h a t i n th e m s e lv e s im p ly t h e i r o p p o s i t e , c u r in g
an d h e a l t h . "They w ould n o t know t h e name o f j u s t i c e , i f t h e s e
t h i n g s w ere n o t (ACxrjq ovona o6x av *nt8eoav, e l x a u ra [p resu m ab ly
S fitx a] prj fjv - 2 3 ) — i . e . j u s t i c e assum es i t s d e f i n i t i o n b y i n j u s t i c e
(x a u ra ). The one c a n n o t e x i s t w ith o u t t h e o t h e r . D ike ( a te rm I ta k e
t o b e synonymous w ith t h e Logos i n i t s a s p e c t o f t h e " r i g h t way" ),

68
i n t e r e s t i n g l y enough i s s t r u c t u r e d by i t s o p p o s it e . Men, h o w ev er,
s e e n o t t h i s c o n n e c tio n and assum e th i n g s t o b e e i t h e r u n j u s t o r j u s t
(lev 6e<p xaXd n a v ra x a t dyaGa x a t S l x a t a , avQpoanou 5 s a jJ.lv aS cx a
tmsiAt)(pcauv • a 5s 5£xas.a - 1 0 2 ) . The u n i f i e d , d u a l ! s t i c Logos l y i n g
a s a t h i r d te r m b e h in d t h e s o l e l y d i s j u n c t i v e v iew o f o p p o s ite s i n
t h e re a lm o f men i s a l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e we s h a l l s e e a g a in i n
P arm en id es ( i n f r a p . 230 ). I n f a c t t h i s one fra g m e n t r e v e a l s
b e t t e r th a n an y o t h e r t h e i d e n t i t y b etw een t h e H e r a c l ite a n and
P arm enidean l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e s .
War f o r H e r a c l i t u s , a s t h e t h i r d te r m , " h a s e s t a b l i s h e d some
a s gods and s a n e a s men; h e h a s made some s la v e and some f r e e "
(I&Xenoq TOuq p.lv Geooq e5cc£e to o ? 5 l d£0pamouq -couq jj.lv 8ooXooq
in o u T ja s Touq 5 l lXcu9£pooq - 5 3 ) . O p p o s itio n b y c o r r e l a t i o n i s
a c c o m p lish e d b y a jj.ev . . . 5c c o n s t r u c t i o n . S e a , a s a t h i r d te r m ,
u n i t e s good and b a d . I t i s good f o r f i s h and b a d f o r men (GaXaooa
u5cop xaGapamrrov x a l (j.tapcara-cov, IxGuo-t ixlv jiortfiov x a l aurrfp uov,
4v0pwnouq 5e a n o ro v x a l 6Xc0puov - 6 l ) . P o s i t i v e and n e g a tiv e

165
69
q u a li t i e s a r e i n h e r e n t i n one u n if y i n g phenom enon. A n o th e r e x c e l l e n t
exam ple o f a t h i r d te rm p o s i t e d i n o r d e r t o u n i f y o p p o s ite s o c c u rs i n
63* Some " b e in g " a r i s e s t h a t aw akes— i . e . i n f u l l c o n s c io u s n e s s o f
t h e Logos— g u a rd s t h e o p p o s ite s o f t h e l i v i n g and t h e d e ad (e v 0 a
5* fe6vri. &navCorao0ai. x a t (puXaxaq ty ep x l. JJovtov x a t v ex p S v ).
When o p p o s ite s a r e l i n k e d b y c e r t a i n v e r b s , t h e dynam ics
o f t h e s t r u c t u r e d o p p o s itio n become c l e a r . F o r i n s t a n c e , "C o ld
th in g s grow w arm , a warm t h i n g c o o l s ; m o is t d r i e s , p a rc h i s m o iste n e d "

i
(*ro +uxpa © e p ex a t, 0cppov iJroxsTqt, bypov a & a tv e x a t, xap<paXeov
vort^& T at > 1 2 6 ). S ic kne s s mak e s h e a l t h sw e e t an d g o o d , fa m in e /
s a t i e t y , w e a r i n e s s / r e s t (vouooq b y tet'n v inotTjoev x a t dyaS dv,
Xtpdq x6pov, xapaxoq d v a n a o a tv - 1 1 1 ) . The n e g a ti v e o p p o s itio n can
f o r c e a movement t o t h e p o s i t i v e . T h e re i s a p o s i t i v e o r i e n t a t i o n
o f t h e one t o t h e o th e r a s t h e r e was b e tw e e n Svrjroq /d-0dvaT oq i n t h e
Hymn t o A p h ro d ite ( 1 . 2 ) . The l i f e - d e a t h o p p o s iti o n i s a l s o an
a c t i v e phenom enon. I n a fra g m e n t t h a t i s c l e a r l y b a s e d on t h e
a p p o s i t i o n a l n a tu r e o f a lp h a p r i v a t i v e s an d t h e g r e a t re a lm o f m u tu a l
i d e n t i t y b e tw e e n m o r ta ls and im m o rta ls I h av e i n d i c a t e d i n t h e sec o n d
c h a p t e r , H e r a c l i t u s r e v e a l s th e dynam ic movement o f t h e L o g o s;
" ( I m m o r ta ls /m o r ta ls ) /( m o r ta ls /im m o r ta ls ) , l i v i n g t h e d e a th o f t h o s e ,
and d y in g t h e l i f e o f th o s e " (AOdva-rot 0 v t]to l, ©vrjrot, dOdva-tou,
^tavreq tov txeCvcov 0avaTOv, t 6 v 5c IxsCvcov pCov T s0 v e« req - 6 2 ) . A
s i m i l a r o p p o s itio n i s fo rm ed , a s I s e e i t , when H e r a c l i t u s o p p o ses

166
w e t and d ry p s y c h a i. To become w e t i s a d e l i g h t f o r an im p ro p e rly
g u id e d psy ch g a n d a d e a th f o r t h e p r o p e r ly g u id e d o n e . Man, d e f in e d
u l t i m a t e l y b y t h e d ry n e s s o f h i s psychS-—i . e . , b y h i s co m p reh en sio n
o f t h e L ogos—a s t h e u n if y i n g t h i r d te rm i n w h ich t h e w a r lik e
o p p o s itio n o c c u r s - " l i v e s t h e d e a th t h a t i s t h e v e t p sy ^ b s w h ile i n
man t h e v e t p s y c h e l i v e s o r t a k e s l i f e fro m t h e d e a th o r le s s e n e d
co m p reh en sio n o f man (ljruxgoi. repijruv edvcrtov bYP§ox yeveo© at . . .
£rjv fjuaq to v ixeCvccv ©dvarov x a l £nv fexElvaq to v fjndrepov © dvatov - 7 7 ) .
W ith in one a r e a t h e r e i s a c o n s ta n t i n t e r m i x t u r e o f o p p o s i t e s , mov in g
d y n a m ic a lly b a c k an d f o r t h . I n a p h o rism H e r a c l i t u s makes u s e o f t h e
bow p a ra d o x t o r e p r e s e n t t h e s t r u c t u r e in v o lv e d . The bow , a sym bol
f o r the third term, combines within it life and death: ploq: tu> ouv
TO
t6£<£ 6vo(ia fiuoq, spyov 5 e ©dva-coq ( ^ 8 ) . I n a n o th e r exam ple o f
a p p a r e n t so p h ism u s e d t o i n d i c a t e t h e p o s i t i v e o r i e n t a t i o n o f one
o p p o s ite to w a rd s t h e o t h e r , H e r a c l i t u s s t a t e s t h a t t h e g r e a t e r b a d
fortune, the greater good fortune, making use of the similarity of
"|i6poq" a n d " p o tp a " a s a t h i r d te rm (uopou ya p tie£ovsq ueôvaq potpaq

T1
X ayxovouat - 2 5 ) . The form o f t h e s ta te m e n t i s s o p h i s t i c ; th e
in te n t, lo g ic a l.
H e r a c l i t u s g o es beyond m e re ly e x p r e s s in g c e r t a i n c o n d itio n s
i n w hich t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l n a t u r e o f t h e Logos i s r e a l i z e d . T h ere
e x i s t s a c e r t a i n s e t o f fra g m e n ts i n w hich t h i s n a tu r e i t s e l f i s
m ore c l o s e l y d is c u s s e d . T hese a r e fra g m e n ts d e a li n g w ith t h e d y n a m ic s,
t h e " j o i n t s " , " h a r m o n ie s " , an d " m e a s u re s " .

167
The u n ify in g dynamics o f th e Logos are seen a t work in a.
sym bolic fa sh io n in th e p h y sic a l world, o f f lu id s where p a rts are
im p o ssib le t o i d e n t i f y . I have alread y d iscu ssed th e phrase erepa
xat erepa in re fe r e n c e to r iv e r s (12) as e s ta b lis h in g th e dyadic
nature o f u eraclu tu s* ic g x c ( s ^ r e p . 1&2 } as does th e
in d is tin g u is h a b le m ixture o f earth and se a w ith in th e convenient
symbol o f a t h ir d term , th e p rS ster ( 3 1 ) . The dynamics o f th e lo g ic
are b e s t sym bolized by th e s t ir r in g o f th e b a rley drink t h a t sep arates
in t o two p a r ts i f n o t kept in motion (x a l 6 xuxsujv StLorarau

vi \iaAhc\*at «,1 ^
^ 0 . ! >««*■**» ■■
Afn AAewAe
w O iu m O Wa ^ V p > ,v O
ô •« .
con stan t s t a t e o f te n s io n between o p p o s ite s . As in a r iv e r th ere i s
a c o n tin u a l " s c a tte r in g and combining" (oxlS vqot x a l o u v d y st),
approaching and d ep artin g (x a l Tipoceuctl x a l aneuat - 9 1 ) , th e former
o f th e two changes in t o th e l a t t e r and th e l a t t e r , changing back, i s
th e former ( . . . Tads yap p.sTanso6vra fexslva feort xdxelva naXuv
11 ITc *rrrTvrn - 8 8 ) . I t i s Qnite cXear th a t th e ^Joints** or th e
way th e Logos i s co n stru cted are dyadic str u c tu r e s o f r e c ip r o c a l
o p p o sitio n s (aovai|rueq oXa x a l o&x 6 \ a , auiKpspoixevov Suwpepoiievov, ouvijQov
6cij&ov, x a l £x navtwv sv x a l hg fcvoq navra - 1 0 ) .
These " jo in ts" or "harmonies" are r e a l only in th e unapparent
phenom enological w orld; th e apparently p arad oxical con nections we
a c tu a lly seek in th e p h y sic a l world— i . e . th o se o p p o sitio n s to which
H e r a clitu s has devoted so many fragments— are on ly weaker examples

168
o f t h e s t r o n g e r (ippovuT] Atpavrjq (pavspife xpecTTWv -5 * 0 • MT h a t w h ich
i s opp o sed i s i n a g re e m e n t and from d i f f e r i n g t h i n g s comes t h e m ost

T2
b e a u t i f u l means o f j o i n i n g ( h a rm o n ia ) (t 6 &vtu£oov/ oupupepov x a l
fcx tov 5ta<p6povxtov xaXXlorriv ip îo v tav -8 ). The m asses "d o n o t
u n d e rs ta n d how a t h i n g d i f f e r e n t i a t e d fro m i t s e l f a g r e e s " , t h a t " a
J o in in g t o g e t h e r i s a c h a n g in g t o t h e o t h e r s i d e , j u s t a s i n t h e c a s e
o f t h e bow and t h e l y r e " (0 6 ôvlEctuv Sxcoq 5i,a<pep6|jL&vov koaurw

A noX oyeef naXCvrpono^ ippovtT] oxcoonep to£oo x a l Xupr^q -5 1 ) • The
S t r u c t u r e o f t h e L o g o s, t h e n , i s form ed a b o u t t e n s e d d y a d ic " j u n c t u r e s " ,
l i k e t h e t e n s e d p a r t o f t h e bow o r l y r e , t h a t change c o n s t a n t l y from
one t o t h e o t h e r ; t h e dynam ics o f f l u x r e s t s upon a s t a b l e d u a lis m
o f o p p o s ite s .
The te n s e d p o l a r i t y o f o p p o s ite s r e s u l t s i n a m easu red
r e g u l a r i t y i n t h e u n iv e r s e — t h a t i s , c e r t a i n " c u lm in a tin g " b o u n d a rie s
( c f . fh . 6 l o f t h i s c h a p te r). They a r e sy m b o liz e d i n H e r a c l i t u s by

•7*2
t h e " s e a s o n s t h a t b r i n g a l l t h in g s " (woac a t nav-ra cpeoouct - 1 0 0 ) .
T hese "m e a su re s" a r e e s t a b l i s h e d p a t t e r n s o f l o g i c a l b e h a v io r . The
sym bol o f t h e s u n , f o r i n s t a n c e , m a in ta in s i t s m e a s u re s . I f i t d id
n o t t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l n a t u r e o f P ik g — i . e . t h e Logos—w ould s e t i t
a s t r a i g h t ("HXtoq y a p o&x bneppâsT au p-erpa* e l 6e jitj, 'E p tv u e q p.cv

* . 7h
Atxrjq ln lx o o p o t lêuprjoouauv -9 * 0 . T h e re a r e s e v e r a l i n s ta n c e s i n
t h e l i t e r a t u r e b e f o r e H e r a c l i t u s from w h ich h e c o u ld h a v e drawn h i s
own u s e o f t h e w ord i n w hich t h e s e "m e a su re s" do in d e e d c o n c e rn
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e c o p y rig h t o w n e r . F u r th e r re p ro d u c tio n p roh ibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

169
b o u n d a r ie s , n o t s o l e l y o f a p h y s i c a l b u t o f a more in e x a c t and
s u b je c tiv e n a tu re . The i d e a o f " c u lm in a tio n " o r " c o m p le tio n " i s
s e e n c l e a r l y i n t h e l a s t two l i n e s o f S o lo n 's s h o r t poem c o n c e rn in g
t h e t e n a g es o f men. The t e n a g e s a r e f u l f i l l e d (reX eoaq) a c c o rd in g
«*w w \ #m * vw> p C / • v11» w&XC v»jV w CU T o /\C C C ^ XCL'TCL
tx o tT o / o6x a v accpo<j.. £a>v p o tp a v s x o t Qovoxoo - D ie h l 1 9 ) . H ow ever,
b e s id e s t h e exam ples o f t h e "m easu re o f manhood" neTpov) i n
t h e O dyssey (U .6 6 8 , 1 1 .3 1 7 , 1 8 .2 1 7 , e t a l . ) t h a t a g a in s t r e s s th e
i d e a o f " c u lm in a tio n ” , t h e r e i s an exam ple a t 1 0 .5 3 9 o f t h e "m easu res
o f a p a th " (jisT pc xaXsoSou) t h a t s u g g e s ts t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f seme
u n d e r ly in g d i r e c t i o n i n O d y sse u s' v o y a g e. (N ote a l s o t h e c o u p lin g o f
"m easu re" a n d " p a th " t h a t on a sy m b o lic l e v e l c o u ld v e ry w e ll h av e h ad
.an in f l u e n c e on t h e H e r a c lite a n hodos ( c f . s u p ra p . 155 ) w hich
i n i t s e l f i s d i r e c t e d b y u n d e rly in g f o r c e s o f a l o g i c a l and t h e r e f o r e
a " m e tr ic a l" n a t u r e . We s h a l l m eet t h i s phenomenon once a g a in i n
P arm en id es ( i n f r a pp* 2 1 0 ? f.} s A n o th e r good exam ple o f or> u n d e r ly in g ,
y e t u n s e e n , p a t h , a s I s e e i t , o c c u rs ii> H e sio d E^.6U8 w here H e sio d
p ro m ise s t o show P e rs e u s th e "m e asu re s o f t h e l o u d - r o a r in g s e a "
(6eu£a> 6fj tol jie tp a noXixpXoCaPOLO QaXaacrrjq)— t h a t i s , t h e s e a la n e s
w ith t h e i r i n d e f i n i t e b o u n d a rie s g iv e n fo rm o n ly b y t h e u lt i m a t e
d e s tin a tio n o f th e s h ip . P in d a r makes u s e o f t h e w ord i n t h e sen se ,
o f "m easure o f a m a n " - - th a t i s , t h e n o n - p h y s ic a l bounds o f a m an 's
l i f e , o f o n e 's s u b j e c t i v e s t a t u r e (xP'H 6a xax* afrrov a t - / e l navroq

170
6pav neTpov - P y th ia n 2 .3 * 0 . M ost im p o r ta n t f o r u s , ’’m easu re" i n p r e -
H e r a c lite a n l i t e r a t u r e m eant an u n s e e n , p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l, g e o m e tr ic a l
p r o p o r tio n : p,eTpa (puXdaaeoQau* x a tp d q 6* fenl noauv a p io ro q - H e s io d
E . 69 ^ . I t w o u ld h av e b e e n q u i t e n a t u r a l and e a s y f o r H e r a c l i t u s t o
a d o p t su c h a u s e o f t h e w ord i n h i s own th o u g h t, c r e a t i n g i n h i s
c o n c e p t o f "n & rp o v ", " a s u r e an d n e c e s s a r y rhythm w h ich i s m a in ta in e d
i n a l l c h a n g e ," o n w hich " r e s t s t h e c e r t a i n t y o f a h id d e n harm ony
t h a t i s b e t t e r th a n t h e v i s i b l e h arm o n y ." " I t i s o n ly i n o r d e r t o
a s s u r e h im s e lf o f t h i s h id d e n harm ony t h a t H e r a c l i t u s t u r n s b a c k
75
a g a in an d a g a in t o t h e c o n te m p la tio n o f c h a n g e .”
H e r a c litu s * c o n c e p ts o f t h e o p p o s iti o n a l and s t r u c t u r a l
n a tu r e o f t h e Logos l e d him n o t o n ly t o an o p p o s i t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e
in v o lv in g a t h i r d c o n n e c tin g o r u n d e r ly in g te rm b u t a l s o t o a t h r e e -
l e v e l d i a l e c t i c w h ic h F rS n k e l d e t e c t e d o v e r t h i r t y y e a r s ago an d w h ich
I , a t t h i s p o i n t , s h a l l e x p la i n .and e l a b o r a t e .
F r& nkel l a b e l s t h e l o g i c a l a p p a r a tu s o f t h e E e r a c i i t e a n
d i a l e c t i c " a g e o m e tr ic a l m ean", " a d e v ic e t o e x p re s s t h e i n e x p r e s s i b l e
and t o e x p la i n t h e u n e x p la i n a b le " . G iven t h r e e p la n e s t h e r e i s a
movement e m b ra cin g lo w e s t a n d h i g h e s t b y means o f t h e m id d le o r t h i r d
te rm . A good exam ple o f s u c h a movement i s 7 9 : "A man i s c a l l e d
f o o l i s h b e f o r e god j u s t a s a c h i l d b e f o r e man" (dvrjp vrpuoq -qxouae
ITDOC Ftrr f 1IOmOC Ov/.vtttco ttitTV ttnor

i - « - — — ~ > — • — - • — i” • - j • r ~ — ■> —
f ,,rPVin<~ rnw
■■ ■ * 9 ' *" ©
thS
g e o m e tr ic a l m ean, may b e c tille d w is e when com pared t o a b o y , and
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n p rohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

171
V
77
c h i l d i s h when com pared t o God. He com bines o p p o s ite q u a l i t i e s .
T he p o i n t o f t h e p r o p o r t i o n g o d :m an ::m an :b o y i s , h o w ev er, t o e x p r e s s
t h e h i g h e s t te rm (g o d ) i n te rm s o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw ee n god and
nan and man and b o y . T h e re i s a d e f i n i t e h ig h e r - lo w e r r e l a t i o n s h i p .
36 i s a n o th e r c a s e i n w h ich a mean i s u s e d t o s a h e t h e l o g i c in c lu d e
a h i g h e r and lo w e r te r m : " F o r p s y c h a i i t i s d e a th t o becom e w a t e r ,
for w a te r i t i s d e a th t o becom e la n d . W ater comes o u t o f e a r t h and
p s y c h a i from w a te r . P s y c h a i : w a te r : :w a t e r : l a n d . I n t h e c i r c u l a r c o u rs e
of t h e l o g i c , e m p h asis seem s t o b e .p la c e d upon p sy c h e a s t h e p o i n t
of d e p a r tu r e and p o i n t o f a r r i v a l w ith w a te r a s t h e mean b e tw e e n t h e
lo w e s t and h i g h e s t te rm s — i . e . t h e one f u r t h e s t rem oved from t h e p o i n t
of d e p a r tu r e and a r r i v a l . The c o m b in a tio n o f fra g m e n ts 82 an d 8 3 ,
n e i t h e r o f w h ich a r e c o n s id e r e d i p s i s s i m a v e r b a b u t a r e o b v io u s ly
c l o s e p a r a p h r a s e s , fo rm a t h i r d exam ple o f su c h a p r o p o r t i o n : " th e
m o s t b e a u t i f u l ape i s u g ly com pared t o t h e r a c e o f m en"; " th e w is e s t
of men w i l l a p p e a r an ape i n r e l a t i o n t o god i n w isdom , b e a u t y , an d
e v e r y th in g e l s e . " God:marc:man: a p e . T he.sam e dynam ic h i e r a r c h y
a p p l i e s a s i t d id b e f o r e . "The e s s e n c e o f t h e p a t t e r n i s t h a t
mundane v a l u e s , when com pared t o t h e p a ra m o u n t, a r e ta n ta m o u n t t o

*78
t h e i r o p p o s i t e s , t h e n o n - v a l u e s ." "The p a t t e r n i m p l i e s . . . t h e
s ta t e m e n t t h a t t h e m id d le e le m e n t 5 , when c o n s id e r e d from a h i g h e r
s t a n d p o i n t , i s no b e t t e r th a n i t s a p p a r e n t o p p o s ite C. Thus H e r a c l i t u s
c a n re d u c e t h e e q u a tio n t o a s h o r t e r form b y sim p ly a s s e r t i n g t h a t B

79
v i r t u a l l y am ounts t o i t s o p p o s it e C ." The t h r u s t o f t h e d i a l e c t i c

172
i s a t t h e e x p e n se o f t h e lo w e s t te rm and t h e t h i r d o r mean t e r n .
How i f t h e "mean p r i n c i p l e " i s c a r r i e d one s t e p f u r t h e r —
t h a t i s , i f a se c o n d mean i s in tr o d u c e d — t h e c i r c u l a r n a t u r e o f th e
l o g i c becomes a p p a r e n t. "O nly th ro u g h a g e o m e tr ic a l p r o g r e s s i o n can
•
A A
vwyya.w ww wjf was.
n w A ™
va
M * *i 1* « " . ■ W. "I — »
luuvuok^ a C ^ a u x w u a
™ I I ■ tmm —-
WC UlUUÛU
— — Xw i — X * —. --“
CIUUUO•
^0 J^ _ ..
| O ^ Ck CiOfiC
-
p a ra p h ra s e o f t h e i p s i s s i m a v e r b a , p r e s e n t s u s w ith a f i n e exam ple o f
t h i s e n la r g e d g e o m e t r ic a l p r o p o r ti o n : " f i r e l i v e s t h e d e a th o f e a r t h
and a i r l i v e s t h e d e a th o f f i r e , w a te r l i v e s t h e d e a th o f a i r , e a r t h
t h a t o f w a t e r ." E a r th :f ir e : : f i r e : a i r : : :a ir:w a te r: :w a te r:e a rth . The
d i a l e c t i c h e r e i s c i r c u l a r , a lth o u g h c o n s id e r in g t h e sy m b o lic n a tu r e
o f t h e r e s t o f t h e fra g m e n ts s u r e l y t h e a r i s t o c r a c y o f f i r e i s n o t
a lto g e th e r n e g le c te d .
A t tim e s o p p o s itio n s e n t a i l i n g a t h i r d te rm a r e vised to
im p ly a t h r e e - te r m e d o p p o s itio n o f one o r d e r h i g h e r . A t t h e s e tim e s
th e h i g h e s t te rm o f t h e f i r s t t h r e e - te r m e d o p p o s itio n i s i n i t s e l f a
m iyf.in*A rtf o p p o s i t s s sncL bsccinss s, woaw i n on o p p o s itio n . O? S, £ ig i.S 2T
o r d e r w hich c a n n o t b e e x p r e s s e d a s m a th e m a tic a lly a s t h e above
ex am p les. I n d i s c u s s i n g t h e " s o l s t i c e s o f f i r e " ( 3 l ) , H e r a c li tu s
makes th e s e e m in g ly u n c o m p lic a te d s ta te m e n t " f i r s t s e a — on t h e one
h an d h a l f t h e s e a i s e a r t h on t h e o t h e r h a l f i s p r g s t S r (nopoq Tpoital
npanrov BaXaaoa, GaXaaarjq 5s to p,sv tûuctu to 5 s Tp.iau J ip rp rn p ).
The o p p o s itio n o r i g i n a l l y i s e a r t h / s e a / o r S s t S r b u t t h e i m p lic a t io n i s
s e a / p r e s t e r / p y r b e c a u s e t h e p r e s t e r i s a m ix tu re o f f i r e and w a te r .

173
A th r e e - te r m e d o p p o s itio n im p lie s w i th in i t an o p p o s itio n a d e g re e
more a d v an c e d . 26 i s a n o th e r c l e a r exam ple o f t h i s ty p e o f d i a l e c t i c a l
im p e tu s : " l i v i n g and a s le e p man a p p ro x im a te s a d ead p an ., awake he
a p p ro x im a te s one who i s s l e e p i n g : ( . . . £wv 6s aJixexat xs0vsorrow su5cov
airceT at eoS ovxoq). The f i r s t o p p o s itio n i s d e a t h / s l e e p i n g -
l i f e / w a k i n g - l i f e , b u t j u s t a s s l e e p i n g - l i f e to u c h e s upon d e a th and
w a k i n g - l i f e , so w a k in g - lif e m u st to u c h on s l e e p i n g - l i f e and so m eth in g
h ig h e r w hich I s h o u ld c a l l " t r u e l i f e " . So t h e f o llo w in g o p p o s itio n
i s t h e r e f o r e im p lie d : s le e p in g -life /w a k in g -life /life . The p ro c e s s
h e r e i s a g a in more g e o m e tr ic a l s in c e t h e m id d le te rm o f t h e l a r g e r
p r o p o r tio n ( d e a th :s le e p - w a k in g : : s l e e p - w a k i n g : l i f e ) c o n s id e re d from
th e p o i n t o f v iew o f r e a l l i f e i s no b e t t e r th a n i t s a p p a r e n t o p p o s it e :
d e a th ;- An even s t r o n g e r way o f f a s h io n in g t h e same t h i n g i s t o s t a t e ,
a s fra g m e n t 21 d o e s , t h a t n o rm a l l i f e awake i s d e a th , p u t t i n g s le e p
a s id e e n t i r e l y , th e r e b y m aking n o rm a l l i f e t h e m id d le te rm i n t h e
in c o m p le te o p p o s itio n : d e a th /n o rm a l l i f e / ( ) w h ich demands r e a l
l i f e t o f i l l th e v o id . When t h e h i g h e s t te rm i s n o t a p p a r e n t t h e
f o r c e o f t h e d i a l e c t i c e n g e n d e re d by H e r a c lit e a n o p p o s itio n s c o n s id e re d
as i d e n t i c a l i s a l l t h e more p o w e rfu l.
To w h at e x te n t o t h e r fra g m e n ts i n t h e H e r a c lit e a n c o rp u s
r e f l e c t t h e d i a l e c t i c o f t h e t h i r d te rm i s l a r g e l y c o n j e c t u r a l .
F ragm ents may in d e e d b e c o n s id e r e d a s b e lo n g in g t o l a r g e r p r o p o r t i o n s .
F r i n k e l , f o r i n s t a n c e , o b s e rv e s t h a t t h i s i s p ro b a b ly t h e c a s e w ith

117 ("A man w henever h e i s d ru n k i s l e d b e in g t r i p p e d up by a boy
n o t y e t come t o m a n 's e s t a t e . . . . " ) (boy:m an: :m a n :(g o d )) and I h av e
g iv e n some i n d i c a t i o n t h a t su c h a n a p p ro a c h i s p o s s i b l e i n t h e
f o r e g o in g p a ra g ra p h . T h is s o r t o f p ie ce m e al- e x a m in a tio n may ev en
g iv e some p la c e f o r a fra g m e n t a s s h o r t and n o rm a lly in c o m p re h e n s ib le
a s 7 ^ " c h i l d r e n o f p a r e n ts " (n a tfia q toxsoovmv) ( c h i l d : p a r e n t s : : p a r e n t s :
(g o d )? ) o r f o r a fra g m e n t a s s t r a n g e a s 20 w hich m ig h t e x p re s s some
s o r t o f l o g i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n c h i l d r e n , p a r e n t s , and a h i ghe r
te r m : "H aving come i n t o b e in g t h e y w ish t o l i v e and p o s s e s s t h e i r
f a t e , b u t r a t h e r th e y d e s i s t and le a v e t h e i r c h i l d r e n t o p o s s e s s
t h e i r s " (y cv o iicv o l £obeuv fc0e\ooox jiopouq -z* sxecv paXXov 5e dvanausoO au,
x a t n a tS a q xaTaX etnooox popooq y s v &°9cu )» P e rh a p s ev en 5 2 , t h a t
p e c u l i a r l y winsome fr a g m e n t, " tim e i s a c h i l d p la y in g a game o f
d r a u g h ts ; t h e k in g s h ip i s i n t h e h an d s o f a c h ild '? (atcov x a tq £otl
naC&av, neaaeuoov • natSoq +] PoctuXtjCt]) i s r e l a t e d t o t h e same expanded
o p p o s itio n and i s in te n d e d t o em p h asize some s o r t o f d i a l e c t i c a l

02
p o t e n t i a l i n h e r e n t i n ev en t h e lo w e s t' te rm o f th e c o m p ariso n . The
p o i n t i s t h a t t h e t h r e e - te r m e d p r o p o r t i o n do es e x i s t i n H e r a c l i t u s and
do es encom pass c e r t a i n d i a l e c t i c a l p r o p e r t i e s . N o r, f o r t h a t m a t t e r ,
was t h i s te c h n iq u e p e c u l i a r t o H e r a c l i t u s . I t s p o e t i c b a ck g ro u n d i s
a l l to o c l e a r . I f one lo o k s a t P i n d a r 's O lympian 2 s tr o p h e a , one
o c c o a S ju u ^ X c u T Ic V c l a X x * u c t V c c u Z g u S / I l c x ' ciC X c S / cu illO x o c l x .
and i n B a c c h y lid e s 3 E 'o n e b e tw e e n H ie ro n /C ro e s u s /g o d . O th e r exam ples

175
c o u ld e a s i l y enough h e fo u n d . (T h is ty p e o f a rra n g e m e n t i s p ro b a b ly
li n k e d t i g h t l y w ith t h e d e v ic e o f t h e p r i a m e l . ) Y et f u r t h e r e x p l o r a ti o n
o f t h i s p o i n t i s u n n e c e s s a ry . The tw o ex am p les I h a v e g iv e n i n d i c a t e
i t s p re se n c e s u f f i c i e n t l y . I t i s enough t o know t h a t th r e e - te r m e d
d i a l e c t i c s a r e n o t s o l e l y H e r a c l i t e a n , e v en i f t h e p o e t i c exam ples
go
th e m s e lv e s a r e s l i g h t l y l a t e r .
I n t h e p r e c e d in g p a g e s I h a v e e n d e a v o re d t o e x p la i n th e
fra g m e n ts o f H e r a c l i t u s i n l o g i c a l t e r m s , r e l y i n g upon a c e r t a i n
s t r u c t u r a l and sy m b o lic mode o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n i n o r d e r t o im p a rt
some u n i t y an d c o h e re n c e t o w h at t h e man s a i d . By s u b o r d in a tin g
e v e r y th in g t o t h e i d e a o f t h e L o g o s, I h a v e r e v e a l e d a number o f
s t r u c t u r a l a n d sy m b o lic phenom ena we h a v e e n c o u n te re d i n e a r l i e r
c h a p te rs . I f one t u r n s t o H e r a c l i t u s ' s o - c a l l e d p h i l o s o p h i c a l
a n t a g o n i s t , P a rm e n id e s , w ith a s i m i l a r s e t o f t o o l s , i n t e r e s t i n g and
r a t h e r n o v e l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f t h e l e t t e r ' s w ork r a p i d l y become
e v id e n t.

176
FOOTNOTES
C h a p te r 3
^ B u rn e t i n h i s E a r ly G reek P h ilo s o p h e r s (London 1 9 6 3 , f i r s t e d i t i o n

1892) c o n te n d s , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h a t t h e H e r a c l i t e a n c o n c e p t o f F i r e
(n o p ) m u st b e u n d e rs to o d i n p h y s i c a l te rm s a s a m a t e r i a l phenomenon
w hich " o f i t s own n a t u r e w o u ld p a s s i n t o e v e r y th in g e l s e , w h ile
e v e r y th in g e l s e w ould p a s s i n t o i t . " I t i s e a s y enough t o s e e why
H e r a c l i t u s s h o u ld c h o o se f i r e " i f we c o n s id e r t h e phenomenon o f
c o m b u stio n " ( p . 1 U5 ) . The H e r a c l ite a n p r g s t g r i s f o r B u rn e t sim p ly
a " h u r r ic a n e accom panied by a f i e r y w a te r s p o u t" (p p . 1 4 8 - 9 ) , and
n i g h t and w i n t e r w ere p ro d u c e d from t h e e a r t h a n d s e a b e c a u s e H e r a c l i t u s
" sa w , o f c o u r s e , t h a t t h e v a l l e y s w ere d a rk b e f o r e t h e h i l l - t o p s "
( p . 1 5 5 ).
S r j c . c . G u t h r i e , A H is to r y o f G reek P h ilo s o p h y (C am b rid g e, 1962 ) , .

I . 4 l4 .
^ Ib id . p . U57 .
^ Ib id . p . U71 .
' I b i d . p p . 4 1 0 -4 1 3 .
^ Ib id . p . 42 4 . •
I b i d . p . 6 . F o r a n ev en more i n t e r e s t i n g a c c o u n t o f t h e
j u x t a p o s i t i o n o f " u n c o n s c io u s n e s s " and " s u b t l e th in k in g " s e e p . 428.
^ T b id . p . 43 2 .
9I b i d . p . 440.
10I b i d . p . 452.
U T b i d . p . 467.

177
12I b i d . p . VT9.
13
, F .E .D . S c h le ie rm & c h e r, D r i t t e A b th e ilu n g z u r P h ilo s o p h ic I I , Werke
( B e r l i n 1 8 3 8 ) , p p . 1-1U 6.
1^
F e r d in a n d . L a s s a l l e , D ie P h ilo s o p h ic H e r a k l e ito s d es D unklen von
15
G.W .F. H e g e l, V o rle su n g e n u b e r d i e G e sc h ic h te d e r P h ilo s o p h ic I_,
S & n tlic h e W erke 17 ( S t u t t g a r t 1 9 2 8 ), p . 3 ^ .
^ Ib id . p. 3 ^ . "D ass S e in i s t d a s E i n e , d as E r s t e ; d a s Z v e ite

i s t d as W erden— z u r d i e s e r Bestimmung i s t e r fo r tg e g a n g e n . Das i s t
d a s e r s t e K o n k re te , d a s A b s o lu te a l s i n ihm d ie E i n h e i t E n t g e g e n g e s e t z t e r .
B e i ihm i s t a l s o z u e r s t d i e p h i l o s o p h is che I d e e i n i h r e r s p e k u la tiv e n
Forsi n
^ I b i d . p . 3 ^ 9 . " H e r a k l i t s a g t , A lle s i s t W erden; d ie s s Werden

i s t d as P r i n c i p . D ie s s l i e g t i n dem A u sd ru ck e ; Das S e in i s t so v e n ig
a l s d as N i c h t s e i n ; d a s W erden i s t und i s t auch n i c h t . D ie s c h l e c h t h i n
e n tg e g e n g e s e tz te n Bestim m ungen s i n d i n E in s v e rb u n d e n ; v i r h ab en d a s
S e in d a r i n u n d auch d as N ic h t s e i n . ”
^ I b i d . p . 3^7- " H e r a k l i t h a t a l s d u n k e l g e g o lte n ; und i s t berQ hm t

v e g e n s e i n e r D u n k e lh e it. C ic e ro h a t e in e n s c h le c h te n E i n f a l l , v i e e s
ihm o f t g e h t ; e r m e in t, e r h ab e a b s i c h t l i c h s o d u n k e l g e s c h r ie b e n .
Es i s t d i e s s s b e r s e h r p l a t t g s s a g t , s e i n e e ig e n e P l a t t h e i t , d ie e r
z u r P l a t t h e i t H e r a k l i t s m a c h t . . . .S e in e D u n k e lh e it, v e lc h e ihm auch den
B einam en ’ d e r D u n k le 1 (o x o r s tv o q ) zu zo g i s t v o h l m ehr F o lg e von
v e m a c h l S s s i g t e r W ortffigung und d e r u n a u s g e b ild e te n S p r a c h e . . . . "
19 O lo f G ig a n , P e r U rsp ru n g d e r g r ie c h is c h e n P h ilo s o p h ie von H e sio d

b i s P a m e n id e s ( B a s e l 19^-5), p« 2 0 3 .
20
G.W .F. H e g e l, The Phenom enology o f Mind (London 1 9 6 l ) , p . 96 .
23l b i d . p . 8 3.
^ L a s s a l l e , o p . c i t . p p . 1 6 -1 7 . "So s i n d F e u e r , Z e i t , Kampf,
N o th v e n d ig k e it, Weg n a c h Oben u nd U n te n , F l u s s , G e r e c h t i g k e i t , F r i e d e ,
u . s . v . (nup, x o ° v°9» noXepioq, atpaousvT], 65oq avco xaxco, dtxr]» Elpr]vrj,
e t c . ) m itv e lc h e n B enennungen v i r — m it noch v i e l e n a n d e rn — i n s e in e n

178
Fragm enten s e i n P r i n c i p b e z e ic h n e t f i n d e n , n u r g e h R u fte Namen, n u r

d ie v e r s c h ie d e n e s i n n l i c h e A u sp rach e e i n e s und d e s s e lb e n B e g r i f f s ,
e i n und d a s s e lb e b e d e u te n d u n d i n e i n und d e r s e lb e n K in s ic h t gew Shlt
Oder v ie lm e h r n u r , was s i c h sp & te r k l a r e r h e r a u s s t e l l e n w ir d ,
v e rs c h ie d e n e Wendungen und A b stu fu n g e n O der P o te n z iru n g e n d e s s e lb e n
B e g r iffs ."
c-3r b i d . p . 1 8 . "S o i s t d a s F e u e r d i e dem h e r a k l i t i s chen P r i n c i p ,

d e r p r o c e s s ir e n d e n E i n h e i t von S e in und N i c h t s e i n , dem W erden,
e n ts p re c h e n d e E x i s t e n z ."
2k
I b i d . p p . 1 9 , 39* e t a l .
^ I b i d . p . 3 8 , c f . p . Uo.
26
G ig c n , ojj. e x t . p • 199•
27
Heimann F r S n k e l, D ic h tu n g und P h ilo s o p h ie d es frtlh e n Griechentu-ms
(New Y ork 1 9 5 1 ), p . k jT .
aO
I b i d . p . U78 .
2Q
Hermann F r S n k e l, "A T hought P a t t e r n i n H e r a c l i t u s , " A m erican J o u r n a l
o f P h ilo lo g y ( 1 9 3 8 ) , p . 3 1 9 . F rS n k e l i s q u ic k t o p o i n t o u t t h a t
fra g m e n ts 14 an d 15 s p e a k o u t f l a t l y a g a i n s t any u n re a so n e d m y s tic is m .
^ I b i d . p . 328. C f. fra g m e n ts 3 an d U5 .
31
6 s ! snsoQau x o tv S . £uv&q ya p 6 xouvoq. too \6 y o o 5* iovxoq
£uvoo ^w ouatv o t noXXol &q fcStav exovxeq (ppcvrjauv ( 2 ) . C o n cern in g th e
p h r a s e , £uvoq ya p 6 xouvoq, I am i n c l i n e d t o a g re e w ith K ir k , o p . c i t .
p . 5 7 , t h a t i t i s v e r y p ro b a b ly a g l o s s b y S e x tu s .
32
G .S . K ir k , H e r a c l i t u s : The Cosmic F ragm ents (C am bridge 195*0 p« 68
p u ts f o r t h an i n t e r e s t i n g t r a n s l a t i o n f o r 6}io - Xoy ~ e !v i n t h e p r e s e n t
fra g m e n t: " t o tu n e i n w ith X oroq". I s h a l l d e a l e x t e n s i v e ly w ith
t h i s " tim in g in " s u b s e q u e n tly a t t h e tim e I d is c u s s t h e n o n -o b v io u s
n a t u r e o f t h e re a lm o f t h e L o g o s. A t p r e s e n t I w ish o n ly t o p o i n t o u t
' t h i s p o s s i b l e u s e o f t h e v e rb a s an a f f i r m a t i o n o f t h e V lo g ic a l" i d e a
H e r a c l i t u s i s a d v a n c in g .

179
TEhe "many-named” a s p e c t o f Z eus i s e a s i l y s e e n i n A e sc h y lu s f r . 70:

Zcdq feoTuv aCOTjp, Zeoq 6 s tt|» Zeoq 6* o b p a v o q / Zeoq x o t t u itav ra
X&rk t£ov5’ b n c p re p o v . I t w i l l n o t b e i r r e g u l a r t h e n , a s we s h a l l s e e ,
t h a t t h e Logos t o o p o s s e s s e s many names t h a t a c t a s s ig r e o r sym bols
(6 av a£ oo vd p a v rs tS v feort t 6 fev AeX<potq, o u r s X sy st o u re x p o n reu AXXa
onuatvsL - 9 3 ) . I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g , h o w e v er, t h a t t h e s e "many nam es" a r e
c a p a b le o f assum ing o p p o s it io n a l s tr u c tu r e s : 0s^q s6<pp6vT),
XCtncbv Gepoq, mSXepoq etprjvr], xopoq Xepoq . . . 6vou<i£sTat xa.0’ fjSovTjv
ix a a to u - 67 .
3l|.
K ir k , o p . c i t . , p p . 386-391* a rg u e s t h a t t h i s fra g m e n t i s c o r r u p t ,
and I te n d t o a g re e a t l e a s t i n so feu: a s I h a v e a c c e p te d h i s r e a d i n g ,
8xrj xupepvaTcn., o v e r D i e l s ' 6 tst ) £xu{3epvae.. The m ethod o f t h i s "o n e"
i s b y f a r t h e m o s t im p o r ta n t f a c t o r h e r e . C e r ta i n ly i t i s n o t m a n 's
gnSme t h a t g u id e s a l l t h in g s th ro u g h a l l t h in g s b u t m a n 's co m p reh en sio n
o f how t h in g s a r e g u id e d . The s t r u c t u r e o r m ethod i s w h at H e r a c l i t u s
i s in d ic a tin g h e re .
35
K ir k , i b i d . p p . 5^-55* d e c l a r e s t h a t " f o r H e r a c l i t u s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p
b etw een p a r t i c u l a r men o r t h i n g s and t h e one u n i v e r s a l fo rm u la o r law
was b o th ntp.TiCT«.q an d p.e0e£i.q." T h is i d e a becom es a l l t h e m ore im p o r ta n t
when one c o n s id e r s t h e c o n c e p t o f a n th ro p o s i n P r o ta g o r a s ( i n f r a PP» 2 5 0 f f . ),
b u t i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g h e r e t o o b e c a u s e a g a in we a r e f a c e d w ith th e
common (xuvoq) o r c o l l e c t i v e a s p e c t o f t h e L ogos.
36
"G old i s u s e d a g a in b y H e r a c l i t u s : " F o r men who a r e lo o k in g , f o r
g o ld , d ig up much la n d and f i n d l i t t l e " (xpuoov yap o l 5i.£T)nevoi.
noXXqv opuooooot x a l sopCoxouacv oXtyov - 2 2 ) . One can e a s i l y s p e c u la te
t h a t " g o ld " h e r e s ta n d s b o th f o r t h e m a t e r i a l s u b s ta n c e on t h e l e v e l o f
t h e h e r d and f o r t h e Logos i t s e l f on t h e l e v e l o f H e r a c l i t u s . I n t h e
se c o n d c a s e , we a r e d e a li n g w ith a sy m b o lic phenomenon— t h e " g o ld " , f o r
i n s t a n c e , o f P i n d a r 's F i r s t O lym pian: *Apl o t o v (jl s v uScop, 6 6e xP°°^9
ac06p.evov n o p / a x e SuaJtpenec v o x t I neyavopoq e£oxa nXooroo 1 - 2 . The
a f f e c t i v e sym bols o f o6cop, xPUCT°9» and nop a r e common t o b o th a u t h o r s .
I s h a l l d is c u s s t h e s e phenomena i n some d e t a i l s u b s e q u e n tly ( i n f r a p p . 157-8
37
K ir k , o p . c i t . p . 262 i n t e r p r e t s t h i s fra g m e n t i n a r a t h e r
p e s s i m i s t i c f a s h i o n : "On t h e w hole I t h i n k i t a s l i k e l y a s n o t t o b e
a c o n c r e te i l l u s t r a t i o n o f t h e u n i v e r s a l i t y o f s t r i f e : t h e o p p o s itio n
b etw een man an d b e a s t may t y p i f y t h a t b etw een man and h i s s u r r o u n d in g s ,
' o r t h e a c t i o n an d r e a c t i o n b e tw ee n a l l t h i n g s a b s o l u t e l y . I t i s a b i t
q u e s t i o n a b l e , I t h i n k , t o s e e " s t r i f e " o r "man" i n t h i s s ta te m e n t
u n le s s "man" b e t h e uncom prehending a n im a l " p a s tu r e d w ith a blow "

180
b e c a u s e o f h i s s tu b b o rn r e f u s a l t o com prehend t h e L ogos. I t i s

im p o r ta n t t o k e ep a n e y e t o w h at i s im p o r ta n t i n H e r a c l i t u s — i . e .
t h e Logos and m a n 's co m p reh en sio n o f i t .
3Êhe a p p e a ra n c e o f h y d g r a g a in s u g g e s ts t h e a f f e c t i v e sym bolism

o f P in d a r ( c f . f n . I l l .3 7 ) . "P u re w a te r" c o u ld v e ry e a s i l y b e t h e
" p u re w a te r" o f t h e L ogos. Through sy m b o lic i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h e
fra g m e n t becom es an a b s o lu t e s ta te m e n t p o in te d to w a rd s t h e L o g o s,
n o t a r e l a t i v i s t i c one i n te rm s o f D is s o i L ogoi a s K irk s e e s i t (o p .
c i t . p . 80) .
39 ~
The i d e a o f xXeoq devaov • Qvrpxciv a s t h e a r i s t o c r a t i c c h o ic e i s ,
o f c o u r s e , one o f t h e p rim a ry d r i v i n g f o r c e s o f P i n d a r 's own p o e tr y
a s we h av e i t . B oth H e r a c l i t u s and P in d a r p re s u p p o s e t h a t t h e
a r i s t o c r a t i c n a t u r e w i l l cho o se e x c e l le n c e . A c co rd in g t o them a good
c h a r a c t e r (S th o s ) i s b o th in b o rn and e x c e l l e n t : an ax ov 6 s xpij'jra.■_ t o
aoyysvsq T]0oq -O lym pian 1 3 .1 3 ; ^0oq ynp 4v0pa>nsuov p.sv o 6x s x s t
Yvdjpnq, 0 s to v 6 s exs*. - 7 8 . F o r H e r a c l i t u s a m a n 's c h a r a c t e r ( S th o s )
i s h i s daim on (r]0oq dv0p<an^ 5a£(icov - 1 1 9 ) . He m a k es, t h e r e f o r e , t h e
daim on a s u b j e c t i v e phenomenon o f s o r t s — p e rh a p s e v en r e l a t e d t o t h a t
w hich i s somehow t h e io n i n man h im s e l f . G iven t h e a r i s t o c r a t i c n a t u r e
o f H e r a c l i t u s and t h e l y r i c p e r io d i n g e n e r a l , i t i s n o t a t a l l
s u r p r i s i n g t o s e e th e fo rm e r l i k e some C a l lin u s o r T y r ta e u s p r a i s i n g
" th e h o n o r o f th o s e k i l l e d i n w ar (&pr)t0aTOuq 0 e o t t l u S o l xau avSpconot
- 2 k ) . The g e n e r a l a r i s t o c r a t i c b ack g ro u n d h a d l e a d H e r a c l i t u s , i n a
c o m p le te ly n a t u r a l w ay, t o p r a i s e and t o exam ine a q u a l i t y i n man t h a t
i s e s p e c i a l and e x c e l l e n t — t h e L ogos. H ere l i e s o n e o f h i s g r e a t e s t
d e b ts t o h i s l i t e r a r y and c u l t u r a l b a c k g ro u n d . I do n o t a g re e
e n t i r e l y w ith K i r k 's a n a l y s i s o f t h i s fra g m e n t— c f . " H e r a c l i t u s sind
D eath i n B a t t l e " AJP 70:19^9* p p . 38U-393—when h e l i n k s i t w ith th e
s t a t e o f t h e p s y c h e : " I t i s now a t l a s t p o s s i b l e t o e x p la i n why s o u ls
t h a t p e r i s h ( i . e . a r e in v o lv e d i n t h e d e a th o f t h e b o dy) i n w ar a r e
p u r e r th a n th o s e t h a t p e r i s h by d i s e a s e : i t i s b e c a u s e t h e d e a th i s
i n i t s n o rm al c o n d i t i o n , an d h a s n o t b e e n d e b i l i t a t e d and m o is te n e d b y
t h e e x p e r ie n c e o f s i c k n e s s . . . " p . 392. I n my o p in io n t h e em p h asis
i s on t h e s t r i f e t h a t l e a d s t o e x c e lle n c e and n o t on d e a th . The fo rm e r
i s t h e l y r i c and n o b le s e n tim e n t.
Uo
K ir k , o p . c i t . p . 2 3 1 , p u ts t h i s fra g m e n t i n a g ro u p o f o t h e r s
h e c la im s i n d i c a t e t h a t w h ile t h e Ic g c e can b e a p p re h e n d e d , m eet men
ig n o r e i t . " I g n o r e " , I t h i n k , i s n o t q u i t e t h e c o r r e c t w o rd , f o r
m a n 's " ig n o ra n c e " i s to o b l a t a n t and to o d e p ra v e d a s f a r a s H e r a c l i t u s
i s c o n c e rn e d . I s h o u ld te n d t o a rg u e t h a t m ost men la c k t h e e x c e lle n c e
t o com prehend t h e phenomenon and h en ce r e j e c t i t .

l 8l
lvlT h e re i s some q u e s ti o n i n my own m ind r e g a r d in g t h e t r u t h o f

t h e s e a s s e r t i o n s . As I h av e a rg u e d above ( s u p r a p p . 79-80 ) , Day
a n d N ig h t i n H e s io d a r e in d e e d o p p o s ite s o f a d y a d ic phenom enon.
W hether H e r a c l i t u s means t h a t H e sio d was n o t c o n sc io u s (o6x &y Cvcooxcov)
o f t h e c o r r e l a t i o n o f day and n i g h t i s even more open t o q u e s t i o n . I
am m ore i n c l i n e d t o lo o k upon t h i s comment a g a i n s t H e sio d a s I lo o k
upon th o s e a g a i n s t P y th a g o r a s . X enophanes. H e c a ta e u s . and Homer:
e i t h e r t h e way o f s p e e c h o r t h e th o u g h t i t s e l f d id n o t , i n H e r a c l i t u s ’
t e r m s , d i r e c t l y in v o lv e t h e L ogos. T h is b la n k e t r e j e c t i o n o f a man
f o r some p a r t i c u l a r f a u l t i n t h e te rm s o f a n o th e r a u th o r i s c e r t a i n l y
n o t ' u n u s u a l i n G reek l i t e r a t u r e . P a rm e n id e s' s o - c a l l e d r e j e c t i o n o f
H e r a c l i t u s f a l l s i n t o t h e same c a te g o ry ( c f . i n f r a p p . l 8 8 f f . ) an d
P l a t o 's r e j e c t i o n o f t h e p o e ts c a r r i e s no l i t t l e o f t h i s q u a l i t y .
^ T h e parap h rase i n Iam blichu s g o e s: Suotwv tolvuv St/cra

eCS?]* t s (i£v -rtcv dnoxsxa9apiisvcov JiavT&nacs.v dvSparccov, ov.a &<p’ tvoq av
more YôtTO onavCax;, ax; <prjotv ‘ H. r) Ttvoiv dXtY^v e5apL8j-iT]T03v dvSpSv*
p aS ' evoXa xtX. - D i e l s 6 9 .
h a v e a l r e a d y s e e n i n w h at low e ste e m H e r a c l i t u s h o ld s c h i l d r e n
i n h i s a t t a c k upon t h e E p h e s ia n s (1 2 1 ).
XX
- The p a ra d o x o f c h i l d r e n k i l l i n g / b r i n g i n g f l e a s depends upon t h e
d o u b le m ean in g o f lambang-—" t o k i l l " and " t o t a k e " . T h is ty p e o f
p a ra d o x i s fo u n d i n c o n n e c tio n w ith t h e bow (103) and good and b a d
f o r tu n e ( 2 5 ) . C f. i n f r a p . 166 . I t i s im p o r ta n t h e r e , I t h i n k ,
t h a t Homer b e c a u s e o f h i s g n g s is i s u n a b le t o c a tc h t h e f a l l a c y and
t h a t t h i s fra g m e n t u s e s p a ra d o x t o a t t a c k a f a u l t y way o f t h i n k i n g
t h a t p e r c e i v e s t h e w o rld w ith o u t a p p r e c ia tio n o f i t s l o g i c a l c o m p le x itie s .
T h is t h i n k i n g a p p r e c i a t e s o n ly w hat i s v i s i b l e and i s h e n c e c o n fu s e d .
X5 -
What H e r a c l i t u s means by m a th e s is i s n o t e x tre m e ly d i f f i c u l t t o
u n d e r s ta n d . I f one c o n s id e r s t h i s frag m e n t i n c o n ju n c tio n w ith -95 and
1 7 , one comes t o t h e c o n c lu s io n t h a t m a th e s is i s a v e ry s tr o n g te rm b u t
n o t a suprem e o n e . One m u st h id e i t s la c k ( 9 5 ) . Y e t, m a th e s is i s
d e c id e d ly s e c o n d a ry t o p h r o n S s is , f o r one may p o s s e s s t h e fo rm e r
w ith o u t t h e l a t t e r (1 7 ) and i t i s t h e l a t t e r — r e a l co m p reh en sio n —
t h a t i s a l l i n p o r t a n t . I t i s , p e r h a p s , to o s o p h i s t i c a t e d t o lo o k
upon m a th e s is a s V e rs ta n d and o h r o n e s is a s V e m u n f t, b u t , from t h e
p r e s e n t e x a m p le s , t h e s u b o r d in a tio n o r tn e fo rm e r no t h e l a t t e r and
t h e t r u l y co m p re h en siv e n a t u r e o f t h e l a t t e r c o u p le d w ith a c e r t a i n
c o l l e c t i v e a n d p e r c e p t i v e n a tu r e o f t h e fo rm e r makes t h e a n a lo g y
te m p tin g .

182
k6
S n e l l , o p . c i t . p . 1U5.
U7
Then t o o t h i s s ta te m e n t c o u ld b e o n ly a n o th e r a tte m p t t o d e -
e m phasize t h e f o r c e o f w hat we s h o u ld c a l l a t o t a l l y o b j e c t i v e w o rld
v ie w . P h y s i c a l l y ( i . e . , m e asu re d b y t h e f o o t ) t h e su n i s m e a n in g le s s ;
s y m b o lic a lly ( i . e . , m easu red b y p y r ) i t i s so m e th in g e l s e a l t o g e t h e r .
1»8
As S n e l l p o i n t s o u t (o p . c i t . p . 1 7 )» t h e i d e a o f t h e d e p th and
p r o f u n d ity o f s o u l comes a b o u t from t h e l y r i c p o e ts and t h e i r u s e o f
pdSwppcov and paSujirfrnq. " I n t h e s e e x p r e s s i o n s , t h e sym bol o f d e p th
alw ay s p o i n t s t o t h e i n f i n i t y o f t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l an d s p i r i t u a l ,
w h ich d i f f e r e n t i a t e s i t from t h e p h y s i c a l . " p . 18 .
U9
A ls o , w ith a n im p ro p e r p s y c h e " a s many t h i n g s a s we s e e awake
a r e d e a t h , and a s many t h i n g s a s we s e e s l e e p i n g a r e s le e p " (Savaxoq
ten:iv 6x6ou £Y~P&s'-rcs<; 5pscp.sv, 6x 5 ca 5 s siSScvrsq Snvoq - 2 1 ) . I n t h e
p r o p e r p sy c h e s l e e p w ould b e d e a th an d aw akedness l i f e . I s h a l l
s p e a k s u b s e q u e n tly o f t h e t r i p a r t i t e l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e im p lie d i n a
s ta te m e n t o f t h i s s o r t ( i n f r a p« 1 7 3 ).
^ 1 do n o t w is h a t t h i s p o i n t t o d is c u s s "m e tro n " w hich I c o n s id e r

m ore o f a l o g i c a l phenom enon. I am i n c l i n e d t o a g re e w ith K ir k , o p .
c i t . p . 2 9 3 , t h a t t h e p r e s e n t- fra g m e n t d e a ls w it h t h e s u n ’ s movement
T S . i n f r a p . 168 ) , b u t I do n o t q u e s ti o n K ra n z , a s do es h e ,
c o n c e rn in g t h e e q u a tio n o f t h e "b o u n d a ry o f b r i g h t Zeus" w ith th e
" m e a su re s" o f 9k w h ich t h e su n w i l l n o t o v e r s t e p . B o th may b e
p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l l i n e s .
51I t i s im p o r ta n t t h a t D ie ls d o es n o t c o n s id e r t h e se c o n d h a l f o f
89 t o b e i p s i s s i m a v e r b a —t h a t i s , t h e p o r t i o n t h a t p la c e s th o s e a s le e p
t o t a l l y w i t h i n a p r i v a t e w o rld . F o r my p a r t I c o n s id e r t h e s e w ords
a much l a t e r a d d i t i o n — one in te n d e d t o c r e a t e s y n t a c t i c a l o p p o s itio n s
w here p ro b a b ly o n ly a v e r b a l one e x i s t e d —t h a t i s , H e r a c l i t u s i s m e re ly
s a y in g t h a t f o r th o s e aw ake an d th o s e p r o p e r ly a ttu n e d t h e cosmos i s
common and n o t p r i v a t e . C e r t a i n l y t h i s i s t h e m o st s a t i s f a c t o r y way
o f r e c o n c i l i n g t h i s fra g m e n t w ith 75 w h ic h a llo w s a s le e p in g man a p la c e
i n t h e cosmos to o and w ith 2 6 w h ich a r g u e s , a s I s e e i t , t h a t a ls e e p o r
awake a man w ith o u t Logos i s a s good a s d e ad ( . . . ^cov 5 s anrexaL
TsSevewroq euScov, fevPTTYOOws S titetcu . s o S o v t o c ) .

183
52
C f. S n e l l , o p . c i t . p . lU 6: " I n a s much a s th e lo g o s p e rv a d e s
e v e r y th in g i t m a n if e s ts i t s e l f i n t h e i n d i v i d u a l a l s o ; and y e t i t i s
s e t a p a r t from, a l l ( f r . 108) s i n c e i t tr a n s c e n d s t h e p a r t i c u l a r . The
m y s te rio u s e s s e n c e , t h e v i t a l t e n s i o n , r e v e a l s i t s e l f th ro u g h s i g n i f i c a n t
p a r t i c u l a r e v e n ts w hich man u s e s as sym bols t o ap p reh en d t h e d i v i n e ."
S tr ip p e d o f i t s tr a n s c e n d e n t a l and m y s t i c a l to n e i n a d d i tio n t o th e
i d e a t h a t t h e sym hols in v o lv e d a r e s o l e l y " e v e n ts " and n o t " o b j e c t s " ,
t h i s s ta te m e n t i s a good i n d i c a t i o n t h a t S n e l l h a s g ra s p e d some p a r t
o f th e sy m b o lic re a lm H e r a c l i t u s ' c o n c e p t o f th e Logos n e c e s s i t a t e s .
an exam ple o f t h i s u s e o f t h e w o rd , s e e Od. 1 8 .3 2 3 .
5l* _
K irk p r e f e r s t o r e g a r d t h i s fra g m e n t a s a n o th e r s ta te m e n t o f
an i n s ta n c e i n w hich a p p a r e n t o p p o s ite s a r e o n ly r e l a t i v e l y opposed"
( o p . c i t . p . 1 1 2 ) , and w h ile a r e l a t i v e p o i n t o f v iew i s p o s s i b le
( i . e . d ep en d in g upon t h e p e r s o n 's p o s i t i o n a t t h e to p o r t h e b o tto m ) ,
t h e r e a l s o i s t h e a b s o lu t e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a p e rs o n i n t h e m id d le o f
t h e r o a d , lo o k in g T ip and down and com prehending t h a t t h e ro a d i t s e l f
i s b o th "o n e and t h e sam e", a c t i n g a s a t h i r d te rm c o n n e c tin g
o p p o s ite s . I a g re e w ith K irk ( i b i d . 109) t h a t t h e s ta te m e n t i s " d e v o id
o f g e n e r a l p h y s i c a l a p p lic a tio n '* — n o t t h a t i t c a n n o t b e u n d e rs to o d
p h y s i c a l l y b u t t h a t i t s y m b o liz e s t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l mode o f t h e Logos
i n t h e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l w o rld .
^ K i r k , o p . c i t . p p . 97-10U , makes an e x c e l l e n t argum ent f o r

g rapheon f o r g n a p h e io i, and I a c c e p t t h i s em en d atio n a s c o r r e c t . "W ith
-the meani n g ' l e t t e r s ' o r 't h i n g s w r i t t e n ' ypcnpsoov g iv e s an e x c e l l e n t
s e n s e : t h e p e n p ro c e e d s i n a mean c o u rs e a lo n g a s t r a i g h t l i n e , b u t
on th e way i t makes many c o n v o lu tio n s i n t h e c o n s tr u c ti o n o f th e
s e p a r a te l e t t e r s : th u s t h e 'w a y ' o r 'p a t h ' o f l e t t e r s can b e s a i d t o
b e b o th s t r a i g h t and cro o k ed " p . 102.
^ * E v 0 * fex vrpq opouaev av a£ bxaepoq ’ AnoXXcov

d o r s p t stS ousvoq usom rjugTL * to o 5* d ro noXXal
ontvQapCSst; vssrzSSvto, asXaq 5* e tq o tp a v o v Ixev*
t? 6* dSurov xaTsSoae 5 td toLjioScov fcpi/rCiicov..
sv0 * a p o y e (ploys S a te nucpauoxopievoq r d & x r^la,
uaaav 5 s KpCcrrjv xdxex&v o s la q
h .h .A p o llo UU0-UU5 .

iQk
57
ajiuS tq 5* ap* An' o&pavou f)5* An' 'OXunnoo
dcTpanrtcv e o te c x s auvcoxaSov, o t 6e x ep ao v o l
tx x a p a p a ppov-cTj t e x a l Aoreponfj noreovxo
Xfiupoq ano o rtp a p riq , tcprjv (pXoya elXixpAttvreq,
xapêeq* Aucpl 5e yuZa cpepsapLOq iq iap d y L ^ e
xatopevT} ...
xouq S ' aptpexe Geppoq doTii?)
T tXTjvaq x®°v ôu? <J>Xo£ 5* atOepa 5tav Ixavp.v
Aanexoq, Soae 5* apepSe x a l l<p8tfxav nsp £6vtojv
airfr) pappalpouoa xepauvou t e oreponTiq t e
Theogony 689-699*
58iCt i s h o u ld p e rh a p s h e n o te d t h a t p y r i n t h e la n g u a g e i t s e l f i s
n e v e r i n t h e p l u r a l and t h a t p h lo x a p p e a rs i n t h e p l u r a l o n ly l a t e
( A r i s t o t l e } . The s i n g u l a r i t y o f f i r e o r flam e im m e d ia te ly d ra v s them
away from a p u r e ly p h y s i c a l w o rld w h e re, f i r e s and fla m e s a r e p e r c e p t i v e l y
o b v io u s and x n to a re a lm o f th o u g h t t h a t c o u ld e a s x ly h e s y m b o lic .
59
I a g re e w ith K irk o p . c i t . p . 356 i n h i s u n d e r s ta n d in g t h a t i n
t h i s fra g m e n t t h e r e i s im p lie d an i d e n t i f i c a t i o n b e tw ee n f i r e and
th u n d e r b o lt.
^ I t i s i n h i s u n d e r s ta n d in g o f p y r an d i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p t o kosmos
and lo g o s t h a t I d is a g r e e w ith K irk m o s t. He c la im s t h a t t h i s fra g m e n t
( 30 ) r e p r e s e n t s th e cosmos a s " a huge b o n f i r e ” (o p . c i t . p . 317 ) — an
i d e a d e r iv e d im m e d ia te ly from B u r n e t’ s c o n s id e r a tio n o f t h e phenomenon
a s "co m b u stio n ” ( o p . c i t . p . 1 U5 ) — and w eig h s t h e i d e a t h a t Logos and
Va a ^ ATAM nwA AT» A«*Aa4>^ W AW AAAAA
av P û y w a u g u v w v \ a u iu j w n u v ^ v n w* C tu m n iv v .v P J c u .jf
c o n fu s io n b etw een a n a c t i v e l o g i c a l p r i n c i p l e and t h e more p a s s iv e

gro u n d on o r i n w hich t h e Logos a c t s . He sp e a k s o f t h e Logos a s ” a
c o n s t i t u e n t fo rm u la w hich a p p l i e s t o a l l t h i n g s , w hich in h e r e s i n and
a c t u a l l y i s a p a r t o f a l l t h i n g s , and t h e r e f o r e (? ) c o u ld b e t r e a t e d
a s c o n c r e te ( ? ? ) " ( o p . c i t . p . 3 1 5 ). A t t h i s p o i n t h e goes on t o
d is p la y h i s r e l u c t a n c e t o g ra s p f i r e a s a sym bol: ’’B ut f i r e c a n n o t b e
i d e n t i f i e d w ith t h e fo rm u la o f t h e u n d e r ly in g i d e n t i t y o f o p p o s i t e s ,
b a s e d upon r e g u l a r i t y o f e x c h a n g e , b e c a u s e i t h a s o r d is p la y s t h a t
fo rm u la i t s e l f ( ? ) , and i s q u a l i f i e d as Anxoiievov n lx p a x a l Anoapevvup.svov
|AETpa." I f K irk c o u ld h av e c o n c e iv e d o f f i r e , n o t a s a p h y s i c a l
phenomenon— i . e . t h e c a u s e o f t h e "huge b o n f i r e " — b u t a s a sym bol w hich
l i k e a l l sy m b o ls, may b e i d e n t i f i e d w ith a n y th in g and n e c e s s a r i l y m ust
d is p la y t h e phenomenon w ith w hich i t i s i d e n t i f i e d — i n t h i s c a s e t h e
fo rm u la o f t h e L ogos—h e w ould h av e h a d l i t t l e t r o u b l e w ith t h e s im p le

185
and im m ed iate r e l a t i o n s h i p "between f i r e an d L ogos. An o v e r ly p h y s i c a l ,

m a t e r i a l i s t i c , and o b j e c t i v e p o i n t o f v ie w ( I d e t e c t i t e v en i n h i s
u s e o f " c o n c r e te " f o r i n s t a n c e ) h a s l e d K irk f a r a s t r a y a t t h i s o n e
c r u c i a l p o i n t . O th e rs h a v e th o u g h t d i f f e r e n t l y . F e rd in a n d L a s s a l l e
i n t h e m id d le o f t h e l a s t c e n tu r y c l e a r l y re c o g n iz e d t h e sy m b o lic
p r o p e r t i e s o f f i r e i n H e r a c l i t u s ( c f . f n s . 22 and 23 o f t h i s c h a p t e r ) ,
a n d C .S . Ju n g i n t h i s s p e a k in g o f t h e c o n c e p t o f nopdeCôcov p la c e s t h e
in i+.s p r i i n i t 'i y s j sy m b o lic c o n t s x t * Hs wls c rd s? s
on t h e p r i m i t i v e n o tio n o f an a l l - p e r v a d i n g v i t a l f o r c e , a pow er o f
g ro w th an d m agic h e a li n g t h a t i s g e n e r a l l y c a l l e d m a n a." T h is p r i m o r d i a l
a rc h e ty p e " d a te s from t h e tim e when c o n s c io u s n e s s d id n o t t h i n k , b u t
o n ly p e r c e iv e d " ( A rc h e ty p e s and t h e C o lle c ti v e U n co n scio u s p . 3 3 )—
" t h e e y es a r e more e x a c t w itn e s s e s th a n t h e e a r s " 1 0 1 a . Nowhere i s
t h e d i v i s i o n b e tw ee n t h e s c i e n t i f i c a n d t h e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l p o i n t s o f
v ie w c l e a r e r th a n b etw een K irk and Ju n g on t h e phenomenon o f p y r i n
H e ra c litu s .
61
The c o n c e p t o f "m e tra " i s im p o r ta n t t o H e r a c l i t u s , an d I s h a l l
s p e a k o f i t a g a in when I t u r n t o exam ine t h e form and s t r u c t u r e o f
l o g i c a l o p p o s itio n a t i t s b a s i c l e v e l ( i n f r a p p . 168-70 ) ; y e t , i t
w ould b e o f h e lp t o p la c e t h e s e "measures** i n t h e i r p r o p e r p e r s p e c t i v e
a t t h i s p o i n t a s we c o n s i d e r , f o r t h e moment, f i r e ' s a b i l i t y t o
m e a s u re . M e tra a r e f o r H e r a c l i t u s " c u lm in a tin g " b o u n d a rie s w i t h i n
h i s l o g i c . They a r e e v e r-m o v in g o r f u l f i l l i n g a c t i v e p r i n c i p l e s . o f
a n o p p o s i t i o n a l n a t u r e t h a t do n o t p o s s e s s t h e c l e a r - c u t m ark in g s o f
a p h y s i c a l b o u n d a ry . The s e c r e t o f t h e i r m eaning l i e s i n t h e w o rd 's
u s e i n Homer w here a t t r i b u t e s o f f o r c e o r pow er and e x p an se i n a
v e r y a c t i v e s e n s e a r e e v id e n t— e . g . I I . 11.225, 0 d . U.668 o r U.385
w here a m easu re i s u s e d i n t h e s e n s e o f t h e "m easu re o f d e p th " , e t a l .
C f. p . 2 U9 f o r a d is c u s s io n o f t h i s phenomenon i n P r o ta g o r a s w h ere
I a rg u e t h a t i t i s a te rm r e l a t e d , a s i t i s h e r e , t o a c o n c e p t o f
u n ity .
62
J o h n B u rn e t s e v e n t y - f i v e y e a r s ago (o p . c i t . p p . 1U8-9) a rg u e d
t h a t t h e H e r a c lite a n p r e s t e r was s im p ly a h u r r ic a n e acco m p an ied by
a f i e r y w a te r s p o u t" , th e r e b y r e v e a l i n g h i s o v e r ly s c i e n t i f i c b i a s .
I t i s t o K i r k 's c r e d i t (o p . c i t .' p . 331) t h a t h e i d e n t i f i e s p r e s t e r
w ith c e l e s t i a l f i r e .
63K ir k , i b i d . p . 2 5 2 , i s v e r y p r o b a b ly c o r r e c t i n t a k i n g 8 ^ a and
Ql.v
V-rv \ 1 w_ AkV r _ U___________
OWW VfeV nO
. rb. .V AUW 2 _____o _ . \ W
W__________ _ 4.-U_
W MW
_
• o p p o s i t i o n a l p a ra d o x : "c h a n g e i s r e s t , n o -c h a n g e i s w e a r i n e s s " . I f
a n y s e t o f fra g m e n ts i s o b s c u r e , h o w e v er, c e r t a i n l y t h e c o m b in a tio n
o f t h e s e two w ould b e c o n s id e r e d i n t h e f o r e r u n n e r s o f th o s e p o s s e s s e d
w ith " h id d e n m e an in g ".

186
6k
I a g r e e w ith K ir k , i b i d . p . 3 1 2 , t h a t " ndX tv" s h o u ld h e d e l e t e d ;
i t r u i n s t h e e le g a n c e o f t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l s ta t e m e n t.
^ K i r k ' s argum ent ( i b i d . p p . 3 6 8 -9 ) a g a i n s t t h e a u t h e n t i c i t y o f

t h e l a s t h a l f o f t h i s fra g m e n t a s i t i s g iv e n i n D ie ls ( x a l i|roxal 5s
4n6 tS v bypSv 4va0u|xtoavTau) i s v e r y c o n v in c in g , and a lth o u g h in d e e d
t h e r e m ig h t b e some c o n n e c tio n i n c o n t e n t b e tw ee n t h i s p h ra s e and
t h e i d e a o f a d ru n k p sy c h e i n 1 1 7 , s t i l l i t s p la c e i n t h e p r e s e n t
fra g m e n t i s p u z z lin g b e c a u s e i t b e a r s l i t t l e r e l a t i o n s h i p w ith t h e
m ain and s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t i d e a .
^*1 a g re e w ith K i r k , i b i d . p . 1 6 5 , t h a t t h e m a jo r p u rp o s e o f t h i s
fra g m e n t i s t o e s t a b l i s h a p a r t i c u l a r c o n n e c tio n b etw een day and n i g h t
and t h a t t h e p h r a s e , sv ex a t £ v aXXcov aorpcov, ad d s n o th in g b u t c o n fu s io n
t o t h e s im p le i d e a in v o lv e d a n d , t h e r e f o r e , s h o u ld b e rem oved ( p p . l 62f f . ),
67
K i r k , i b i d . p . 1 2 8 , ad v an ces t h e v iew t h a t d ik e i s " th e r i g h t w ay".
68K ir k , i b i d . p . 1 8 3 , a rg u e s i n a s i m i l a r w ay.
\
69
The s o p h i s t i c n a tu r e o f t h i s fra g m e n t i s q u i t e c l e a r . Documents .
s u c h a s t h e D is s o i L ogoi abound i n su c h arg u m en ts a s th e y do i n
p a ra d o x e s l i k e t h e bow (U 8). I n H e r a c l i t u s , h o w ev er, t h e p o i n t i s
n o t t h e p r a c t i c a l o r l e g a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f h i s s t a t e m e n ts , a s i t i s f o r
t h e s o p h i s t s , b u t t h e i r s t r u c t u r a l and sy m b o lic im p o r t. I n o th e r w o rd s ,
H e r a c l i t u s made u s e o f any ty p e o f exam ple a s lo n g a s s t r u c t u r a l l y o r
s y m b o lic a lly i t r e v e a le d t h e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l c o n c e p tio n o f th e L ogos.
70
P e rh a p s t h i s i s a s p u r io u s p a ra d o x p a r a l l e l t o t h e one t h a t shows
a b e f u d d le d Homer. E rgon seems t o p o i n t t o a h ig h e r o r d e r o f r e a l i t y
th a n onoma.
7 ^"Mopoq" m eans "doom" i n t h e n e g a ti v e s e n s e ( c f . I I . 19.**2l) o r

" s h a r e o f m is e ry " ( c f . I I . 2 0 .3 0 , Od. 1 .3 * 0 ; " p o lp a " on t h e o t h e r
h a n d can mean good f o r tu n e ( c f . Od. 2 0 .7 6 ) , I i n t e n d t o a rg u e t h a t
H e r a c l i t u s m ust h av e u s e d th e l a t t e r i n t h i s s e n s e i n o r d e r t o c r e a t e
an o p p o s itio n w ith t h e fo rm e r.
72The r\x
5«2*i 8 i n t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f O d y sse u s' b u i l d i n g o f t h e r a f t .

187
73
I am th a n k f u l t o K i r k , o p . c i t . p . 305 f o r a r g u in g t h a t t h i s
fra g m e n t m u st h av e so m e th in g t o do w i th t h e m e tr a u n d e r ly in g a l l
th in g s .
7U
K irk a g a i n , i b i d , p . 2 8 7 , h a s fo u n d t h e b e s t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n :
" H e r a c litu s i n t h i s fra g m e n t i s s im p ly s t r e s s i n g t h i s a c c e p te d e le m e n t
o f r e g u l a r i t y i n t h e s u n 's b e h a v io u r : t h e su n h a s ixerpa t o w hich he
a d h e r e s ."
75
^ C a s s ire r, op. c i t . 1 1 .1 3 ^ .
^ F r i n k e l , "A T hought P a t t e r n i n H e r a c l i t u s " , p . 318.
^ I b i d . P - 3lfc.
T8I b i d . P« 32 1 .
T9I b i d . PP«. 3 1 5 -6 .
^ I b i d . P- 33 6 .
8 lX b id . P - 318 f n . 18
s h a l l n o t , h o w e v e r, e n d e a v o r t o f o r c e t h e one fra g m e n t w ith

w h ich I h a v e n o t d e a l t i n t o s u c h a p a t t e r n . 1 2 2 , " a p p ro x im a tio n "
(aYXLpatJLriv) make n o s e n s e i n l o g i c a l te rm s t o me a t a l l . B r e v ity
c a n b e t h e s o u l o f c o n f u s io n .
83i h av e n o t a tte m p te d t o draw p a r a l l e l s b e tw e e n A esch y lu s and

H e r a c l i t u s i n ways t h a t I m ig h t. I t u r n t h e r e a d e r t o an i n t e r e s t i n g
d i s s e r t a t i o n t h a t d e a ls t o some e x t e n t w ith t h i s p o i n t : G arry W i l l s ,
The A r c h ite c to n i c s o f S t r i f e : A S tu d y i n t h e Dynamics o f A e sc h y lu s 1
O r e s t i a (u n p u b lis h e d d i s s e r t a t i o n , Y ale 1 9 £ l ) . W ills t r a c e s , among
o t h e r t h i n g s , t h e l i g h t / d a r k im a g e ry i n t h e O r e s t i a and n o te s t h a t
" t h e s t r u c t u r e o f A e s c h y lu s ’ d ra m a tic cosmos re s e m b le s c e r t a i n
m e ta p h y s ic a l schem es o f t h e p r e - S o c r a t i c s " ( p . 1 1 7 ). He s e e s a
re s e m b la n c e i n t h e u s e o f sym bols b e tw ee n H e r a c l i t u s and A esch y lu s
and a l s o s p e a k s o f a s i m i l a r u s e o f o p p o s iti o n a n d p o l a r i t y (p p .
1 2 1 - 2 ) . A t one p o i n t h e d e a ls b r i e f l y w ith t h e q u e s ti o n o f " th r e e "
i n t h e O r e s t i a (p p . 1 6 U -5 ). What h e r e v e a l s c o u ld v e ry e a s i l y be
a p p lie d t o H e r a c l i t e a n th o u g h t. I t i s s p a c e an d n o t t h e la c k o f
im p o rta n c e t h a t e x p la i n s my a l l - t o o - b r i e f e x a m in a tio n o f p a r t i c u l a r
a r c h a ic q u a l i t i e s i n t h e th o u g h t o f A e s c h y lu s .

188
C h a p te r U: S t r u c t u r e an d Symbol i n P arm en id es
I t i s n o t c l e a r from t h e i p s i s s i m a v e r b a o f P arm en id es t h a t
h e a t t a c k e d H e r a c l i t u s , th e r e b y s e t t i n g u p an o p p o s itio n b etw een h i s
v iew s and t h e e a r l i e r p h ilo s o p h e r ’ s . The s t r o n g o p p o s it io n b etw een
t h e twd> was d e v e lo p e d much l a t e r b y P l a t o an d A r i s t o t l e and l a t e r
w r i t e r s a lm o s t s o l e l y in f l u e n c e d b y th em . T hese w r i t e r s c o n t r a s t e d
H e r a c l i t u s w ith P arm en id es b e c a u s e f o r th em t h e f o r m e r 's th o u g h t
" c u lm in a te d i n t h e th e o r y o f th e e t e r n a l f l u x o f a l l t h i n g s — t h e n d v r a
jbet— o n ly t o h av e t h e ra n g e o f t h i s p r i n c i p l e r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e s e n s e -
w o rld when P l a t o fo u n d i n h i s re a lm o f I d e a s t h a t e t e r n a l B ein g w hich
i s t h e s o l e a n d i n c o n t e s t a b l e o b j e c t o f t r u e k n o w led g e."^-
P l a t o d e v e lo p s c a r e f u l l y t h e o p p o s it io n and s t r o n g dichotom y
b etw een P a rm e n id e s and H e r a c l i t u s . A t T h e a e te tu s 1 5 2 e , h e p la c e s th e
fo rm e r s q u a r e ly i n t h e s c h o o l t h a t s p e a k s c f "B ein g " and t h e l a t t e r
a lo n g w ith P r o ta g o r a s and Em pedocles i n t h e s c h o o l t h a t a rg u e s "B ecom ing",
1 7 9 e - l 8 l a o p p o ses H e r a c l i t u s and t h e E p h e s ia n s t o M e lis s u s and
P arm enides ( . . . |ia 0 6 v re q ~ 5 s o tl n a v ra xlvsltul tlhm olv a frro u q ; 6X£you
6 s fensXaQoprjv, a GeoSoope, otl aXXot a u T&vavTta TOUTOLq d n e q r r f v a v T O ...) .
The l a t t e r a c c o rd in g t o P l a t o te a c h e s t h a t r e a l i t y " i s one and
unm ovable" ( . . . 6 l l o y u o l £ o v t <i l . &c ev t e navT a £ cttl x a l . sernrw*. • — ) .
He p o s e s t h e q u e s t i o n : "How a r e we t o d e a l w ith t h e s e c o m b atan ts? "

( tootou ; ouv , £ l-taT p s, Jtaau tu xprpoM-eSa . . . ) . I n t h e C ra ty lu s
P l a t o s t a t e s t h a t " H e r a c litu s i s su p p o se d t o s a y t h a t *11 th i n g s a r e
i n m o tio n and n o th in g a t r e s t " (U 0 2 a). At IrUOc he c o n t r a s t s H e r a c l i t u s
a nd h i s f o llo w e r s t o th o s e who a rg u e t h a t " t h e r e i s t h i s e t e r n a l

—
uowuxc -xxx
i v: n /\TuvT r_ i v9 Tu uyuouvj
-7...
uuv
' » uuTfe OvTUJ^
c x t t ^ fcxelvca; o t itep l 'H paxX ei/rov t s Xeyoooxv x a l aXXot noXXot,
jjc?) 06 Jj^Slov rj fe x ta x e ijn io e a tj-^ e .g . P a rm e n id e s. A lso i n t h e S o p h is t
P l a t o h a s P a rm e n id e s t e s t i f y i n g a g a i n s t th e a u d a c io u s im p l ic a tio n o f
any s ta te m e n t t h a t a rg u e s "w hat i s n o t" h a s b e in g . T h e re can b e l i t t l e

J W+^
VMM0W
+ *4WA ^■? 4W
Ae +Va 11A
«M4WWMWWVV »++W
XV•?
UAW« WaWACMkCt
A r i s t o t l e does n o t d e v ia t e from t h e l i n e s P l a t o p r e v io u s ly
e s ta b lis h e d . I n M e ta p h y sic s A, h e s t a t e s t h a t i t was one o f H e r a c l i t u s
d o c t r i n e s t h a t " t h e w hole s e n s i b l e w o rld i s alw ays i n a s t a t e o f f l u x
and t h a t t h e r e i s no know ledge i n i t " ( . . . dnavTtov tcSv atoBryrcov d e l
êovmsv x a l fejiuorrjp^q n s p l aCnrov o 6x ooorjq . . . . ) . E a r lie r , in o rd e r
u n d e r th o s e who e x p o se m a t e r i a l c a u s e s (<?8Ua8 ) . P arm en id es and t h e
E l e a t i c s , h o w e v er, do n o t b e a r upon h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n ( 986b 1 0 -1 3 ) .
P arm en id es i s p e r t i n e n t o n ly i n s o f a r a s h e was co m p elled by h i s
a ssu m p tio n t h a t B ein g i s one t o p o s i t two causes o rf i r s t p r in c ip le s —
F i r e and E a r th w h ich A r i s t o t l e tr a n s m u te s i n t o H ot and Cold ( a s e t
o f id e a s fo u n d i n H e r a c l i t u s 126 b u t n e v e r i n P arm en id es as we h ave

2
h im . I n o th e r w o rd s , t h e r e i s no a tte m p t on A r i s t o t l e ’ s p a r t t o

190
com pare t h e tw o p h ilo s o p h e r s a n d , i n f a c t , a r e a l d e s i r e t o p la c e
P arm enides o u t s i d e o f h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n s e n t i r e l y . H e r a c l i t u s and
P arm enides come t o h e r e g a r d e d , th e n , th ro u g h t h e w r i t i n g s o f P l a t o
and A r i s t o t l e a s s e p a r a t e and a n tip o d a l i n t e l l i g e n c e s — a p r o c e s s t h a t
f a c i l i t a t e s t h e i r n e a t c a t e g o r i z a t i o n a s m ere ::f o u n d a tio n - s to n e s " an d
" im p o rta n t s t a g e s " i n o n e 's s tu d y o f t h e h i s t o r y o f p h ilo s o p h y .
The p re m is e t h a t su c h a dichotom y an d o p p o s itio n e x i s t e d
betw een t h e tw o h a s e x te n d e d , i n some c i r c l e s , t o t h e p r e s e n t d ay .
Among t h e G erm ans, H e g el made no s p e c i f i c s ta t e m e n ts r e g a r d in g a
P arm enidean a t t a c k upon H e r a c l i t u s . He s e e s P a rm e n id e s ' v iew n o t
o n ly a s a c o n t r a r y t o M a te r ia lis m b u t a l s o a s o n e t h a t d o es n o t p u t
3
t o g e t h e r t h e s o u l from p a r t s o r in d e p e n d e n t f o r c e s . He d o e s , i n
h i s d is c u s s io n o f H e r a c l i t u s , m e n tio n a d i a l e c t i c a l o p p o s i tio n o f
It
H e r a c l i t u s t o t h e E l e a t i c s b u t does n o t m e n tio n P a rm e n id e s b y name.
He d o e s , h o w e v e r, c i t e Zeno. One c o u ld s u rm is e t h a t H e g el saw no
s tr o n g o p p c s i t i c n b e tw ee n t h e two e v id e n c e d i n t h e i r w r i t i n g s .
C e r t a i n l y , c o n s id e r in g h i s d i a l e c t i c , su c h a r e l a t i o n s h i p w ould h av e
b e e n m e a n in g fu l t o h im . H eg el a c c e p ts t h e navxa jbst th e o r y from
P la to ^ b u t d o e s n o t r e a l l y ju x ta p o s e i t w ith P a rm e n id e an d o c tr in e
i n h i s own w o rk .
I t was B em ay s i n t h e n i n e te e n th c e n tu r y who fo u n d w hat h e
th o u g h t v a s p r o o f o f t h i s o p p o s itio n i n t h e t e x t c f P a rm e n id e s '
w r i t i n g s (H e r a k l i t i s c h e S tu d ie n 1 8 8 5 . p . 6 2 f f . — t h e o r i g i n a l a r t i c l e

191
Nras p u b lis h e d i n 1 8 5 0 ), b u t i t v a s D ie ls w hose w ork i n 1897 seem ed
to e s ta b lis h th e c a s e . I t was h e who i n s i s t e d t h a t H e r a c l i t u s was
among t h e p p o ro t e tS o re q o66sv o f P arm en id es 6 .k .^ A. P a t i n tw o
y e a r s l a t e r , w ith p r o f u s e th a n k s t o D i e l s , ex p an d ed upon t h e p o s s i b l e
p o i n t s o f c o n ta c t and o p p o s i tio n . He en d s h i s lo n g a r t i c l e w ith a
v e h em ent ad hominem a t t a c k upon Z e l l e r whom we s h a l l s e e h e l d q u i t e

7
a d i f f e r e n t v iew o f t h i s p ro b le m . T. Gomperz i n 1901 w r i t e s t h a t t h e
P arm enidean th e o r y o f B ein g was " d e r i v e d p o i n t an d p i t h fro m t h e

O
r e a c tio n a g a in s t th e d o c trin e o f H e r a c l i t u s . . . . ” H. S lo n im sk y i n
1913 i s s t i l l r e g a r d in g th e two p h ilo s o p h e r s i n P l a t o n i c te rm s o f

Q
a p p e a ra n c e a n d r e a l i t y . W. K ranz ( " V o r s o k r a tis c h e n I ” , Hermes 1 9 3 ^ .
p p . llU -1 1 9 ) does n o t v a ry from t h e v iew t h a t t h e tw o p r e - S o c r a t i c s
w ere a t i n t e l l e c t u a l o d d s .
The E n g lis h a l s o h av e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s h o ld in g t h i s p o s i t i o n .
B u rn e t i n h i s E a r ly G reek P h ilo s o p h y i n 191^ a rg u e s " t h a t P arm en id es
w ro te a f t e r H e r a k l e i t o s , and i n c o n s c io u s o p p o s i tio n t o h im , seems to
b e p ro v e d b y w hat s u r e l y m ust b e an e x p r e s s a l l u s i o n i n h i s poem. The
w ords ' f o r whom i t i s and i s n o t a r e t h e same and n o t t h e same an d a l l
t h i n g s t r a v e l i n o p p o site* d i r e c t i o n s ' ( f r . 6 .8 ) c a n n o t w e ll r e f e r t o
„10
anyone e l s e . . . . C o ra fo rd i n h i s P r in c ip iu m S a p i e n t i a e m a in ta in s
t h a t t h e t r a d i t i o n a l P l a t o n i c d ichotom y b etw een ch an g e and unmoved
r e a l i t y , t h e s e n s e s and t h e m in d , c h a r a c t e r i z e s t h e tw o p h i l o s o p h e r s .^ "
G regory V la s to s i n 1955 a rg u e d s t r o n g l y t h a t 6 c l e a r l y shows t h a t
P arm en id es was a t t a c k i n g H e r a c l i t u s , c i t i n g t h e p h r a s e tcl6 t o v xo6 t <i 6t 6 v

192
( 6 .6 - 7 ) a s p a r a l l e l t o H e r a c litu s * x a l o6x ( 1 0 ) . 12 W.C.K.
G u th rie p u ts h im s e lf s q u a r e ly i n t h e same t r a d i t i o n : "Some o f t h e
l a n g uage u s e d b y P arm en id es seems o n ly e x p l i c a b l e on t h e a ssu m p tio n
t h a t h e i s d e l i b e r a t e l y e c h o in g p h r a s e s o f H e r a c l i t u s i n a s p i r i t o f
c r itic is m .^
I n r e c e n t y e a r s , h o w e v er, t h e r e h a s b e e n a d e f i n i t e th aw i n
t h e h a r d - l i n e c o n s e r v a tiv e p o s i t i o n . T a ra n d o es n o t b e l i e v e t h a t
P a rm e n id e s a t t a c k s H e r a c l i t u s i n fra g m e n ts 4 a n d 8 , a lth o u g h he does
a rg u e t h a t H e r a c l i t u s i s p ro b a b ly a t t a c k e d . i n 6 .
, lU
K irk a l s o assum es
a somewhat m o d e ra te s t a n c e , a rg u in g t h a t P a rm e n id e s ’ Way o f Seem ing
c o u ld r e p r e s e n t h i s "own a b n e g a tio n o f t h e com prom ise o f f e r e d by t h e
H e r a c lite a n o p p o s ite - d o c trin e ." He h a s t e n s t o a d d , h o w ev er, t h a t th e
p a s s a g e a t t a c k i n g t h e " t h i r d way" i s p r o b a b ly n o t d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t
H e r a c l i t u s s in c e " H e r a c litu s c e r t a i n l y n e v e r i d e n t i f i e d b e in g and
n o t - b e i n g , and t h e 'b a c k w a rd -tu rn in g * p a th i s i n m eaning v e ry
d i f f e r e n t from t h e 'm eth o d o f j o i n i n g w h ich o p e r a t e s i n b o th d i r e c t i o n s '
o f f r . 5 1 .» . . " ^ Raven in . h i s own b o o k , P y th a g o re a n s and E l e a t i c s ,
s e e s no l i n k b e tw ee n t h e p p o ro l e lS o re q o65ev o f fra g m e n t 6 and
H e ra c litu s . C o n ce rn in g t h e w hole q u e s ti o n o f t h e JiaXlvTponoq xeXeuBoq,
h e s a y s , " A p a rt from d i f f i c u l t q u e s tio n s o f c h ro n o lo g y , i t seems t o
me u n l i k e l y t h a t P arm en id es s h o u ld h a v e i n s e r t e d i n t o an a t t a c k upon
a l l h i s fe llo w -m e n a s e n te n c e aim ed a t an i n d i v i d u a l . N . B . B ooth
i n an a r t i c l e i n P h r o n e s is i n 1957 r e v e a l s t h e u l t i m a t e t r i v i a l i t y
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n proh ibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

193
o f t h e c o n s e r v a tiv e p o s i t i o n . C itin g t h e o p p o sin g v ie w s o f B e rn a y s ,
D i e l s , Z e l l e r , and T a n n e ry , h e c o n c e d e s: "So f a r a s I can s e e , a l l
t h e s e v iew s a r e t e n a b l e " b u t g o es on t o p o i n t o u t t h a t th e y a r e n o t
17
u l t i m a t e l y h e l p f u l f o r an u n d e r s ta n d in g o f P a rm e n id e s.
The l i b e r a l p o s i t i o n may m o st e a s i l y b e t r a c e d b a c k t o
Z e l l e r i n t h e l a s t p a r t o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu r y . I n r e p l y to
X0
S c h u s te r h e in c lu d e d t h e f o llo w in g r e b u t t a l o f an y arg u m en t d raw in g
t h e t r a d i t i o n a l P l a t o n i c and A r i s t o t e l i a n d i s t i n c t i o n b e tw ee n P arm en id es
and H e r a c l i t u s . A f t e r c a r e f u l e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e e v id e n c e , h i s v e r d i c t
i s "no c o n t e s t " . I sum m arize h i s arg u m en ts b e c a u s e o f t h e i r im p o rta n c e
a s a t u r n i n g p o i n t i n t h e c r i t i c i s m o f t h i s p ro b le m .
He a rg u e s t h a t t h e r e a r e n o s u f f i c i e n t p o i n t s o f c o n ta c t
b e tw ee n t h e tw o t o make u s t h i n k t h a t H e r a c l i t u s r e f e r s t o P a rm e n id e s.
( I t was Z e l l e r 's argum ent t h a t P a rm e n id e s was t h e o l d e r o f t h e tw o ,
b u t h is m is ta k e n v iew does n o t a f f e c t h i s c o n c l u s i o n s .) He a g re e s
t h a t P arm en id es a t t a c k s th o s e o lq t o JieXetv ts x a l o6x e l v a t tciuto v
vevoiXLcrraL. "A ber d a s s S e in and N ic h ts e in d a s s e lb e s e i e n , h a t t e
H e r f a c l i t u s ] , w ie b e m e r k t, n i c h t g e s a g t ; auch s e i n 6tp.ev Te x a t
o&x etiie v h a t n i c h t d ie s e n S i n n . . . . " Z e l l e r a rg u e s t h a t t h e fo rm u la
was in tr o d u c e d b y P a rm e n id e s " . . . u m d en W id e rsp ru c h a u sz u d rttc k e n ,
i n w e lch e n d ie von ihm b e s t r i t t e n e V o r s te llu n g s w e is e g e r a t h e . " Y et
t h i s "mode o f c o n c e p tio n " e n t a i l e d a b e l i e f i n ( l ) a N on-B eing and
(2 ) a g e n e s is and d e c a y . C e r t a i n l y , c la im s Z e l l e r , P arm en id es w ould
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n o f t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n proh ibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

19fc
h a v e e x te n d e d h i s argum ent t o H e r a c l i t u s s p e c i f i c a l l y i f h e h ad
th o u g h t H e r a c l i t u s r e p r e s e n t e d t h i s "mode"— " s o v e i s t doch n i c h t s
d a r a u f h i n , d a s s P a r a , h e i s e in e n A e u sseru n g en s p e c i a l l an H e r.
g e d a c h t h a b e ." P arm en id es d e s c r i b e s h i s o p p o n e n ts a s t h e a x p t/ra <puXa,
b u t H e r a c l i t u s a g re e s e n t i r e l y w ith P a rm e n id e s i n h i s d e v a lu a tio n
o f s e n s e i n co m p ariso n t o B easo n .
Z e l l e r a l s o p o i n t s o u t t h a t P a rm e n id e s i n t h e se c o n d p a r t
o f h i s poem does n o t op p o se l i g h t and d a rk i n t h e same way a s d id
H e r a c l i t u s ( I s h a l l a rg u e a l s o t h a t t h e r e i s a n o t i c e a b l e d i f f e r e n c e —
in f r a pp. 2 2 o ff. ). H e ra c litu s i s n o t u ltim a te ly d u a lis tic in h is
o p p o s itio n s . P a rm e n id e s , h o w e v e r, i n h i s e x p o s i t i o n o f t h e 5 o ^ a t
PPOtelol d e s ig n a te s o n ly two m o rp h ai w h ich e x p la i n a l l t h i n g s —he
d o es n o t m e n tio n — a s d o e s H e r a c l i t u s i n f r . 31 ( e a r t h , s e a , and
• p r g s te r ) — a t h i r d . M o reo v er, h e d e s ig n a t e s t h e s e m orphai n o t as
f i r e and e a r t h b u t a s l i g h t and d a r k . T h is " g i b t k e in e n Grund zu
d e r V erm uthung, d a s s e r d a b e i H e r a k l i t s d r e i E lem e n ta rfo rm en s p e c i a l l
im Auge h a b e ." I f h e h a d any s y ste m i n m ind i t was p ro b a b ly th e
s im p le d u a l i s t i c s y ste m o f t h e P y th a g o re a n s . The re s e m b la n c e b etw een
P arm en id es * riaXuvTpoJioq xeXsoOoq and H e r a c litu s * naXtvTpojioq d p p o v ta
depends upon how each man u s e d p a l i n t r o p o s —" e i n e s z ie m lic h h& ufig
vorkommenden A u sd ru c k s" . The m ean in g i s n o t t h e same i n e ac h c a s e .
I n H e r a c l i t u s i t r e f e r s t o a r e t u r n i n g fro m O p p o s itio n t o U n ity ; in
P arm en id es i t c o n c e rn s t h a t w h ich comes i n t o o p p o s itio n w ith i t s e l f

195
"indem e s a u s s e i n e r u r s p r ttn g lic h e n R ic h tu n g i n d i e e n tg e g e n g e s e t z t e
flb e rg e h t" . I n o t h e r w o rd s , H e r a c l i t u s im p lie s a s t a b l e te rm w here
P arm en id es d o e s n o t .
Fi n a l l y , Z e l l e r s t a t e s t h a t t h e f a c t t h a t H e r a c l i t u s s a i d :
e tS e v au XFH noXepov and P a rm e n id e s d e n ie s e x is t e n c e t o o n e member
o f t h e B e in g /H o t-B e in g p a i r , p ro v e s n o th i n g , ” denn d ie B eh a u p tu n g , e s
m&sse e i n H ic h ts e ie n d e s g e b e n , f & l l t m it d e r , d a s s e s S t r e i t g eben m fisse."
T h e re i s i n e f f e c t no r e a l gro u n d f o r f i n d i n g c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b etw een
t h e tw o . W h ile one m ig h t n o t a g re e e n t i r e l y w ith Z e l l e r 's i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s
o f e i t h e r P a rm e n id e an o r H e r a c l ite a n d o c t r i n e — e s p e c i a l l y h i s em p h asis
upon H e r a c l i t u s ' " d r e i E lem e n ta rfo rm en "— s t i l l t h e f a c t re m a in s t h a t
h e c o n s id e r e d t h a t any vehem ent o p p o s itio n b e tw ee n H e r a c l i t u s and
P arm en id es w as f i c t i t i o u s .
S u b s e q u e n t German c r i t i c i s m was s u r e l y a f f e c t e d b y Z e l l e r 's
s ta n d . I t w as R e in h a rd t i n 1916 who b ro k e away from th e t r a d i t i o n a l
v ie w e n t i r e l y , p o i n t i n g t o t h e u n d e r ly in g u s e o f o p p o s iti o n s a s a
s tr o n g and im p o r ta n t s i m i l a r i t y b etw een H e r a c l i t u s and P a rm e n id e s.

19
He h a s i n f a c t p ro v id e d t h e b a s i s o f my own v ie w . By 1930 we f i n d
t h e Frenchm an, T a n n e ry , a rg u in g t h a t H e r a c l i t u s and P a rm e n id e s n e v e r

20
h e a rd o f each o th e r . R i e z l e r i n 193U i n d i c a t e d t h a t b o th H e r a c l i t u s
and P a rm e n id e s w ere c o n c e rn e d w ith t h e One; he a rg u e s t h a t H e r a c l i t u s '
h en and P a rm e n id e s ' eon m ust b in d t o g e t h e r t h e p o l l a ( U n tr u th and
A p p e a ra n c e ).^ A At t h e same tim e C h e r n is s ’ famous and im p o r ta n t s tu d y ,

196
A r i s t o t l e ’s C r i t i c i s m o f P r e s o c r a t i c P h ilo s o p h y (B a ltim o re 1935)
a p p e a re d arid w ith i t a d e c i s i v e blo w a g a i n s t t h e A r i s t o t e l i a n t r a d i t i o n
o f in te r p r e ta tio n o f th e P r e - S o c ra tic s . I t i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g th e n t o
f i n d N e s tle i n 19^0 n o tin g t h a t b o th P arm en id es and H e r a c l i t u s deny
sen se p e rc e p tio n . W hat i s s u r p r i s i n g ; h o w ev er, i s t o f i n d once a g ajr:
t h e c o n s e r v a tiv e arg u m en t t h a t , i n t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r
" K e rn e l o f r e a l i t y " , th e y a r e a n t i p o d a l —H e r a c l i t u s p l a c i n g t h i s
op
" k e r n e l" i n movement o r c h a n g e , P arm en id es i n i t s o p p o s it e . The
c o n s e r v a tiv e v ie w i s o b v io u s ly s t i l l s tro n g ev en i f t h e im p o r ta n t
P la to n ic d i s t i n c t i o n o f a d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e e v a lu a tio n o f s e n s e
p e r c e p t i o n b e tw e e n t h e tw o i s d e n ie d .
V e rd e n iu s m a in ta in e d Z e l l e r ’ s o r i g i n a l s ta n c e much b e t t e r i n
19^2 when h e r e f u t e s a g a in t h e m ain arg u m en ts i n f a v o r o f t h e v iew
t h a t P a rm e n id e s a t t a c k e d H e r a c l i t u s , a d d in g t h e b r i l l i a n t p o s s i b i l i t y
t h a t " o n ly H e r a c l i t e a n s made a b s o lu t e m o tio n t h e u l t i m a t e p r i n c i p l e
o f r e a l i t y " — th e r e b y e x o n e r a tin g H e r a c l i t u s h im s e lf from t h e c h a rg e s

23
He c i t e s T h e a e te tu s l 8 l a a s p r o o f o f t h i s p o i n t . (T h is ty p e o f
argum ent c o u ld e a s i l y e x p la i n P a rm e n id e s ’ p o s s i b l e m is u n d e rs ta n d in g
o f H e r a c l i t u s — an i d e a I s h a l l d e v e lo p s u b s e q u e n tly — i n f r a p . 2 2 0 ).
Gigon t h r e e y e a r s l a t e r r e f u s e s t o make H e r a c l i t u s and P a rm e n id e s
l o g i c a l a n t i t h e s e s a s does P l a t o . He s e e s them p o s in g e n t i r e l y
2h
d if f e r e n t p h ilo s o p h ic a l q u e s tio n s . H e, l i k e R e in h a r d t, a l s o p u ts
& good d e a l o f e m p h asis upon t h e o p p o s i t i o n a l n a tu r e o f P a rm e n id e an

25
th o u g h t. W erner J a e g e r , r e l y i n g somewhat on C h e m i s s , m akes i t
q u i t e c l e a r t h a t c r i t i c i s m h a d b e e n w a y la id b y P l a t o and A r i s t o t l e
and t h a t some new a p p ro a c h was c a l l e d f o r . He i n s i s t s , w ith good
r e a s o n , t h a t t h e w ords n a v ra (bet on w hich P l a t o b a s e d h i s arg u m en ts
a b o u t H e r a c l i t u s n e v e r a r e t o b e fo u n d i n t h e i p s i s s i m a v e rb a o f
H e ra c litu s h im s e lf. J a e g e r s u g g e s ts t h a t t h i s i d e a was s t a t e d b y
h i s l a t e r f o llo w e r s su c h a s C r a ty lu s o r t h e H e r a c lite a n s m e n tio n e d

26
b y P l a t o i n T h e a e te tu s l8 0 e ( c f . a l s o C r a t . kkOc) .
I t i s , h o w e v e r, J . M a n sfe ld (D ie O ffe n b a ru n g d e s P a rm e n id e s
un d d ie M e n sc h lic h e W e lt—A ssen I 96 U) who h a s f i n a l l y s te p p e d o u t i n t o
a new— a lth o u g h c e r t a i n l y o b v io u s — a p p ro a c h w hich h a rk e n s b a c k t o
R e in h a rd t an d lo o k s fo rw a rd t o my own. He f i n d s s t r o n g s i m i l a r i t i e s
b etw een P a rm e n id e s a n d H e r a c l i t u s b y assu m in g a b ro a d c u l t u r a l v iew —

27
t h a t i s by e x a m in in g t h e l y r i c and e p i c b ack g ro u n d o f t h e tw o m in d s.
P i n d a r , P a rm e n id e s , an d H e r a c l i t u s come t o have a g r e a t d e a l i n
28
common.
I s u b s ta n tia lly a g re e. Ify own p a r t i c u l a r m e th o d , h o w e v er,
h a s b e en sy m b o lic an d s t r u c t u r a l , an d i n th e s e r e s p e c t s l i t t l e h a s
29
b e e n d one. T a ra n d e n ie s a r e c o u r s e t o sym bolism i n P a rm e n id e s.
H avelock p o i n t s t o d e f i n i t e sym bols i n t h e proem o f t h e w ork b u t
d o e s n o t d e v e lo p t h e i r m eanin g q u a s y m b o l s . ^ I t was Ju n g who
d e te c te d t h e sy m b o lic n a t u r e o f P a rm e n id e s ' w o rk s. I n h i s A rc h e ty p e s
an d t h e C o l l e c t i v e U n c o n sc io u s h e i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e s te p h a n g C ic e ro

198
d is c u s s e s i n h i s De n a t u r a deorum i s i n f a c t an a r c h e ty p a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
31
o f th e d iv in e . C ic e ro * s "u n b ro k e n r i n g o f g lo w in g l i g h t s e n c i r c l i n g
t h e sk y w hich h e [P a rm e n id e s] e n t i t l e s god" i s s u r e l y t h e p h en om en on
we s h a l l d i s c u s s s u b s e q u e n tly ( i n f r a p p . 215-216) i n fra g m e n t 1 2 . Ju n g
a l s o c o n n e c ts i t w ith t h e " c i r c u l a r m o tio n o f t h e m ind w h ich ev ery w h ere

32
re tu rn s in to i t s e l f " ( c f . 5). I t h a s b e e n J u n g , a p s y c h o - a n a ly s t ,
who h a s draw n my own a t t e n t i o n t o t h e p o w e r f u lly sy m b o lic n a t u r e o f
P a rm e n id e an th o u g h t . I t i s i n t h e proem t o h i s w ork t h a t t h i s n a tu r e
i s m ost e a s i l y d e t e c t e d .
" F o r m y th ic a l th in k in g t h e r e l a t i o n b e tw ee n w h at a t h i n g ' i s *
an d t h e p la c e i n w h ich i t i s s i t u a t e d i s n e v e r p u r e l y e x t e r n a l and
33
a c c id e n ta l." I t i s , t h e r e f o r e , no a c c id e n t w h a ts o e v e r t h a t P arm en id es
h a s o p en ed h i s p h i l o s o p h i c a l poem w ith a p ro em , c o n s t r u c t e d o f sy m b o lic
phenom ena i n a s y m b o lic re a lm . The d y a d ic l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e i s a l s o
c l e a r l y s e t f o r t h i n t h i s proem . I t i s c o n s tr u c te d i n s u c h a way t o
a
e l u c i d a t e and s e t t h e s c e n e f o r t h e s ta te m e n ts o f t h e poem i t s e l f t h a t
a r e m ore p u r e l y l o g i c a l — i . e . w h ich make l e s s u s e o f sym bols drawn
from t h e w o rld o f s e n s o ry e x p e r ie n c e .
T h e re a r e s e v e r a l o b v io u s s i m i l a r i t i e s b e tw e e n t h e o p e n in g
l i n e s o f H e sio d * s Theogony and P a rm e n id e s ' proem . T h is phenomenon h a s
a lr e a d y drawn some s c h o l a r l y a t t e n t i o n . The s u p e r f i c i a l d e t a i l s

199
a r e e a s i l y n o te d . B o th men th ro u g h an e s p e c i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p v i t h
th e d iv in e a r e g iv e n a p a r t i c u l a r ty p e o f d i v in e know ledge a s a g i f t .
#
The i n t e r c o u r s e b e tw ee n a man and t h e gods i s t o t a l l y p e r s o n a l. In
b o th c a s e s t h e a u th o r m e n tio n s h i s own in v o lv e m e n t: "The g o d d esses
s a i d t o me f i r s t t h i s w o rd "; " th e m ares t h a t c a r r y me as f a r a s my

35
d e s ir e ...." T h e re i s a s tr o n g a f f i r m a t i o n o f t h e s u b j e c t 's
p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e re a lm o f know ledge and a s t h i s r e g io n i s
d e v e lo p e d i n t h e proem o f eac h work—b u t e s p e c i a l l y i n P a rm e n id e s' —
we r e a l i z e c o m b in a tio n s o f s u b j e c t i v e and o b j e c t i v e phenomena t h a t
p o in t t o t h e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l re a lm o f w h ich I sp o k e e a r l i e r ( s u p ra
p. 9 ).
What t h e d iv in e b esto w s i n e a c h c a s e i s T r u th : D ike o f f e r s
P arm enides " w e ll-ro u n d e d t r u t h " ('AXnQetTjq e&xoxXeoq -2 9 ) and t h e
muses know how t o u t t e r t r u e th in g s (c5p.ev 6* e o r ' fe9&Xcop.ev &Xq0 ea
YnpuoaoOat - T . 2 9 ) . Y e t, i t i s even more i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o te t h a t
i n b o th c a s e s t h e d iv in e r e v e a l s i t s a b i l i t y t o l i e a l s o : "we know
how t o sp e a k many f a l s e th i n g s a s t r u e o n e s" 5 "y o u m u st l e a r n a ls o

3T
th e o p in io n s o f m o r ta ls i n w hich t h e r e i s no t r u e r e l i a b i l i t y " .
T h ere i s , i n o t h e r w o rd s , a d y a d ic o p p o s itio n b etw een t r u t h and
fa ls e h o o d e s t a b l i s h e d i n b o th i n s t a n c e s . I t was P arm en id es who s e t
o u t to in v e s tig a te i t fu rth e r.
The proem i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y phenomena i n p a i r s . P arm enides
m e n tio n s t h e a x le o f t h e c h a r i o t on w hich he r i d e s . On b o th en d s he

200
d e s c r ib e s t h e " w h ir lin g w h e els" (do u o iq ya p fcnetYcto S lv c o t o lc tlv /
xGxXotq dmporspcoGev 1 . 7 - 8 ) . T h is a x le w ith i t s i d e n t i c a l p o la r iz e d
movement a t e a c h end c o u ld v e ry w e ll s ta n d f o r a p o l a r i z e d l o g i c o f
some s o r t e n t a i l i n g a s i m i l a r dynamic s t r u c t u r e — i . e . , m oving, p o l a r ,
and i d e n t i c a l . The g a te w ith i t s two -doors (p y l a i ) i s d e s c rib e d t o
u s i n t h e D ual c a s e . More im p o r ta n tly t h i s " g a te " c o n c e rn s i t s e l f
w ith th e o p p o s i t e s , Day and N ig h t ( gvQa nuXat Noxxoq t c xau flpurroq
c l o t xeXcuGwv - 1 1 ) . F o r th e s e g a te s D ike p o s s e s s e s " in te r c h a n g e a b le
k e y s" (xXrjtSaq d ^ o tp o u q )—k ey s t h a t somehow m a n ip u la te t h e g a te s in
o rd e r t o a llo w t h e c h an g in g o f t h e o p p o s ite s Day and N ig h t. (I s h a ll

39
sp ea k f u r t h e r o f t h i s i n t e r e s t i n g p a ss a g e s u b s e q u e n tly .) - The m ost
im p o rta n t d u a lis m o f t h e proem i s , h o w ev er, t h a t e s t a b l i s h e d a t th e
end betw een T r u th and O p in io n , t h e p r i n c i p l e d u a l i t y o f t h e poem
i t s e l f and t h e d u a l i t y w hich somehow w i l l fo rm u la te t h e s u b s ta n c e o f

I
P a rm e n id e s1 t e a c h in g :
XP&& 6c a t navxa n o 0 e a€ a t
fjiilv \AVn0sfT£ sftxoxXsoq dTpsnc<; • •
■f|5c P potwv 6c>£aq, T atq o6x eve n t o r i q dXr]0T|q
» (28-30 )
The c o r r e l a t i o n and a s s o c i a t i o n o f o p p o s ite s i s acc o m p lish e d by th e
c o r r e l a t i v e c o n ju n c tio n s 4p.ev . . . fj5c. P arm en id es * work r e v e a ls i t s
d y a d ic l o g i c i n t h e proem .
A f f e c tiv e l i g h t im agery b e sp e a k s t h e n o n - o b je c tiv e o r
p h en o m en o lo g ical re a lm i n t o w hich P arm enides h a s p u rp o s e ly s e t h i s
--
w ork. The im age o f t h e a x le i s made t o glow i n th e n a v es (a£<av
5 ' tv xvoC'QCTtv ecu ouptYYO? d o rrjv / atO onsvoq . . . 6 - 7 ) . (One s h o u ld
a ls o n o te t h a t , g iv e n t h e g e n e r a l economy o f lan g u ag e i n t h e p roem ,
P arm enides p ro b a b ly v i s h e s t o d i r e c t o u r a t t e n t i o n t o th e n o is e made
b y th e a x le a s so m ething u n u s u a l. We a r e i n no n o rm al "e v e ry d a y ”
r e a lm .) The u n d e rly in g l i g h t / d a r k im agery v i t h i t s o p p o s iti o n a l
o v e rto n e s i s n i c e l y p o r tr a y e d i n th o s e l i n e s d e v o te d t o t h e " d a u g h te rs
o f th e sun" (*H \ud6eq x o o p a t) w ho, le a v in g t h e p a la c e o f N ig h t
S&para N uxv6q), h a s te n on to w a rd s t h e l i g h t ( e t q (facx;) p u s h in g b a ck
t h e o b s c u rin g v e i l s (k a l u p t r a s ) on t h e i r h e a d s . ^ The image i s made
more l o g i c a l b y th e j u x t a p o s i t i o n o f Day and N ig h t i n t h e n e x t l i n e
(1 1 ). What a g a in " L ig h t" and i t s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n means i n t h e proem
s p e c i f i c a l l y i s a n o th e r q u e s ti o n . Our s u b se q u e n t d is c u s s io n o f 1 0 ,
1 2 , lU , and 15 s h o u ld c l a r i f y t h e m a t t e r , b u t a t t h i s p o in t I am
i n c l i n e d t o a c c e p t F rfin k e l’ s argum ent t h a t L ig h t i s a p o s i t i v e
phenomenon— one beyond a m ere l i g h t - d a r k o p p o s itio n — and t h a t L ig h t

Ul
i s in v o lv e d i n t h e know ledge o f t r u e B e in g . T h is d o u b le p o s i t i o n
o f L ig h t— p a r t o f an o p p o s itio n i n one s e n s e , tr a n s c e n d in g th e
o p p o s itio n i n a n o th e r—m ig h t v e ry w e ll r e s t upon t h e i d e a o f a
p r o g r e s s io n from d a rk t o l i g h t I m en tio n ed e a r l i e r i n c o n n e c tio n
w ith H esio d ( s u p r a p • 80 ) o r a d i a l e c t i c a l movement b e h in d
o p p o s itio n s w h ic h , a s I h av e i n d i c a t e d as b e in g common b o th t o H esiod
and H e r a c l i t u s .

202
A n o th e r sym bol one may d e t e c t i n P a rm e n id e s' proem i s t h e
c irc le . We a r e t o l d o f t h e " ro u n d e d w h e els" (k y k lo i - 8 ) , w h ic h , I
have j u s t a r g u e d , m ig h t i n d i c a t e t h e p o l a r i t y o f t h e l o g i c in v o lv e d
i n t h e m ain body o f t h e poem. T h ere i s a ls o t h e image o f t h e sun whose

m i V t r f r - .T r -. ! ' * C . 1 1 - . . .
U M 1 5 U M 1 0 \ 1 /v u w p u w * 7 / X1CU9 U C U bUC A lg u b • ilS w t5 3 &w
p r e v io u s ly ( s u p r a p . 156 ) i n H e r a c lit u s ( e . g . 3 and 6 ) , t h e
symbol h o ld s a u n i v e r s a l im p o rta n c e —p ro b a b ly a s th e ro u n d e d im age
of lig h t. B u t t h i s " L ig h t" i n P arm en id es i s a sim p le t h i r d te rm
u n d e rly in g t h e c o n fu s e d w o rld o f human d o x a. I t does n o t , a s i n
H e r a c l i t u s , s e r v e t h e f u r t h e r p u rp o se o f sy m b o liz in g t h e e n t i r e
lo g ic a l p ro c e ss. I t I s i n sy m b o lic te rm s " th e moving h e a r t o f w e l l -
rounded T ru th " ('AXrjGeCiT; e6xuxX£oq Axpens? rjrop - 2 9 ) . A gain t h e
two c i r c u l a r im ages seem t o l e a d up t o a c e n t r a l l o g i c a l sym bol:
c i r c u l a r T r u th . T h e re can b e l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t P arm en id es i s c o n fin in g
h i s s y m b o liz a tio n t o l o g i c a l phenomena w ith in t h e re a lm o f non
o b je c tiv e s p a c e we f i n d i n t h e proem .
The m a jo r exam ple o f n o n -o b jec1 ;iv e o r sy m b o lic s p a c e o c c u rs
i n P a rm e n id e s' d e s c r i p t i o n o f th e g a te s o f t h e p a th s o f Day and E ig h t
(11) and t h e dom ain o f Dike t h a t l i e s b e h in d o r on th e o t h e r s i d e o f
th o s e d o o rs . H ere a g a in s tr o n g p a r a l l e l s betw een P arm en id es and
H esiod m ust b e n o te d and a l s o th o s e b etw een t h e f o r m e r 's c o n c e p tu a liz a tio n
o f t h i s sy m b o lic s p a c e and t h e sp a c e o f th e " h o riz o n " o f w hich I have
spoken e a r l i e r ( s u p r a p p . 98-99 ) and w hich i n i t s n o n - p h y s ic a l and

BCD-objective character could give us invaluable clues to how Parmenides
structured h is lo g ic in h is proem.
Hesiod in the Theogony speaks of the earful "House of murky —
Night" (Nuxr8q 5* fepepcvvTfo otxta Seiva -T. 7 ^ 0 in front of vhich
stands Atlas upholding vide h eav en on his h e a d ('cuv npcod9 3 1oiiovo i„o
o6pavov e&pov/ boTrjuq xetpaXrj ... 7^6-7). The heaven, then,
i s outside of the House of Night. The great bronze threshold of
this House is the point vhere Night and Day meet and are one. The .
House never shuts in both simultaneously (Nu£ tc xau %H^t£pn aooov
leoeci/ iXXrjXcq npoos.ss.nov d'riss.p6|isvot. 'isycv o56ov/ xc.^XEOV* Hev
eo» xarapTjosTat*^ 5s 96pa£e/ epxerau, o65e nor* djnporepaq 56poq iw b q
iepYti. -7U8-751). The one or the other is alvays turning around the -
earth, while the other waits within for her own journey (4XX* atsu
fccepH yc 56p«v sxrcooOev iouoa/ yutav fentorpstpsrau, 5' au Sopoo
ivroq ioooa/ pXiivet Trjv afrcrjq «pr]v 65ou ... 752-75*0•
What comes t o t h e e y e a s "P arm en id ean " i n t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n
i s ( l ) t h e u s e o f t h e p a r t i c i p l e am eibom enai—a w ord we f i n d i n an
a d j e c t i v a l form i n t h e proem t o d e s c r ib e t h e k e y s i n D ik e ' s p o s s e s s io n
t h a t open t h e g a te s o f N ig h t and Day (xXTjufiaq 4notj3ou^ -lU ) and (2)
th e " ro a d " o f t h e r e s p e c tiv e j o u m i e s o f Day and N ig h t w hich im m e d ia te ly
b r in g s to . m ind t h e ways o f Day and N ig h t i n P arm en id es (xs X su Sol
Kuxt 6^ t s xcxl -1 1 ). T h ere i s a l s o t h a t m y th ic a l s t r u c t u r e :
th e House o r Home o f N ig h t (Nuxroq olxC a -7^*0 o f w hich th e l a t e r .se o-
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n o f t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n proh ibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

20k
•writer made u s e (Soancx-ra Nuxroq - 9 ) • The tw o p a s s a g e s , t h e n , sp eak
o f t h e same phenomena i n a somewhat s i m i l a r way. By ex am in in g them
o ne may m ore f u l l y a p p r e c ia te t h e sym bol P arm en id es u se d i n h i s
proem .
How i s t h i s sym bol c o n s tr u c te d ? What a r e i t s p a r t s ? The
m o st d i f f i c u l t t h i n g t o c o n c e p tu a liz e i s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f w hat i s
" i n s i d e " and " o u ts id e ” o f t h e House o f S i g h t . I t i s s a i d i n H esio d
t h a t e i t h e r S ig h t o r Day i s lo d g e d " i n s i d e " th e h o u se w h ile t h e o th e r
i s " o u ts id e " ( . . . o65e nor* dtaporspag 56noq fevrtx; t i p y e i / A W a t e l
ir s p r j y s 5S|iC2v sxrros9sv iovaa./ ynZav fejtLOTpepsTCL fj 8 ' a5 66}iOO fevToq
lo u o a / p.u!ivet t ?jv aftrrfe upryv 65oo . . . 7 5 1 -7 5 * 0 . P arm enides im p lie s
t h e same t h i n g "by h a v in g t h e d a u g h te rs o f th e su n p u t a s id e t h e i r
v e i l s o n ly when th e y le a v e t h e "House o f S ig h t" ( o r e cmspxoCaTO
n e u n e iv / 'HXtaSe? x o u p a t, JipoXi.7iouoai 6a*jaTa Nuxto<;/ s lq (paoq &odp.evat
xpaTOv aTio x ^ p o t xaXoivrpaq 8—1 0 ) . (In th e f i r s t case th e s t r i c t
p a r a l l e l i s m o f id e a s i s a id e d b y t h e p a r a l l e l end l i n e p h ra s e s
"exrooG ev feoooa" and "£vr&q io o o a" o f 752 and 7 5 3 .) I t i s im p o r ta n t,
I -th in k , t h a t t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f Day and S ig h t w ith in Parm enides*
THouse" i s much more v a g u e. The " in s id e " o f h i s "House" i s g o in g t o
b e u s e d f o r som eth in g q u i t e e s p e c i a l , even th o u g h i n te rm s o f m y th ic a l
s p a c e , i t i s i d e n t i c a l t o H e sio d * s. The fo rm er w ish e s o n ly t o imbue
i t w ith a s tr o n g l o g i c a l m eaning.

205
At t h i s p o i n t i t i s n e c e s s a ry t o remember t h a t m y th ic a l o r
p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l sp a c e does n o t p o s s e s s q u a l i t i e s o f o b j e c t i v e sp a c e
r e c o r d e d b y s im p le s e n s e p e r c e p t io n . I h a v e a lr e a d y i n d i c a t e d t h a t
t h e m y th ic a l re a lm s o f H e sio d a r e su ch phenomena (s u p r a pP* 9 3 f f ) .
-In b o th H e sio d a n d P a rm e n id e s, t h e n , th e "House o f N ig h t" m ust b e
c o n s id e re d f i r s t i n p h en o m en o lo g ica l te r m s . Hence any d e s c r i p t i o n
of e v e n ts v i t h i n t h e "H ouse" a r e sy m b o lic r a t h e r th a n a c t u a l . In
b o th a u th o r s y e a r e fa c e d v i t h a r a t h e r com plex c o m b in a tio n o f th e
v i s u a l and t h e s y m b o lic . H e sio d e s p e c i a l l y i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h i s i s
t h e c a s e , f o r h e p la c e s A t l a s , h o ld in g h e a v e n , o u t s i d e o f t h e H ouse.
I n o th e r w o rd s , h e d e f i n i t e l y i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e w o rld o f p h y s ic a l
p e r c e p tio n i s on t h i s s i d e o f t h e " g r e a t th r e s h o ld o f b ro n z e " (neyav
o6S5v x a lx eo v 7 ^ 9 -5 0 ). I am o f t h e o p in io n t h a t P arm en id es a ls o
i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e w o rld o f p h y s ic a l p e r c e p tio n i s t h i s s id e o f th e
House o f N ig h t. The p a th s o f Day and N ig h t (xeXeoOoi Nox*t6q t e x a t
) a r e b o th e s s e n t i a l l y on t h i s s id e o f t h e House o f N ig h t.
They a r e phenom ena o f t h e w o rld o f m o rta ls i n w hich m o rta ls can n o t
s e e u n i t y (pocxpaq y®P xovsQevto 5oo yv&paq 6voud£&t.v • tSv jauiv 06

Xpe&v feoTuv 8 .5 3 - 1*).
The w hole argum ent h in g e s on w here and w h at t h e H e sio d ic
th r e s h o ld ( oud o s) and t h e P arm enidean g a te s ( • q .'la i) w h ich p o s s e s s
t h e i r oudos t o o (12) a c t u a l l y a r e . To e x p la in t h i s , I s h a l l draw
once more upon p e r c e p tiv e e x p e rie n c e s o f an i n d i v i d u a l man t h a t a r e ,

206
In f a c t , common t o a l l men. The "threshold" or "gates" to vhich
Hesiod and Parmenides r e fe r i s th e ir horizon or th a t p o in t where
day becomes n ig h t or n ig h t , day and where th ey meet and are one.
The a rc o f day ( th e h eav en H e s io d 's A tla s h o ld s upon h i s h ead ) i s
d e s c r ib e d by t h e movement o f th e s u n . T here a r e l y r i c exam ples
I have a lr e a d y c i t e d and a n a ly z e d t h a t i n d i c a t e t h e e a r l y G reeks
p e r c e iv e d t h e movement o f t h e sun i n t h i s way ( s u p ra p . 37 & f n . 1 .8 9 ) .
The a rc o f n i g h t i s i n s c r i b e d b y th e moon (vuxTucpaeq n e p t yauav
dXuîevov AXXorptov <pcoq - f r . 1*0— a moon t h a t i s alw ays " g a z in g
tow ard s t h e r a y s o f th e sun (a L e t najiTaCvouoa npoq aoyaq "neXtouo
- f r . 1 5 )—:a g a in t h e h e u r i s t i c p u l l to w ard s Lig*t- ( c f . i n f r a p . 2 1 8 ).
The a rc o f n i g h t b e g in s once th e sun h a s s e t b elo w a m a n 's h o riz o n —
a t w hich tim e t h e a r c o f t h e moon a p p e a r s , v e ry p o s s ib ly from a
d i f f e r e n t d i r e c t i o n b u t n e c e s s a r i l y moving above man i n an a rc a s
does th e su n t h e n e x t m orning (a s H esio d s a y s b o th day and n ig h t

w e t * A rr • ^ a w *
W V **i ** W * | W l WWi V W A W W *■ |
disappears in t o th e other only at th e ppint o f a man'sh orizon .
What becomes o f th e phenomena a fte r t h e ir disappearance i s another
Question e n t ir e ly . Perhaps fo r Hesiod they are lodged sym b olically
in th e House o f N ig h t, but fo r Parmenides Day and N ight are perceptual
phenomena th a t are separated by the gates (p y la i) — th a t i s by a man's
horizon. What l i e s beyond th at horizon i s e n t ir e ly another m atter.
Parmenides, th e n , con cep tu alized th e s it u a t io n in th e fo llo w in g manner

207
and "by so doing combined th e p ercep tion o f h is "ob jective" v o rld w ith
th e p o s s i b i l it y o f a sym bolic one. The phenomenological im p lica tio n
should be ob viou s:
A Parmenides, a man
B The hemisphere along which th e sun

or moon (Day or N ight) d escribe
t h e ir arcs.
C Horizon or "gates o f th e House o f

N igh t" , i . e . th e interm ed iation
between Parmenides* o b je c tiv e and
sym bolic world
D The "House o f N ight", i . e . the

"other world"
E The way o f Parmenides
To what, th e n , may we compare th e "House o f Night” ? As
I have in d ica ted p rev io u sly H esiod regards h is "houses" as non-

208
p h y s i c a l , sy m b o lic s p a c e s ( s u p r a p p . 96-97 ). There i s alw ays th e
s e n s e o f t h e " o t h e r w o rld ” a b o u t them . P in d a r i n Hemean 6_ p la c e s
a l l r e a l i t y o r b e in g i n t h a t " o t h e r w o rld " t h a t l i e s on t h e " b ra z e n
sh y " on t h e " th r e s h o l d " o f m a n 's a w a re n e ss:
ev dv5parv^
ev 0e2>v yivo q * £x (itaq 6e itveop-tv
mrrpdq Atuporspou* SteupYst 6e uaou xexpuplva
Sovantq , Ax; t o p iv o65sv, 6 6 s x°Xxeoq
AatpaXeq atev eSoq
ixcvsw oftpavoq
'i - u .
He i n d i c a t e s a g e n e a lo g ic a l c o n n e c tio n b etw een men and gods and
t h e r e f o r e , a s i n H e s io d , a p o s s i b l e c o r r e l a t i o n , b u t " v i s u a l l y "
t h e r e i s an i n a l t e r a b l e dichotom y b etw een a re a lm o f n o th in g ( to
pev o66sv) an d t h e p o s i t i v e re a lm o f t h e g o d s. The same ty p e o f
dichotom y seem s t o b e a t w ork i n P a rm e n id e s. A t l e a s t , T ru th l i e s
b e h in d t h e p y l a i w i th in t h e House o f H ig h t— a T r u th t h a t , a s I s h a l l
a rg u e l a t e r , i s a t h i r d te rm t h a t l i e s b e h in d t h e o p p o s itio n a l
s t r u c t u r e o f t h e w o rld o f d o x a. I t i s a l s o i n o p p o s itio n t o th e
w o rld o f d o x a , j u s t a s Chaos i s i n o p p o s itio n t o e v e r y th in g i n th e
Theogony ( s u p r a p . 76 ). I n f a c t i t i s so d e s c r ib e d . The
g a te s o f t h e d o o rs a s th e y sw ing b a ck make o r b r in g t o v iew a g a p in g
chasm ( tc u 8 s 0up£T poiv/ x6ovi* dxaveq noCrpav . . . 1 7 - 1 8 ) . The l o g i c a l
" o th e r" i s p ro d u c e d i n b o th H e sio d and P arm en id es b y th e same im ag e.

209
I am convinced th a t when Dike, th e goddess who co n tro ls
o p p o sitio n s, who handles th e interchangeable keys o f Day and N igh t,
th e goddess whom B acchylides p ic tu r e s a t one p o in t h o ld in g th e s c a le s

l|ll
th a t measure o p p o sitio n , opens th e g a tes fo r Parmenides, she i s in
f a c t allow in g him t o p ass in to a region where he w i l l lea rn an
underlying Truth th a t u n ite s and makes one th e apparent op p o sitio n s
o f th e v is u a l w orld. This u n ity i s in f a c t what t h is very region
sym bolizes fo r Parmenides ( t h is statem ent w i l l become c le a r e r

li5
su b seq u en tly ). The goddess h e r s e lf when she addresses Parmenides
w ith in her home ( do — 25 ) , reaffirm s th e u ltim a te lo g i c a l purpose o f
th e reg io n . Parmenides i s t o be given u n iv e r sa l knowledge: ”You
must learn th in g s [—how sim ila r i s t h is t o H e r a c litu s ' "philosophers
must in q u ire in to a g rea t many th in g s" - 35 ?— ]» both th e unmoving heart
o f w ell-rounded Truth [ i . e . th e s e c r e t o f where he i s a t th e p resen t
tim e] and th e opinions o f m ortals in which th ere i s no tru e b e l i e f .
Y et, you w i l l lea r n even how th e se opinions are t r u ly n ecessary and

46 „
pervade a l l th in g s" . Again a symbol— in t h is case th e House o f
Night"—i s used by Parmenides w ith a lo g ic a l in t e n t . The region in to
which he has been allow ed i s th e underlying th ir d term th a t u n ite s
th e op p osition o f th e o b je c tiv e world.
Another " th ird term" i s , o f cou rse, th e hodos Parmenides
tr a v e ls to t h i s "region beyond th e sun". I new turn t o th e in v e s tig a tio n
o f Parmenides' symbols o f th e "road" and m e "para".

210
E r i e H avelock h a s , I t h i n k , c o n tr ib u te d a g r e a t d e a l t o
o o r u n d e rs ta n d in g o f P a rm e n id e s' u s e s o f th e s e te r m s . In a sh o rt
a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d "P arm enides and O dysseus" (HSCP 6 3 :1 9 5 8 , p p . 1 3 3-1^3)»
h e p o in ts o u t t h e e p ic r o o t s o f P a rm e n id e s' im a g in a tio n . He to o s e e s
t h e jo u rn e y o r hoaos on w hich th e p o e t- p h ilo s o p h e r i s d riv e n a s a
sym bol among a s e t o f o t h e r s — a l l o f w hich a r e " d e s ig n e d t o r e c a l l
a nd r e i n f o r c e c e r t a i n c o n te x ts o f e x p e rie n c e w hich i n t e r p e n e t r a t e th e
w
p h ilo s o p h y o f t h e w hole poem ." H av elo ck i s c e r t a i n l y c o r r e c t i n
U8
t r a c i n g t h e Parm enidean 66oq Su^ncruoq t o t h e i d e a o f t h e n o s to s i n
H c r.fr. B eth O dysseus and P arm en id es a r e on v oyages t h a t e x te n d "beyond
n o rm al human l a t i t u d e s " . As i t i s v i t h O dysseus so i t i s w ith
P a rm e n id e s. The l a t t e r ' s " jo u rn e y i s a ls o an e x c u r s io n beyond t h e

nU9
bounds o f a c c e p te d e x p e r ie n c e .
H av elo ck n o te s t h a t i n t h e poem a s a w hole " th e w ord 65oq and
i t s c o r r e l a t i v e s xeXeoGoq and dvapnoq o c c u r t h i r t e e n t i m e s . . . . The
jo u rn e y in g m etap h o r i s in d e e d o b s e s s i v e . " ^ Of c o u r s e , n o t a l l o f
th e s e w ords a p p ly d i r e c t l y t o P arm en id es and h i s own jo u r n e y , and
th o s e t h a t do n o t , as I i n d i c a t e d above when I spoke o f th e k e le u th o i
o f N ig h t and Day ( s u p ra p . 200 ) a re d e c id e d ly i n f e r i o r t o h i s
own. I t i s t h e hodos o f P arm en id es h im s e lf t h a t i s one o f th e p rim a ry
sym bols i n t h i s w ork. I t i s a f a t e d ro a d i n a l y r i c u s e o f t h e v o r d ^

52
and i s t h e s tr o n g o n e , a s H e sio d s t a t e s t h a t le a d s t o R ig h t — t h e goddess
D ike i n t h e p r e s e n t i n s t a n c e . I t i s i n th e proem t h a t i t s b ro a d
dim ensions a r e s e t down.
Reproduced with p e r m i s s io n o f t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n prohibited w itho ut p e r m is s io n .

211
I h av e i n d i c a t e d above ( s u p r a p* 207 ) how d ia g ra m m a tic a lly
t h e hodos o f P arm enides m ust h av e "w orked” i n te rm s o f t h e v i s u a l and
p h en o m en o lo g ical w o rld . We a r e g iv e n s e v e r a l i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t t h e
hodos i s a s I have drawn i t — i . e . a t h i r d way b e s id e s t h e p a th s o f
Day and W ight a n d , m o re o v e r, one w hich e x h i b i t s s u b je c tiv e q u a l i t i e s .
I n t h e o p en in g l i n e we a r e t o l d t h a t t h e m ares c a r r y P arm en id es as
f a r as h i s " d e s i r e " o r " h e a r t" m ig h t go (Soov t ' fenl 0un6q I xovol -l).
The g o d d e sse s th e n draw him o n to t h e " re so u n d in g " ro a d ( iq 65dv
noXwprpov - 2 ) — a g a in , a s was t h e c a s e w ith th e a x le ( s u p ra p • 201)
sn d I s t h e c a s e w ith t h e n o is y s o c k e ts o p en in g d o o rs ( r e t 5& S opsT pav/

4
âon* &xa v &(» JtouTjouv dvanTansvac JtoXuxaXxouq/ a£ovaq £ v a o p iy g tv
djioupadSv e tX t£ a o a t ...1 7 - 1 9 ) » an " u n n a tu r a l" sound s i g n i f i e s a Jo u rn e y
i n t o an " u n n a tu r a l" r e a lm . P arm en id es h as begun h i s Jo u rn e y t o th e

53
-realm o f T r u th . The d a u g h te rs o f t h e Sun e s c o r t t h e c h a r i o t to w a rd s
t h e sun and s u b s e q u e n tly t o t h e g a t e s on P a rm e n id e s' h o r iz o n . T hese
g a te s s e p a r a te t h e p a th s o f Day and N ig h t. P a rm e n id e s' p a th i s ji
t h i r d way. Once h i s h o r iz o n i s to u c h e d and D ike opens t h e g a t e s , th e
hodos h a s e n te r e d a re a lm g o v e rn e d b y l o g i c a l p r i n c i p l e s . The hodos
a t t h i s p o i n t becomes a m a x ito n —t h a t i s a b ro a d h ig h - r o a d ( 2 1 ) .
P arm en id es’ hodos h a s become t h e r o y a l way. T h is i s t h e hodos
t r a v e l l e d seldom by men (T nv8' 65ov (rj yap in* avGpcoraov Ixrdq
na-rou i o r t v ) - 2 7 ) — a n o th e r i n d i c a t i o n t h a t we a r e o u ts id e o f th e no rm al
m a te r ia l re a lm o f men. From t h i s p o i n t i n P a rm e n id e s' poem , hodos .

-assumes s t r i c t l y l o g i c a l m eanings v h ic h I s h a l l m e n tio n s u b s e q u e n tly .
I t i s , h o w e v e r, n o t u n u s u a l t h a t i t w ould do s o . P arm enides h a s w orked
o u t c a r e f u l l y i t s tr a n s f o r m a tio n o f m eaning w ith in th e proem i t s e l f .
T a ra n g ro u p s t o g e th e r a s e t o f frag m e n ts h e l a b e l s " a s tro n o m ic a l"
u n d e r th e c a te g o r y "The W orld o f A p p earan ce". G e n e ra lly t h i s i s th e
c a s e —e s p e c i a l l y i n so f a r .as t h e dichotom y betw een N ig h t and Day i s
d is c u s s e d . W hat i s i n t e r e s t i n g i s t h a t a s tr o n o m ic a l o r a s t r o l o g i c a l
phenomena a r e d e s c r ib e d i n sy m b o lic te rm s — te rm s t h a t m ig h t i n d i c a t e
t h a t P a rm e n id e s , l i k e H e r a c l i t u s , was a b i t u n d e c id e d w here t o p la c e
a stro n o m y i n t h e scheme o f t h i n g s . One s e n s e s , how ever, t h a t th e
a s t r o l o g i c a l sym bols m ig h t have h a d more m eaning f o r H e r a c l i t u s ,
s i n c e th e "H ouse o f N ig h t" f o r P arm enides i s much more o f a p u r e ly
l o g i c a l sym bol th a n i s H e r a c l i t u s ’ p y r and hence does n o t le n d i t s e l f
a s e a s i l y t o a s y ste m o f " c r o s s - s y m b o liz a tio n " — i . e . th e s u b s t i t u t i o n
o f one p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l symbol f o r a n o th e r . I n o th e r w o rd s, P arm enides
OUVNO IX C X X IX X . U C OX illU V X U 5 U O j f WXUX O X lC p u C U V U lC U W X ^ 5 X W C U L SV 1X U V/X
H e r a c litu s a n d i n t o a w o rld o f a more p u r e ly l o g i c a l o r d e r . Y e t,
w here some sym bols seem t o have l o s t t h e i r g ra p h ic p o w er, o t h e r s , a s
we h av e s e e n and s h a l l s e e , a r e a s p o te n t as e v e r .
T ake, f o r in s ta n c e , 10. The c lu e t o i t s sy m b o lic c o n te n t
l i e s i n t h e se c o n d l i n e w here t h e g oddess t e l l s P arm enides t h a t he
w i l l know t h e n a t u r e o f a i t h e r and a l l o f th e semat a i n i t (e to g
6* a tG sp ta v t s <?oatv to x* t v aiG ept. n av T a/ arpaxa . . . 1 0 . 1 - 2 ) . The

213
"two sym bols s h e m e n tio n s a r e " t h e p u re t o r c h o f t h e r e s p le n d e n t sun"
(xa0apaq e&ayeoq fjsX to u o / XaiinaSoq . . . 2 - 3 ) and t h e " ro u n d -f a c e moon"
(x6xXcono<; aeXrjvriq) . B oth sym bols a r e g iv e n a c t i v e q u a l i t i e s : t h e sun
i s p e rfo rm in g " d e s t r u c t i v e w ork s" (spy* at& qX a), t h e moon, "w an d erin g
works*1 (sp y a neptcpouTa)— t h e l a t t e r , e s p e c i a l l y , v e ry l i k e l y r e f e r s t o
t h e a rc o f N ig h t we m e n tio n e d above i n c o n n e c tio n w ith t h e proem
( s u p r a p . 207 )• B o th o f t h e s e "sy m b o ls" b e lo n g t o t h e g r a p h i c a ll y
p e r c e p tu a l w o rld and a r e s u r e l y l i n k e d w ith th e w o rld o f d o x a , j u s t as
a r e t h e p e i r a t a o f th e s t a r s t h a t a r e bound b y N e c e s s ity we a l s o f in d
i n t h i s frag m e n t (coq pitv a y o o a (a ) IneSrjoav "AvGyxr,/ xzZpax* s x Si*v
acrrpcav - 6 - 7 ) . T hese p e i r a t a a r e v i s u a l b o u n d a rie s an d n o t l o g i c a l
o n e s. One w ould e x p e c t t h a t l o g i c a l p e i r a t a , i f th e y e x i s t f o r
P a rm e n id e s, a r e n o t p h y s i c a l i n t h i s s e n s e a t a l l . The "H ouse o f
N ig h t" i s a b o u n d le s s C haos. I t to o v e ry p r o b a b ly , l i k e H e r a c l i t u s '
p s y c h e , w ould h av e n o p e i r a t a .
I n fra g m e n t 1 1 , "How t h e e a r t h and su n and moon and t h e
common a e t h e r , and t h e m ilk y way an d t h e o u te rm o s t Olympus and h o t
s tr e n g th o f t h e s t a r s s t r o v e t o come i n t o b e in g " ( ncoq y a ta x a t TjXtoq
fjSe, ocXrjvr)/ at0f]p T6 yaXa x* o tip a vio v x a l oXupuioq/ caxaxoq
Soxpoov 0epp6v (Jievoq dspprjOriouv/YLyveaOau), i t i s somewhat d i f f i c u l t

«
t o comprehend t h e v a lu e P arm en id es p u t i n t h e sym bols h e l i s t s . One
w ould b e o v e r ly z e a lo u s t o i n s i s t a t . t h i s p o in t t h a t t h e frag m e n t
r e p r e s e n ts some s o r t o f t o t a l d e n i a l o f i t s c o n te n ts b e c a u s e B eing

21k
does n o t come i n t o b e in g ( 8 .3 ) and t h e r e f o r e t h e sym bols i n 11 a r e
not sym bols a t a l l b u t m ere phenomena o f t h e o b je c t iv e w o rld o f
a p p e a ra n c e . I t i s p o s s i b l e , f o r ex am p le, t h a t t h e p h ra s e "oXunnoq
£ox<rcoq” s h o u ld b e c o n s id e re d i n m e re ly p e r c e p t iv e o r o b je c t iv e
terms. M oreover, h e l i o s i s a sym bol we commented upon i n H e r a c l itu s
( s u p r a p • 156 ) and s e ig n e i s fo u n d i n 1 0 , 1 1 , and 1 5 . Then to o
we f i n d h e re t h a t c o n c e p t o f xynos w h ich H e r a c l i t u s u se d s o e f f e c t i v e l y
( e .g .2 ) . T here i s , i n o th e r w o rd s, s tr o n g sy m b o lic p o t e n t i a l t o t h i s
fra g m e n t a s t h e r e was i n 10— enough s o t h a t one h a s some r i g h t , I t h i n k ,
to q u e s tio n any argum ent t h a t t h e phenom enal w o rld was t o t a l l y w ith o u t
s i g n i f i c a n c e f o r P arm en id es.
S e v e r a l o f t h e o t h e r fra g m e n ts a r e s t r u c t u r a l l y sy m b o lic—
that i s , th e y a r e c o n s tr u c te d i n o r d e r t o em phasize a c e r t a i n
o p p o s itio n a l— i .e ." l o g i c a l —n a tu r e t o t h e w o rld . "On t h e r i g h t , b o y s;
on t h e l e f t , g i r l s " ( 6 e£uTspototv uev xoopouq, Xatotou 5 s xoupaq -1 7 )*
w h eth er 18 i s a p a r t o f a t r e a t i s e on h o m o s e x u a lity , h s rm p a h rc d itis m ,

55
b o th , o r n e ith e r is d if f ic u l t to t e l l . What i s s u re i s t h a t t h e r e
i s a d e f i n i t e d y a d ic a lly s t r u c t u r e d u n i t y b etw een o p p o s ite s in v o lv e d :
fem in a v irq u e s im u l V e n eris cum g e rm in a m i s c e n t . . . s i v i r t u t e s p e rm ix to
sem ine p u g n e n t/ n ec f a c i a n t unam p e rm ix to i n c o r p o r e , d i r a e / n ascen tem
gemino v ex ab u n t sem ine sexum. I t w ould b e b o th i n t e r e s t i n g and
h e l p f u l t o know w hat w ere th e e x a c t w ords P arm en id es h im s e lf u se d f o r
" f a c i a n t unam" and "gem ino s e m in e " , an d i t i s im p o rta n t t o remember

215
-th a t we a r e d e a lin g w ith a L a tin t r a n s l a t i o n . P e rh a p s one s h o u ld n o t
■extend s p e c u la tio n beyond n o tin g an u n d e rly in g s t r u c t u r e o f d y a d ic
o p p o s itio n . S i m i l a r l y 1 3 , "She [ th e daimon o f 12] d e v is e d E ro s a s
t h e f i r s t o f a l l gods" ( noarrLorov p lv "Epcorra 0eSv (XTjrtoaTO nav-rav. . . ) ,
c o u ld b e a l o g i c a l s ta te m e n t r e f e r r i n g t o a uOwuTistic tlii.r d ;
■H esiod's E ro s ( c f . s u p r a p p . 78-79 ) c o u ld b e v e ry e a s i l y a s i m i l a r
te rm . I n any c a s e , t h e r e i s no r e a l r e a s o n from t h e frag m en t i t s e l f
o r from i t s c o n te x t i n l a t e r a u th o rs ( c f . D i e l s , o p . c i t . 1 :2 4 3 ) t o
a t t r i b u t e t o i t a n e g a tiv e c o n n o ta tio n .
I t i s fra g m e n t 1 2 , ho w ev er, we m ust s tu d y w ith some c a re
i f we a r e t o g ra s p f u l l y th e p o w e rfu l sym bolic p r o p e r t i e s o f Parm enidean
th o u g h t, f o r J u n g 's m andala sym bolism o f w hich I spoke much e a r l i e r
( s u p ra pt 3 ) i s m ost c l e a r l y r e p r e s e n te d i n t h i s s p e c i f i c c a s e .
I am c o n v in ce d t h a t t h i s i s a symbol— a s o r t o f l o g i c a l a rc h e ty p e —
f o r P a rm e n id e s' w hole p h ilo s o p h y and m ust e i t h e r b e removed p a r t i a l l y
from th e c a te g o ry o f Doxa o r m ust s ta n d as a p r o o f t h a t t h e c a te g o ry
p o s s e s s e s a more u n i v e r s a l re le v a n c e th a n i s n o rm a lly su p p o se d . (I
s h a l l a d d re s s th e seco n d o f th e s e p o s s i b i l i t i e s s u b s e q u e n tly — i n f r a
pp. 2 2 7 ff. ). The c o n d itio n o f "B eing w hich we s h a l l soon c o n s id e r
i s made g r a p h ic a ll y sy m bolic i n t h i s fra g m e n t:
F o r t h e n a rro w e r [ r i n g s ] a r e f i l l e d w ith unm ixed f i r e ,

And th o s e t h a t a r e on them w ith n i g h t , and betw een ru s h e s a
p o r t i o n o f fla m e .
I n t h e m id d le o f th e s e i s t h e gcddccc who g u id e s e l l th i n g s .
F o r o v e r a l l sh e b e g in s p a i n f u l b i r t h and u n io n , .......................
S ending th e fem ale t o m ate w ith th e m ale and c o n v e rs e ly a g a in
The m ale w ith th e fe m a le .

216
a t y ap a r e uv o te p a t nXTyvTau nopdq ixpTjrcuo

a t 6* i n i T atq vux-c6q, ftcTa 5e <p\oyo<; tex ai. a to a *
iv 5e t o Orav Satucov r} n a v ra xopepvij*
v a v ra yap <t]> o tS y e p o lo t6 x o u x a l jxC^Loq a p ^ c t
nenm oua' a p asv i 0TjXu tUYT)v x> ivavxCbv a u r tq
apcrtv 0T)XoT6pa).
The b i o l o g i c a l c o n n e c tio n betw een t h i s frag m e n t an d 1 3 , 1 7 , and 18 i s
ob v io u s and n e ed s no comment. What i s im p o rta n t h e r e i s t h e o p p o s itio n
o f l i g h t and d a rk t h a t assum es a c i r c u l a r c o n f ig u r a tio n i n th e r in g s
o f F i r e and N ig h t and t h e c e n t r a l i t y o f t h e daimon who r u l e s a l l .
T h is dftimnn i s an exam ple o f an a r c h e ty p a l g oddess who b o th b e g in s
and r u l e s ( a r c h e i -1*) o v e r s y n th e s is and c r e a t i o n . She i s th e u n if y in g
te rm w ith in o p p o s itio n — t h e " e t e r n i t y ” we s h a l l s e e once a g a in i n o u r
-su b seq u en t d is c u s s io n o f ’’B eing” . T h is m andala i s an a rc h e ty p e o f
Parm enidean L ogic— an u l tim a te s i g n o r sym bol t h a t ta k e s p re c e d e n c e
a v e r th e sec o n d a ry — and n o t so p o w e rfu l— sem a ta we d is c u s s e d i n 10
( s u p ra p p . 2 1 2 -2 1 3 ). Y e t, in b o th fra g m e n ts , know ledge i s im p a rte d
s y m b o lic a lly by th e o p p o s itio n o f l i g h t and d a rk and i n te rm s o f
c i r c l e s — t h e a l l - i m p o r t a n t shap e o f t h e m an d ala. I n 10 t h i s man d a la
encom passes t h e sweep o f t h e sk y and th e te n s i o n s o f N e c e s s ity w hich
f e t t e r th e sk y i n o r d e r t o h o ld t h e l i m i t s o f t h e s t a r s (fcneSrptv
*Avayya]/ nctpax* sx £|*v aorpcov - 6 - 7 ) . N e c e s s ity r e p r e s e n ts j u s t as
much a te n s e d p r i n c i p l e o f s t r u c t u r e h e re as do th e m e tra o f
H e r a c litu s ( c f . s u p ra p« 170 ).
P a rm e n id e s' cosmology i s — a s i t was w ith H e r a c litu s and i s

57
w ith o th e r p r e - S o c r a tic s .—a r c h e ty p a l i n n a t u r e . The p red o m in an t

217
g ra p h ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i s t h a t o f a c i r c l e o r s p h e re d e r iv e d from
o p p o s itio n s . We s h a l l p e r c e iv e how t h i s ty p e o f s t r u c t u r e makes
i t s e l f f e l t i n th o s e fra g m e n ts a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e f i r s t h a l f o f t h e
main body o f t h e poem i t s e l f .
T hese fra g m e n ts i n i t i a t e t h e P arm en iaean e x a m in a tio n c f
p u re L ogic— t h e l o g i c t h e proem p la c e s s y m b o lic a lly i n t h e H ouse o f
S ig h t . The goddess h e r s e l f i n i t i a t e s t h e o p p o s i tio n a l n a t u r e o f th e
l o g i c a l a rc h e ty p e w hich com bines and u n i t e s t h e o p p o s itio n s th e m s e lv e s —
i t i s - t h i s u n d e r ly in g , u n if y in g n a tu r e t h a t P arm en id es i s t o l d h e i s
t o com prehend:
Come, I s h a l l t e l l y o u . Pay a t t e n t i o n t o w h at y o u ’v e h e a r d ,
Which i s [a n a cc o u n t o f ] th e o n ly ways o f in q u ir y t h a t can b e
c o n c e iv e d .
The one how i t i s n o t p o s s ib le n o t t o b e
(T h is i s t h e p a th ,.e f P e rs u a s io n f o r i t fo llo w s T r u th ) ;
The o th e r t h a t i t i s n o t and t h a t i t m ust n o t b e .
T h is I t e l l you i s an u t t e r l y i n s c r u t a b l e w ay,
F o r n e i t h e r w ould y o u cone t o know w hat in d e e d i s n o t ( t h a t ’s
im p o s s ib le )
Hor w ould y ou e x p re s s i t .
e t 6* ay* ty&v ipcto xontout. 5 s fiuSov d x oucaq,

a tn s p 6 5 o t pouvat Stgrjoxoq s l a t v o tto h lv
f) jxsv omoq s o t l v t s x a l 4>q oGx s o t l at) s iv a u ,
IIstQooq £otl xsXsoQoq ( ’ AXnQst'Q "Vap 6jrr)5et),^
•f) 5* &q o 6 x scttlv t s x a l &q ôsoav fcoru p.f) s l v a u ,
ttjv 5fj TOt <ppa£a> n a v a n s u 9 s a s u p s v &Taon6v •
o u r s yap a v t o Y£ F I Y&P d v u o r o v )
o u r s (ppdoatq ( 2 ) .
I t i s t h e m ythos o f th e goddess t h a t r e p r e s e n ts t h e u n d e rly in g u n it y
o r t h i r d te rm i n t h i s s ta te m e n t, tie r a c c o u n t i s tw o -fo ld . I t w ill
t r a c e th e way o f B eing and N o t-B e in g . P arm en id es makes th e b a s ic
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n o f t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

218
l o g i c a l o p p o s itio n v e ry c l e a r . T h e re a r e o n ly two ro a d s o f i n q u ir y :
( l ) on t h e one h a n d (f) n sv ) "how i t i s and i s n o t p o s s i b l e n o t t o h e "
a n d (2 ) on t h e o t h e r (-fj 5 ' ) . " t h a t i t i s n o t an d t h a t i t m ust n o t h e " .
a r c h a ic s e n s e o f o p p o s itio n i s c a r r i e d n o t o n ly i n t h e \ktv. . . 6 e
c o r r e l a t i o n h u t a l s o i n t h e o b v io u s c a r e P arm en id es h a s ta k e n t o make
lin e s 3 5 a s a b s o lu t e ly p a r a l l e l a s p o s s i b l e . The f i r s t tw o f e e t
o f e a c h l i n e c o n ta in t h e m a jo r i d e a . The t h i r d f o o t i s i d e n t i c a l i n
b o th as i s t h e f i f t h and s i x t h . The o p p o s it io n a l d i v i s i o n o f t h e
l o g i c a l w o rld i s c l e a r . T h a t t h e f i r s t way i s th e " p a th o f P e rs u a s io n "
w hich " f o llo w s T r u th " . I t ' i s n o t , n o t e , T ru th i t s e l f and h en ce p o i n t s
to w a rd s t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a t h i r d te r m . T h is t h i r d te r m , as I s h a l l
d is c u s s s u b s e q u e n tly , p o s s e s s e s s u b s t a n t i v e l y th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f
t h e p o s i t i v e te rm o f t h e i n i t i a l l o g i c a l o p p o s itio n a s w e ll a s u n i t i n g
t h e i n i t i a l o p p o s itio n i t s e l f . I n sy m b o lic te rm s t h e t h i r d te rm i s
L i g h t, l y in g b e h in d an o p p o s itio n o f l i g h t and d a rk . The h e u r i s t i c
movement o f t h e l o g i c in v o lv e s s y m b o lic a lly , a s we h av e s a i d b e f o r e
( s u p ra p • 206 } , t h e p o s i t i v e movement from N ig h t t o Day. (T h is
same phenomenon a r i s e s more c l e a r l y i n t h e sec o n d h a l f o f t h e poem
i t s e l f — i n f r a p p . 2 2 6 ff . . ) . I n any c a s e , t h e p r e s e n t frag m en t u n d e r
c o n s id e r a tio n l o g i c a l l y advan ces t h e tw o - f o ld lo g ic o f B eing and N o t-
B eing w h ile m a in ta in in g T r u th ( t h e m ythos o f th e g o d d ess) as t h e
s u b s ta n tiv e +.tiird te rm w ith in t h e l o g i c i t s e l f . (F ragm ent 8 , a s we
s h a l l s e e , a l s o r e v e a ls t h e s u b s t a n t i v e c h a r a c t e r o f B e in g .a n d - its
u n d e rly in g im p o rta n c e i n r e s p e c t t o l o g i c a l o p p o s it io n .)
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n

219
-Fragments 3 , U, and 5 rep resen t c le a r examples o f th e symbolic
and stru ctu ral, p r o p e rties o f Parmenides' "Way o f Truth” . I have
in d ic a te d p re v io u sly th a t th e "House o f Night" rep resen ts a lo g ic a l
or n o e tic realm fo r Parmenides ( supra pp. 20U ff. ) . In i t l i e s tru e
B eing. I t i s n ot su r p r is in g , th e r e fo r e , to come across a statem ent
th a t "To th in k and t o be i s th e same thing" (t 5 y®P a&r6 voetv feortv
T6 x a l c l vat. - 3 ) — c f . a lso 8 .3 1* and 8 .3 5 - 6 : "For w ithout Being you
w i l l n ot fin d thought in what i s expressed (06 Y&P Sveo to o £6vto<;,
tv qb netpaTuopLcvov t o r t v / ebprjaeu^ t6 voeuv). Four i s a somewhat
d i f f i c u l t fragment in th a t a context would be h e lp f u l, but when
Parmenides speaks o f " th in gs absent to the mind" (dncovra vow
napeovTa - 1 ) I t i s p o s s ib le , I b e lie v e , t o understand th e se phenomena
t o be th e l o g i c a l phenomena lodged in th e "House o f N ight". I t is
nous th a t connects th e phenomenon o f Being in i t s unchanging realm and
Being in th e mixed realm o f percep tion or doxa: "Being holds f a s t to
Being" ( t 6 £ov to o eovxoq exsoQau - 2 ) . Notts—a th ir d term drawn from
th e realm o f i n t e l l e c t u a l experience— connects P erception and Truth—
th e former which tends "to d isp erse Being everywhere in order"
(oxuSvanevov navrg navxcoq xata xooijov - 3 ) , th a t i s , t o mix i t w ith
Non-Being in ir r e c o n c ila b le op p osition ( c f . 8 .5 3 -6 3 & 9 )—th e la t e r
which tends t o b rin g i t to g eth er as a sim ple u n ity ( synistamenon - U ) ^
(c f . 8 . U2-l*9). F ive i s a sim ple archaic statem ent s tr e s s in g the
underlying importance o f Being to Parmenides' lo g i c a l argument. The

220
p h r a s e , " i t i s th e same t o me from whence I make a b e g in n in g , f o r
th e n c e I s h a l l r e t u r n anew" (£ovov 5s n o t feoruv, 6nno9ev ap^ccpau*
t SS i, yap ndXuv l£opa<. a u 0 u ;) i s a v e rb a l, s ta te m e n t o f th e symbol o f
t h e c i r c l e and m ust b e r e l a t e d t o H e r a c litu s 103 (£uvov yap dp^t] x a l

* 60
s s p a s &»l xuxXcu n c p tq ssp slcq )- N ote t h e u s e o f xyuos i n b o th
c a s e s and remember t h e l o g i c a l v a lu e i t r e p r e s e n t s i n H e r a c litu s
(s u p r a p. 138 ). >In P arm enides t h i s p h ra s e does n o t r e f e r t o
a " c i r c u l a r argum ent" b u t t o t h e i n e v i t a b l e t e l o s w hich i s no u s—
i . e . B e in g . The v e rb rem inds one im m e d ia te ly o f t h e jo u rn e y o f th e
proem— e x c e p t t h i s tim e t h e way i s much more l o g i c a l . Y et a d e c id e d
g ra p h ic q u a l i t y b e sp e a k s th e fr a g m e n t's a r c h a ic n a t u r e .
Fragm ent 6 c o u ld p r e s e n t c o n s id e r a b le d i f f i c u l t i e s i f n o t
i n t e r p r e t e d p r o p e r ly . The c ru x o f t h e p ro b lem l i e s i n w hat p o s i t i o n
th e p p o ro l etSoTeq o 66sv m a in ta in t h a t P arm en id es f in d s so d i s t a s t e f u l .
I h av e a lr e a d y i n d i c a t e d t h a t I do n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s frag m en t i s
lo d g e d a g a i n s t H e r a c litu s and am v e ry fa v o ra b ly d is p o s e d t o V e rd e n iu s ’
i d e a t h a t t h e b r o t o i a r c , i f any s c h o o l a t a l l , fo llo w e rs o f H e r a c litu s
who d id n o t r e a l l y comprehend t h e i r m a s t e r 's d o c tr i n e s ( s u p ra 196 ) .
The goddess opens t h e frag m e n t w ith a r e a f f i r m a t i o n o f B eing i n
v e r b a l and n o e tic te rm s : xprj to X eyetv ts v o e tv t * fcov s n n e v a u ... ) .
She th e n r e i t e r a t e s th e l o g i c a l o p p o s itio n in v o lv e d : e o r t yap e l v a t /
pxjSev 5 ' ofix e o ru v , and f o r b id s P arm enides t o p o n d e r th e fo rm er way
as she f o r b id s him t o p o n d er th e l a t t e r (noarcrjq yap a ' dtp* 65ou xaurriq

6 c£ryxuoq < 6 upY»>/ c t^ ro p e n s t t * 4n6 1% , Stj p p o ro l e tS o rs q o 66 s v /
nXaTTOvxau . . .3 - 5 ) • The im p o rta n t p o in t i s t h a t sh e o r d e r s him t o
c o n s id e r b o th a l t e r n a t i v e s i n h i s m ind ( t o o ' &y&> <ppa£6o9at avarfa - 2 ) .
The l o g i c a l o p p o s itio n comprehended o r u n ite d by no u s i s m arkedly
e v id e n t .
What e x a c tly i s .th e way o f " m o rta ls know ing n o th in g " t h a t
P arm enides r e j e c t s ? To b e g in w i t h , th e s e men a r e " d o u b le -h e a d e d "
(d ik r a n o i - 5 ) • They a r e th e u n c r i t i c a l h e rd ( a x p e ra <puXa - 7 ) t o wham
B ein g and H o t-B eing a r e c o n s id e re d th e same and n o t t h e same and whose
way o f in q u ir y c o n s ta n tly r e t u r n s t o t h i s o b s e r v a tio n (o tq to h SX o lv
T t x a l o 6x euvau t o &to v v e v o n tc r a i / xo 6 t o 6t o v , navxcov 5 s naXlvrponoq
fcoxt xeXsuQoq - 8 - 9 ) . P arm enides i s a t ta c k in g th o s e who do n o t p e r c e iv e

62
a n y th in g t h a t d e f in e s o r r e g u la t e s th e p la y o f o p p o s i te s . From o u r
s tu d y o f H e r a c l i t u s , i t s h o u ld b e c l e a r t h a t he does n o t f a l l w ith in
t h i s c a te g o ry w h e th e r P arm enides th o u g h t so o r n o t . I n any c a s e , i n
6 P arm enides i s a tta c k in g an u n s o p h is ti c a te d d u a l i s t i c view o f th e
w o rld w hich g iv e s autonomy to t h e way o f H o t-B e in g . As he s a y s i n
Fragm ent 7 , t h i s way n e v e r s h a l l b e f o r c e d (06 y&P l^nnoxe Touro
6ap.Tj s t v a t prj io v x a - l ) . S ense p e r c e p tio n o r o r d in a r y e x p e rie n c e
(sOoq noXonsLpov -3 ) i n d i c a t e s i t s autonom y; r e a s o n does n o t . The
e y e , e a r , and to n g u e a r e a t f a u l t ; th e c r i t i c a l Judgm ent g iv e n t o
Parm enides b y th e goddess w i l l s o ly e t h e dilemma b etw een B ein g and
H ot-B eing i f he w i l l b u t u s e i t :

222
vcoâv aoxonov Sp+ia x a l f)xf)eooav dxou^v,

x a l yX&ooav, xpIva l 5e Xoytjj roXu&rpLV eXeYX°v
fejieQev frrjGevTa
(*-6).
*Ph«> same "basic d i s t r u s t o f s e n s e p e r c e p tio n v a s a ls o a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
o f H e r a c litu s ( c f . s u p ra p p . 1U6- 1 U7 ) .
X t i s frag m e n t 8 t h a t c o n ta in s th e m ost d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n s
o f B eing i n sy m bolic and s t r u c t u r a l te rm s and i s a good p r o o f t h a t
sym bolism e x e r te d a s tr o n g in f l u e n c e o v e r P arm enidean th o u g h t. F irs t
one m ust n o te t h e d e s c r ip ti o n s o f B ein g i n 8 . They a r e a r c h e ty p a l i n
t h e s e n s e t h a t th e y s e p a r a te B ein g i n t o a c l a s s d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e from
p a t t e r n s o f t h e o b je c tiv e w o rld . They a r e s a i d by P arm enides h im s e lf
t o b e s ig n s o r sym bols ( sem ata) o f B ein g i t s e l f : ’’T h ere i s y e t- a
't e l l i n g o f th e way re m a in in g —n am ely , t h a t i t i s , and on t h i s way
t h e r e a r e a m u ltitu d e o f sym bols” (povoq 5* s t l p.u9oq 660 T0 / XeCneTau
corcv* -rau-cg 5* £xl anuaT* eaai. JtoXXa paX*. . . 1 - 3 ) . These sym bols
a r e , i n t h i s c a s e n o t a s g ra p h ic a s ones we h av e m et i n t h e p a s t —
an i n d i c a t i o n , I t h i n k , t h a t one o f th e d i f f e r e n c e s b etw een H e r a c li tu s
and P arm enides i s th e l e t t e r ’s i n s i s t e n c e upon a more l o g i c a l th a n
p u r e ly sy m bolic re a lm . Y et th e y a r e a l l fo rm ed , e x c e p t o n e , w ith
an a lp h a p r i v a t i v e . They a r e , i n o th e r w o rd s , co n cern ed w ith t h e
" o th e r w o rld ” . B eing i s d e s c r ib e d a s "u n b o rn ” , " im p e r is h a b le " ,
"w h o le", "unm oving", and " w itn o u t end” ( aY&vTrrov lo v * u l uvuivk&CpOV
fccT«.v,/ to n . yap o&XopsXsq t s x a l dTpepei; d rsX ecrov -3 -* 0 — c f .

a lso 19 -2 1 . T his sym bolic s t a t e , B eing, i s c a r e fu lly separated from
i t s l o g i c a l a n t it h e s is Not-Being. I t la ck s any p a st or fu tu re and i s
altogether, one, and v h o le in a kind o f e te r n a l p resen t ( o65b nor*
If* 066 * e o r a t , feneu vuv b o tu v 6 nou n a v , / b v , au v ex 6<; - 5 - 6 ) . I t e x is ts ,
t h e n , o u ts id e o f t h e norm al seq u en ce c f tim e w ith w hich we moderns
are a c q u a in te d and p a r ta k e s o f th e a c a u s a l, im m ediate tim e s e n s e o f
which I spoke e a r l i e r ( s u p ra pp. 30-31 ). I t i s s p e e c h and t h e
n o e t i c re a lm t h a t w i l l keep B eing a p a r t i n t h i s c o n d i tio n (06 yap
<pardv o 66 e votjtov bo tu v Sncoq o 6x s a tu - 8 - 9 ) . D ik e , t h e b a l a nc in g
sym bol b e tw ee n two w o rld s ( s u p ra p . 200 ) , h o ld s B ein g f a s t i n
i t s p erm an en t c o n d itio n i n c o n t r a d i s t i n c t i o n t o t h e e v e ry d a y w o rld ( t o o
b u v b x b v o u re yeveoQ au/ o u r ' SXXuoQau dvrpte Auxrj xaXaoaoa. ne&qouv
4XX' 6X6 t . . . 1 3 - 1 5 ) . The w hole p o in t o f t h i s n e c e s s a r y dichotom y
i s a l o g i c a l a n d h en ce s t r u c t u r a l o n e : B e in g /N o t-B e in g (f] 5b xpuouq
nepu toutbv few t^S * botuv* / botuv o &x b o t u v . .. 1 5 -1 6 ). A gain
P arm enides demands t h a t we o p t f o r t h e way o f B ein g i n c o n t r a d i s t i n c t i o n
t o th e u n th in k a b le ( a n o e to n ) and unnam eable ( anonymon)— n o te a g a in
t h e a lp h a p r i v a t i v e u s e d f o r an i n i t i a l d i s j u n c t i o n —way o f Non-
B eing ( l 6- l 8 ) . B e in g , th e n , i s n o e t i c and n a m ea b le . I t s o th e r
q u a l i t i e s t h a t b e sp e a k i t s a r c h e ty p a l u n i t y a r e t h a t i t i s i n d i v i s i b l e
and homogeneous i n c o n te n t (ofeSl Suaupexov feoruv, feneu nav feoruv
6 pouov - 2 2 ) . " A ll i s f u l l o f B eing” (feov yap feovru neXaêu - 2 5 ) .

22b
B e in g i s r e s t r i c t e d i n an unmoved s t a t e ( a k in e to n -2 6 ) by
p e ira ta . I t i s i n t h i s c o n d itio n -w ithout b e g in n in g and w ith o u t e n d in g
( an arch o n and a p a u s to n (2 7 )— n o te a g a in t h e s u c c e s s io n o f a lp h a
p r i v a t i v e s t o d e s c r ib e t h i s s t a t e ) . I n my o p in io n t h e s t a t i c te n s i o n
b y w hich Anagke g iv e s B eing i t s form and bounds i s s i m i l a r t o t h e
t e n s e d r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een H e r a c lite a n o p p o s ite s i n so f a r a s th e s e
bounds a r e a l s o e s s e n t i a l l y dynamic ( c f . s u p r a p p . 1 6 8 -1 7 0 ). The
te n s i o n a l s o i n d i c a t e s a c e r t a i n a f f e c t i v e movement o r q u a l i t y we
h a v e n o te d i n l y r i c exam ples— t h a t i s , P arm en id es a t t r i b u t e s a s e t o f
q u a l i t i e s t o B ein g t h a t b e sp e a k a n o th e r w o rld . The dynam ics o f B eing
c r e a t e B ein g i t s e l f i n t o a s p h e re o r c i r c l e . I t i s " p o w e rfu l N e c e s s ity ”
t h a t c r e a t e s t h i s s p h e r e , h o ld in g B ein g i n c h a in s and c o n s tr a in i n g i t
. i n a c i r c l e (xpaxeprj y o p ’ Ava-pcn/ netpaToq £v S so p o to tv s x e t , to
Hcv feepyst - 3 0 - 3 1 ) . D e s tin y ( M o ira) i s synonymous w ith t h i s
N e c e s s ity ( 3 7 - 3 8 ) .
The te n s e d b o u n d a rie s o f B ein g co m p lete i t and g iv e i t
u n i t y (a 6 ”ta p £h£l neupaq noua-rov, TexeXcauevov t a x i / navxoOev -U 3-U ).
"What i s c r e a t e d i s a w e ll-ro u n d e d s p h e re (efixuxXou atpaCpnq), t h e
g ra p h ic sym bol o f t h e 'PCkrficlrfe efcxoxXeoq -qrop we m et i n t h e proem
( 1 .2 9 ) , o f e q u a l s t r e n g t h from t h e m id d le (usouSOev toonaXeq navTrj
—hh) and i n * n d i r e c t i o n s e q u a l, re a c h in g i t s l i m i t s u n ifo rm ly (cj,
yap ndvroBsv £v n eto ao u x o p s t - ^ 9 ) . C o rn fo rd * s commentary
on t h i s "S p h e re o f B eing" i s h e l p f u l a t t h i s p o i n t i n e x p la in in g th e
with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ithout p e r m is s io n .

m
225
a lm o st p h y s ic a l dynam ics o f t h e phenomenon. He a rg u e s t h a t P arm enides
i s denying h y t h i s s p h e re t h e v o id as a n o th in g " t h a t w ould i n t e r r u p t
t h e c o n tin u ity o f B eing and make i t a p l u r a l i t y , and a ls o any v a r i a t i o n
o f d e n s ity su c h a s m ig h t d e s tr o y i t s e q u ilib r iu m and cau se i t t o b re a k
i n t o o p p o s ite s p r e y in g on one a n o th e r . The s p h e re i s th e obvious

n6k
f i g u r e b e in g t h e o n ly s o l i d c o n ta in e d by a s i n g l e un b ro k en s u r f a c e .
The form i t s e l f o f B ein g i s g ra p h ic and g e o m e tr ic a l. I t l i e s betw een
th o u g h t— a s u b j e c t i v e phenomenon— and o b j e c t iv e r e a l i t y . I t i s , in
o th e r w o rd s, P a rm e n id e s' g r e a t e s t p h e n o m en o lo g ical c r e a t i o n . E s ti
o r e x is te n c e i s f o r him sy m b o lic .
A t t h i s p o i n t i n 8 , t h e g oddess t u r n s away from h e r t r u s t
w o rth y a c c o u n t c o n c e rn in g T ru th (6v t 2> ool naoco lucrcov Xoyov fjSe
v6r p a / An<plq &\T]8etT]q -5 0 - 1 ) and a d d re s s e s h e r s e l f t o th e b e l i e f o f
m o rta ls ( 6o£aq j3poretaq - 5 1 ) , dem anding P arm en id es t o l i s t e n t o th e
" d e c e p tiv e o r d e r o f my w ords" (jiavGavs x6 o{jov £p£v £ji£cov Anarr^Xov
Axouoiv - 5 2 ) , I t m ust b e n o te d from t h e s t a r t t h a t sh e does n o t c la im
th e b e l i e f o f m o r ta ls t o b e t h e same as N o t-B ein g — a l o g i c a l te rm on
a g ra n d e r s c a l e . T h ere i s no r e a s o n , i n o th e r w o rd s , why we sh o u ld
n o t d is c o v e r sy m b o lic phenomena in t h i s re a lm . I have a lr e a d y b ro a c h e d
t h i s to p ic p r e v io u s ly ( s u p r a PP* 2 1 2 ff . ).
I n t h e re a lm o f human d o x a, w ith i t s d e c e p tiv e o r d e r in g ,
m o rta ls make a t o t a l dichotom y b etw een o p p o s ite s t h a t i s u n w a rra n te d .
They do n o t s e e an u n d e rly in g u n i ty o r t h i r d te rm — i . e . B e in g -

226
(pop<paq T^P xrxT£0Evro 5uo wcoacc 6 v o p a £ e i.v *c5v tn a v 06 yoe&v
- 53- 52;) # (1 t a k e h e r e 06 xP£®v "t® i n d i c a t e t h e view o f t h e p e o p le
b e in g c r i t i c i z e d and p la v t o r e f e r t o th e u n if y in g te rm whose e x is t e n c e
th e y r e f u s e t o s e e . I n o th e r w o rd s, t h e r e i s no a r e a o f i d e n t i t y
betw een o p p o s ite s . As t h e goddess s a i d e a r l i e r - "As many th in g s as
m o rta ls e s t a b l i s h i n t h e c o n v ic tio n t h a t th e y a r e t r u e w i l l b e [o n ly ]
name" (tw n a v r’ 6 vop,(a) s o r a t , / S ana {3porol xa-reSevTO nenotG orsq e l v a t
dXTjSrj - 38- 9 }. T h is f a l s e nam ing e x te n d s t o B ein g and H o t-B ein g (e u v a t
x e x a l oftxt - ^ 0 ) . I t i s i n t h i s t h a t th e y go a s t r a y —n am ely , t h a t
th e y c r e a t e t o t a l o p p o s itio n s and sym bols o f a s i m i l a r l y a n tip o d a l
n a tu r e ( t n v r t a 6 * ix p tv a v r o 6 e(ia<; x a l crpa-c* eG evro/ in '
dXXnXwv -5 5 - 6 ) On t h e one h an d th e y c r e a te t h e " e t h e r i a l flam e o f
f i r e " (<pXoY&q alG ep to v nop - 56 ) w hich i s everyw here i d e n t i c a l w ith
i t s e l f b u t n o t i d e n t i c a l w ith i t s o p p o s ite ( . . . fcaxrtSS n d v to c s tco6t o v /
6 ' ferep^ prj tu>6t 6v -5 7 -8 ). T h is o p p o s ite phenomenon i s d a rk
n i g h t w hich i s lik e w is e i d e n t i c a l w ith i t s e l f b u t n o t w ith th e su n
(d ro p x&xsuvo x a r J afrvo/ r a v z la v 6xt* &5ar] . . . 5 8 - 9 ) . M o rta ls do
n o t s e e th e i d e n t i t y b etw een t h e s e sym bols. " I n t h i s way th e y h av e
gone a s tr a y " ( 6v £ nenXavTjasvot e lo lv -5 * 0 .
The re a lm o f Doxa, s e e n c o r r e c t l y , m a in ta in s a u n i ty o f
s o r t s th ro u g h i t s m ix tu re and n o t a dichotom y o f p o l a r o p p o s ite s .
Fragm ent 9 s t a t e s t h i s c l e a r l y . Once e v e ry th in g i s named L ig h t and
B ig h t e v e r y th in g i s f u l l o f b o th s in c e t h e r e i s n o th in g w hich d o es

p~
227
n o t b elong t o e ith e r :
a&rop ineuST) navxa <paoq x a l vo£ 6vonaaxau

x a l xd xaxa cxpexspaq 6uvdp.suq in i x o lca -re x a l x o lq ,
«av nXeov fecrxlv 6;iou <paso^ x al vuxxoq dcpavxoo
Iocjv dpupoxepcov, in e l o&6exsp<g pi&xa prjdev,
/
A.E. C ozen, "The P h ilo s o p h y o f P a rm e n id e s" . CO. 1 9 3 ^ . 2 8 : 13^ -kh t
p in p o in ts t h is "mixture-concept" o f Parmenides. He argues th a t th e
p oet-p h ilo so p h er saw a l l p h y sic a l and v is u a l phenomena as a "union
of o p p osites" o r " c o r r e la tiv e s" . He sees t h is conception o f Mixture
as "the ground-basis o f Parmenides’ whole view o f th e p h y sic a l u n iv erse.
' Out o f th e two 'form s' a r is e in accordance w ith th e laws o f n e c e s s ity
th e h eaven s, th e sun and moon, and th e 'burning might o f th e s t a r s .
Coxon then p o in ts ou t th a t Parmenides " elab orates the m ixture concept

67
down t o th e d e t a ils o f a p h y sio lo g ic a l th eory." This would ex p la in
th e in c lu s io n o f 1 6 , 1 7 , 1 8 , and 19 in th e corpus. In any c a s e , th e
d iffe r e n c e between th e world o f Doxa and th e world o f Truth i s th a t
t h is sym bolic m ixture ch a ra cterizes th e former w h ile a c le a r cu t
l o g ic a l dichotomy ch a ra cterizes the l a t t e r . What i s n ot allow ed in
th e world o f Doxa i s allow ed in th e world o f Truth because o f the
su b sta n tiv e—n ot lo g i c a l — supremacy o f Being.
Both th e realms o f Doxa and Being are regu lated by a sim ila r
o p p o sitio n a l str u c tu r e w ith emphasis on th e p o s it iv e member o f th e
se t. In th e w orld o f Doxa t h is p o s it iv e member becomes th e underlying
th ir d term on a n o e tic l e v e l . A ffirm ation on a n o e tic le v e l i s at

228
once a means o f d e f in in g o r m aking c l e a r th e d i s t i n c t i o n betw een
a f f i r m a t i o n and n e g a tio n on t h e l e v e l o f doxa and t h e p o l a r o p p o s ite
o f n e g a tio n i n t h e w o rld o f n o u s ; ( a / - a r e s u lts i n a /A * /-a ). The
u n d e r ly in g m ech an ics— i f th e y may in d e e d b e g iv e n so p r e c i s e a te rm —
a r e somewhat 'u n lik e t h e H e r a c l i t e s n l o g i c a l movement we d is c u s s e d
above ( s u p ra p p . 1 7 0 -1 7 5 ), b u t t h e r e s u l t i n g s t r u c t u r e i s th e sam e.
Fragm ent 16 r e v e a ls w hat may b e a s i m i l a r s t r u c t u r e i b o th p a r t i c u l a r l y
and by s p e c ie s ( c f . t h e n o tio n o f a n th ro p o s i n P r o ta g o r a s i n f r a P* 253)
" f o r t h e f u l l [w hole?] i s th o u g h t" ;
dxq y a p exaoxoq e x c t xpaauv (icXeoov noXunXayxxtov,

Tuq vooq 4v0pamotat naploxaxau* to yap a6xo
soxuv 8nsp cppov&eu p.eXeav cpuouq &v0pa>nouauv
x a l naatv x a l navxu* to yap nXsov feoxl voTjixa.
H ere nous seems t o b e i n t i m a t e l y c o n n e c te d w ith t h e harmony o f p h y s ic a l
members (x8 y ap a6xo soxuv . . . ) and a t t h e same tim e o v e r and above i t
( t & ydp nXsov feoxl v orjua). The u n d e rly in g u n i t y seems t o b e c o n t r ib u te d
b y th o u g h t w hich i s t h e u n i v e r s a l human c h a r a c t e r i s t i c b o th p a r t i c u l a r l y
and by s p e c ie s ( c f . t h e n o tio n o f a n th ro p o s i n P r o ta g o r a s i n f r a
p . 253 ) , " f o r t h e f u l l [w hole?] i s th o u g h t? .
The sy m b o lic phenomena t h a t l i e a t th e b a s e o f t h e l o g i c
o f Doxa a re t h e fu n d a m e n ta l a r c h e ty p a l o p p o s itio n o f l i g h t and d a rk .
I have exam ined t h i s phenomenon r a t h e r c l o s e l y e a r l i e r i n t h e s e t o f
frag m e n ts a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e way o f Doxa ( s u p ra P* ). The k ey
t o t h i s a n a l y s i s , o f c o u r s e , l i e s i n th e proem . The g o d d e ss , th e

229
t h i r d n o e tic te rm f o r b o th th e re a lm o f doxa and t h e ex p o u n d er o f th e
p o s i t i v e Way i n t h e re a lm o f T r u th , commands t h e g a te s w hich somehow
s e p a r a te t h e ways o f N ig h t and Day. The same lig h t/ g o d d e s s / d a r k
a rran g em en t i s c l e a r l y t h e s t r u c t u r e sy m b o lized b y t h e g r e a t m andala
fra g m e n t ( 1 2 ) . Then to o P arm enides draw s o u r a t t e n t i o n t o t h e m ix tu re
o f l i g h t and d a rk i n 9 w here a t h i r d te rm i s n o t m e n tio n e d . The
sy m b o lic phenomena o f Day and N ig h t— a " n a t u r a l " o p p o s itio n — a r e
n o te d how ever. The i d e a t h a t from t h i s m ix tu re one s h o u ld move
to w a rd s L ig h t i s made c l e a r b o th by 15 ( a t c t nanvatvouoa node abrde
•fteXtOio) a n d , o f c o u r s e , t h e proem w hich d e p ic t s t h e g o d d e sse s moving
w ith th e c h a r i o t to w a rd s t h e l i g h t (npoX tnouoau ScbjiaTa M oxxoq,/
e tq <pdoq - 9 - 1 0 ) . T h is L ig h t i s , how ever, a n o e t i c te rm : lig h t/n o e tic
l i g h t / d a r k ( a /A 1/ - a ) . The t h i r d te rm (A*) comes a b o u t from a p ro p e r
U n d e rsta n d in g o f t h e m ix tu re o f o p p o s ite s and r e t a i n s th e nam e,
a lth o u g h tra n s fo rm e d i n m eaning, o f th e p o s i t i v e te rm . One may
diagram th e l o g i c t h u s :
P u re N o e tic Realm
-a
Realm o f Doxa
Man’ s n o e t i c p a th i n th e
v i s u a l o r o b j e c t i v e w o rld

230
I n t h e p u re n o e t i c re a lm t h e r e e x i s t s a s im p le l o g i c a l
dichotom y "between b e in g and N o t-B e in g . I n o t h e r w ords a c o n d itio n
P arm enides d e c l a r e s i s f a l s e i n t h e w o rld o f Doxa i s t r u e i n t h e w o rld
o f B e in g . N o t-B e in g i s th e s im p le , l o g i c a l " o t h e r " . A l l mean i n g l i e s
i n t h e p o s i t i v e te r m . I a g re e w ith C a s s i r e r when h e r e g a r d s N o t-B ein g
as & l o g i c a l c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f a p u re r e l a t i o n a l — i . e . g ra p h ic —
^ c o n c e p t.
68 I n any c a s e , t h e r e i s no lo n g e r a t h i r d te rm o p e r a tin g on
t h i s l e v e l s i n c e t h e l e v e l i t s e l f i s th e a l l - i m p o r t a n t , n o e t ic t h i r d
te rm to w a rd s w h ic h P arm enides w ish e s u s t o move.
W hat t h e n , i s th e s t r u c t u r a l and sy m b o lic r e l a t i o n s h i p
betw een H e r a c l i t u s and P arm en id es? The b a s i c s e n s e o f o p p o s itio n i s
i d e n t i c a l , and i t i s im p o rta n t t h a t P arm en id es -d ev elo p ed , i n i t s
c l e a r e s t fo rm , t h i s l o g i c a l a rc h e ty p e o f o p p o s itio n a s we saw i t i n
t h e m andala fra g m e n t (12) and i n t h e s h a rp d i s t i n c t i o n betw een B eing
and N o t-B ein g i n t h e p u re n o e tic re a lm . B oth men d e s c r ib e p u r e ly
l o g i c a l phenom ena i n te rm s o f a p a r t i c u l a r ty p e o f bounded t e n s i o n .
B oth men r e l a t e an u n d e rly in g t h i r d ternj, i n t h e d y a d ic s t r u c t u r e .
I H e r a c litu s sy m b o liz e s i t i n h i s c o n c e p t o f p y r and P arm enides sy m b o lizes
I i t by L ig h t among o t h e r s —t h e u n d e r ly in g phenomenon t h a t l i n k s th e
re a lm s o f Doxa an d T r u th . The two sym bols a r e o b v io u s ly q u i t e c lo s e ly
r e l a t e d i n t h e i r a f f e c t i v e pow ers a lo n e . By t h e u s e o f t h i s symbol
H e r a c l i t u s , a s I have s u g g e s te d ( s u p ra p p . 1 5 T ff. ) h a s d e s ig n a te d a
more im p o r ta n t o r more m e a n in g fu l t h i r d te rm . P arm enides h a s done so

231
to o . B oth men have drawn s t a b l e s t r u c t u r e s a lo n g somewhat s i m i l a r
lin e s . The u s e o f sym bols on a l e s s im p o rt a n t l e v e l te n d s t o v a ry
betw een t h e tw o . The u s e o f su c h a s t r o l o g i c a l phenomena as t h e sun
and th e moon i s p ro b a b ly more im p o rta n t f o r H e r a c litu s th a n P arm enides
a lth o u g h i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o t e l l . I h ave a lre a d y i n d ic a t e d ( s u p ra
pp. 156-157) t h a t H e r a c litu s h im s e lf seemed t o b e o f two m inds a s t o
th e v a lu e o f a s t r o l o g i c a l phenom ena, j u s t a s P arm enides shows a
c e r t a i n r e lu c ta n c e t o g e n e r a li z e t h e o p p o s itio n o f L ig h t and Dark
i n t o t h e p u re n o e tic re a lm . B u t a new o r d i f f e r e n t u se o f sym bols
s h o u ld n o t b e re g a rd e d a s a p o i n t o f p h ilo s o p h ic a l c o n f l i c t b etw een
th e tw o. " I n t h e w id e r i n t e l l e c t u a l l i f e o f G reece t h e p h ilo s o p h e r
who d e v is e s new sym bols i s n o t l e s s im p o rta n t th a n th e man who a r r i v e s
a t new d o c t r i n e s . They a r e (m o s tly ) one and t h e same p e rs o n . O ften
i t i s o n ly i n t h e la n g u a g e o f i t s sym bols t h a t th e s p i r i t u n d e rly in g

„69
th e s e d o c tr in e s a c q u ir e s i t s p e c u l i a r t o n a l c o lo r . The d i f f e r e n c e .
betw een H e r a c litu s and P arm en id es i n t h e u se o f sym bols i s m e re ly a
d if f e r e n c e i n " to n a l, c o lo r " . The p o in t i s : s t r u c t u r a l l y and
s y m b o lic a lly th e y a r e much more a l i k e th a n d i f f e r e n t .
I n c o n c lu s io n , th e n , how p o w e rfu l a r e th e s e form s o f
e x p re s s io n i n l a t e r p h ilo so p h y ?

FOOTNOTES
CHAPTER k
"Sterner J a e g e r , T heology o f th e E a r ly G reek P h ilo s o p h e r s (O xford

19 W ) p . 110 .
A
[P arm en id e s] 600 Taq a t r t a q x a l 800 t a q 4pxa? naXcv tIO tictl, Sepuov
x a l ôxpov, o lo v nop x a l *rnv XsYa v * toutoov 8 s x a r a p-ev t o Sv t o 6epp5v
TQ.TTCL, 0aT6pOV 5e XOTa TO (AT) ov (9 8 6 h l3 ) .
^ H eg el, o p . c i t . p . 316: " I n d e r T h a t i s t d ie s e A n sic h t des

P arm enides a h e r v ie im e h r das G e g e n th e il d es M a te ria lis m u s ; dean d i e s e r
b e s t e h t d a r in d ie S e e le au s T h e ile n a n ab h a n g ig e n K r a f te n — (d a s h S lz e rn e
P f e r d d e r S in n s ) — z u sam m en zu setzten ."
^ Ib id . p p . *
- ^ I b i d . p . 3 ^9 : " 'A l l e s f l i e s s t (n a v ra 6 e ~ ) , n i c h t s h e s t e h t noch

h l e i h t e s j e d a s s e l b e ' und P la to s a g t v e i t e r von H e r a k l i t : *Er
v e r g l e i c h t d ie D inge m it dem Strom e e in e s F l u s s e , — d a ss man zw eim al
i n d e n se lb e n S tra ta n i c h t e i n s c h r e i t e n k 8n n e , . . . . M.
^Hermann D i e l s , P a n a e n id a s L e h rg e d ic h t ( B e r l in 1897)* P» 68 : "Denn

m it den ctScfreq o65ev i s t n i c h t d ie T h B ric h te Menge ( i n G eg en satze zu
dem 6 1 5 6 tl (poari. 1 . 3 ) zu v e r s te h e n ( v g l. ffheogn. l U l ) , v i e s i e d e r npanrr)
6 S05 6 .3 g e m ein t i s t , v ie im e h r f li h r t d ie ErwShnung d e r D o ppelkB pffa,
d e r S lxpavou, a u f d ie AnhSnger des H e r a k l i t a n d den E p h e s ie r s e l b s t . "
Â. P a t i n P a r m e n i d e s im Kampfe gegen H e r a k l i t , ” J h r . C la s s . P h i l . ,

Suppbd. 25 (L e ip z ig 1899)» pp« 6 5 2 -h .
^T. Gam perz, The G reek T h in k e rs (London 1 9 6 U - f i r s t e d . 1 9 0 1 ), p . 171.
^H. S lo n im sk y . " H e r a k lit und P arm en id es” , P h ilo s o p h is c h e A rb e ite n

(G ie sse n 1 9 1 2 -1 3 ), 1 7 :3 2 : "P arm enides kam a u f den G egensatz zw ischen
dem E in zu seh en d en und dem E r s c h e in e n d e n .. . .H e r a k l i t s p h ilo s o p h is c h e
B e tra c h tu n g e n h a l t e n s i c h h a u p ts3 .c h lic h a u f das SLussere S p i e l d e r
E rsc h e in u n g en e r s t r e c k t , a u f d ie W elt des W erdens g e r i c h t e t . "
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e c o pyright ow n er. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n proh ibited w ithout p e r m is s io n .

233
^ J o h n B u r n e t, G reek P h ilo so p h y (London 1 9 1*0, p p . 63-** •
^ F .M . C o rn fo rd , P r in c ip iu m S a p ie n tia e (C am bridge 1 9 5 2 ), p . 11 7 :
" I f H e r a c litu s was t h e p ro p h e t o f a lo g o s w hich c o u ld o n ly b e e x p re s s e d
i n seem ing c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , h i s g r e a t c o n tem p o rary P arm enides was th e
p ro p h e t o f a l o g i c w hich w ould t o l e r a t e no re se m b la n c e o f c o n t r a d i c t i o n [? ]
....W h e r e a s H e r a c l i t u s fo u n d h i s t r u t h e x e m p lifie d ev ery w h ere i n th e
v i s i b l e w o rld o f change w ith i t s u n en d in g w a rfa re o f o p p o s ite p o w e rs.
P arm enides d is m is s e d t h e w itn e s s o f th e s e n s e s a s a d e l u s i o n . ”
^ G . V l a s t o s , "On H e r a c l i t u s " , AJP 1 9 5 5 , p p . 3*tl-2 f n . 1 1 . V la s to s

a l s o a rg u e s t h a t P arm en id es i s a lm o s t m a lic io u s ly i n d i c a t i n g H e r a c litu s
by im p u tin g t o someone a b e l i e f i n B eing and N o t-B ein g when a b e l i e f i n
H ot-B eing a lo n e w ould h av e been enough f o r h i s " c r i t i c a l - d i a l e c t i c " .
T h is w ould b e t h e c a s e o n ly i f Parm enides* d i a l e c t i c w ere in v o lv e d
s o l e l y w ith B ein g and n o t a l o g i c a l o p p o s itio n o f t h e tw o . I s h a l l
a rg u e t h a t t h i s o p p o s itio n was e x tre m e ly im p o r ta n t i n P arm enidean
th o u g h t.
G u th r ie , o p . c i t . p . Uo8 . A lso n o te f n . 2 i n w hich G u th rie

p ro d u c e s an e x c e l l e n t summary o f t h e v a r io u s p o s i t i o n s h e ld on t h e
P arm enidean p a s s a g e s i n q u e s tio n ( 6 .8 - 1 0 , 8 .5 7 - 8 , and U .3 -* 0 .
^ L e o n a r d o T a ra n , P arm enid es ( P r in c e to n 1965 ) , p p . U9 , 6 2 , and

1*»0. C o n cern in g 6 h e s a y s , " i n a l l l i k e l i h o o d t h e d o c t r in e a tta c k e d
i n t h i s fra g m e n t i s t h a t o f H e r a c litu s " ( p . 69 ) .
^ K irk , op. c i t . p . 2 . C f. p . 2 1 1 .
R aven, P y th a g o re a n s and E l e a t r c s (C am bridge 1 9 ^ 8 ), p p . 2 5 -6 .
17
N.B. B o o th , "Were Z e n o 's Arguments D ir e c te d A g a in s t th e
P y th a g o re a n s ? " , P h r o n e s is 195 7 . p . 93.
18
E . Z e l l e r . D ie P h ilo s o p h ic d e r G riech en (L e ip z ig 1 8 9 2 ), 1 :7 3 8 -9
fn . 1.
^ K a r l R e in h a r d t, P a rm e n id e s, p . 202: "Wie d ie Ao£a des P arm enides

ilox'uiu n i c h t v e n ig e r a i s c in c A u c c in c n d e rse tz u n g m it dem Pi-oblem e des
W iderspruchs zu g e l t e n h a t , v e i l s i e P h y s ik i s t , so w i l l auch H e r a k l its

23h
Physik n u r e in e a n d e re LSsung d e s s e lb e n Problem s d a r s t e l l e n ; s i e i s t

bedingt durch d ie s lo g is c h e P ro b lem , n i c h t um gekehrt d as lo g is c h e
Problem d u rch d ie P h y s ik ; k u rz g e s a g t: d ie L ehre von den Gegens&tzen
ist k e in B e iv e rk , d a s demD enker neben d e r H a u p ta x b e it g elu n g en v i r e ,
e r , urn n i c h t s unkommen zu l a s s e n , i n seinem Buche n e b en b e i noch
einen P l a t z v e r s c h a f f t h E t t e , so n d ern d ie i s t d ie in n e r e B in d u n g , durch
die e r s t d ie T e i l e s e i n e r G edankenw elt z u r E i n h e i t w e rd e n , d e r G rund,
a u f dgm das Ganze s t e h t ; e s i s t d e r s e lb e G rund, a u f dem Parm enides
gebaut h a t .”
on
P . T a n n e ry , P o u r l th i s t o i r e de l a s c ie n c e H ellfene ( P a r i s 1 9 3 0 ),
p . 227.
21K. R e i z l e r , P arm en id es ( F r a n k f u r t am Main 193*0 f p . 1 5 .
22w. H e s tle , Von Mythos zum Logos ( S t u t t g a r t 1 9 6 6 ), p . 111.
93 . _ „
W.J. V e rd e n iu s , P a r a e n ia e s , p p . ( f-o .
2U
O lo f G igon, D er U rsprung d e r G rie c h isc h e n P h ilo so -p h ie von H esio d
b i s Parm enides (B a s e l 1 9 ^5 )» p p . 2U4-5: " S ie geben n i c h t a u f d ie s s e lb e
F rage e n tg e g e n g e s e tz te A n tv o rte n , so n d ern s t e l l e n g an z v e rs c h ie d e n e
F ra g e n " .
25I b i d . p p . 2 6 7 f f .
J a e g e r , o p . c i t . p . 228 f n . k.
27
J. M an sfe ld , D ie O ffenbaru n g des Parm enides und d ie M en sch lich e
W elt (A ssen 196*0, p p . 1 -U l.
1
| 2 ^ I b i d . p . U0: ”W ir kommen d e sh a lb am e i n f a c h s te n m it d e r H ypothese
a n s , d a ss v i r b e i P in d a r , Parm enides und H e r a k l i t ttb erein stim m en d e
Gedanken und T erm in i f in d e n , d e re n O bereinstim m ung a l s zeitg em E sse und
z e itg e n B s s is c e F o r ts e tz u n g e i n e r a lth e r g e b r a c h te n und a llg e m e in e n
C b e r lie fe r u n g zu e rk lE r e n i s t . ”
29T a r a n , o p . c i t . p . 3 0 .
^ E .A . H a v elo c k , "P arm enides and O dysseus” , HSCP 1 9 5 8 , 6 3 :1 3 3 . Cf.

f n . U9 o f th e p r e s e n t c h a p te r .
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m is s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r . F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w itho ut p e r m issio n .

235
^ C .G . J u n g , The A rc h ety p es and t h e C o lle c tiv e U n c o n sc io u s, p . 3 2 5 -6 .
32I h i d . p . 325.
33
C a s s i r e r , o p . c i t . 1 1 :9 2 .
oil
“ K a r l D e ic n g r a b e r, " P a rm e n id e s' A u ffa h rt z u r G S ttin d es F e c h t s " ,
Akademle d e r W is s e n s c h a fte n und d e r L i t e r a t u r i n Mainz (1958) * 1 1 :
6 3 4 f f : hD ie tJber einstim m ungen und H h n lic h k e ite n s in d z a h l r e ic h und
j e v e i l s so g r a v ie r e n d , d a s s v i r d ie s e s G ed ich t in n e r v o r Augen h ab en
s o l l t e n , um zu e i n e r F r a g e s te llu n g z u kommen, d i e d as Problem noch
sc h & rfe r h e r v o r t r e t e n l& s s t" (p . 6 3 4 ). A lso Hermann Fr& hkel Wege und
Formen des f r tth g r ie c h is c h e n Denkens (MlSnchen 1 9 5 5 ), p p . 1 5 7 ff .
^ t 6 v6 c 5 c m-s nposrtOTO 0 e a l np6q jiDSov eein o v T. 2 4 .

" n n c i x z l jis cpspoocruv, 8 o o v x* fenl 0op6q t x a v o t Parm . 1 . 1 .
^ D e ic h g r S b e r , o p . e x t , p . 653: "P arm enides s p r i c h t von s i c h a l s

einem I c h , s t e l l t a b e r d ie s e s I c h n i c h t a l s etw as G e sc h lo sse n es d a r ,
so n d ern a i s e in e n B e r e ic h , i n v elch em d e r p h ilo s o p h is c h e E ro s bestim m end
w i r k t ."
37
i6 n ev ^subeo noXXa X eyetv £to |jolctlv 6 |jo ta -T_. 2 7 .
XP&& 5 s CTe n6 v'ra n o 0 s o 0 a L ...
f)6s pporwv 6 o£aq, p a tq o6x svu n ta ru q dXr)0f|q -P arm . 2 8 -3 0 .
30C f. S c h v y z e r, o p . c i t . 1 1 :4 4 . I am in a c c o rd v i t a T a r a s 's
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h i s d i f f i c u l t p a ss a g e (o p . c i t . p . 1 4 ): "nuX at
means one g a te w ith two d o o r s ."
3^ I am i n c l i n e d t o a g re e v i t h M ario U h te r s te in e r (P arm en id e,
F ir e n z e 1 9 5 8 , p . 74 f n . 91) v h o , as T aran n o t e s , i n t e r p r e t s a s " l e
c h ia v i che s i a l t e m a n o in d if f e r e n te m e n te " and s e e no f o r c e i n T a ra n *s
own argum ent t h a t U n te r s te in e r i s b e in g m is le d by " th e p l u r a l w h ich i s
m e re ly p o e t i c a l " ( o p . c i t . p . 1 5 ). What i s sy m b o liz ed by th e s e k ey s
i s th e 'a l t e r n a t i n g d u a l i t y o f t h e l o g i c i n t h e body o f th e poem.
4n. ». M . —__ e. >■ .

'HAitaOeq XOUpUL npoXi.r.OJCU^ Sc^JLCTC N ny-roe.
e t q <paoq, d o d fis v a u xpdxwv a n o x s p a t xaX onxpaq
(9 -1 0 ).
with p e r m i s s io n o f t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

236
^ P Jrfin k e l, o p . c i t . Chap. 3 .
J a m e so n 's a tte m p t t o " c o r r e c t ” e u k y k leo s t o e u p e ith e o s (G.

Jam eson, " 'W e ll-ro u n d e d T r u th ' and C i r c u la r Thought i n P a rm e n id e s" ,
P h ro n e s is 5 :1 ( i 960 ) , p p . 1 5 -3 0 ) i s u t t e r l y u n c o n v in c in g . He makes
t h e m ista k e o f th in k in g t h a t t h e c i r c u l a r i t y in v o lv e d i s a c i r c u l a r i t y
i n th e l o g i c a l argum ent ( p . 1 9 ) . H is g r e a t e s t m is ta k e , h o w ev er, i s
i n s i s t e n c e upon an i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f " th o u g h t" and w h at h e c a l l s
" r e a l i t y " i n P arm enides ( p . 2 3 ) .
a g re e w ith T a ra n , o n . c i t . p p . 1 3 -11*, t h a t " i t c a n n o t b e t h e

c a s e t h a t t h e d o o r s ta n d s b etw een two w a y s," f o r in d e e d " i f t h a t w ere
s o th e ways w ould b e two b e f o r e t h e d o o r and two a f t e r i t , w hich i s
n o t th e c a s e as i s shown b y t h e c o n te n t o f l i n e s 9 -2 1 ." The g a te w ith
i t s two d o o rs s e p a r a te s i n some way t h e way o f N ig h t from t h e way o f
D ay, b u t n o th in g n e ed be s a i d a b o u t w hat i s on th e o th e r s id e to
e x p la in how i t does i t .
• x a t Acxaq penst. x a -
X a v r o v ...
( S n e l l 1 7 .2 5 - 6 ) .
^ 1 can n o t a c c e p t T aran*s i d e a t h a t th e goddess o f l i n e 22 " i s

d i f f e r e n t from th e D ike o f l i n e l V o p . c i t . p p . 1 5 -16 b u t m ust a g re e
w ith D e ic h g rS b e r, l o c . c i t . p . 6 6 5 , t h a t th e i d e n t i t y o f D ike w ith
T ru th i s a n a t u r a l a n d , in t h i s c a s e , o b v io u s phenomenon (" E r v e r s t e h t
auch l e i c h t e r , a l s e s f r tth e r m ciglich w a r, d a ss im a lte r tf im lic h e n Denken
D ike m it d e r W ah rh eit und g e h o b en e r E rk e n n tn is i d e n t i s c h s e i n k a n n ,
R echt und N a tu r e in s s i n d , d a m it auch W ah rh eit und R echt und w ahre L ehre
und R e c h t" ). T aran s t a t e s t h a t " l i n e s 14-22 show, h o w ev er, t h a t
P arm enides d id n o t i d e n t i f y th e m ." I s e e no re a s o n i n t h e s e l i n e s
t h a t p ro v e s t h i s a s s e r t i o n . S u r e ly h e can n o t a rg u e t h a t t h e r e a r e two
god d esses b e c a u se sh e i s d e s c r ib e d a t one tim e as " o f s t e r n v engeance"
( p o ly o o in o s -1*0 and a t a n o th e r a s " r e c e iv in g P arm enides g la d ly " ( x a t
txc 0ea np6<ppcov bne 6 s£aTO - 2 2 ) . P arm enides i s an i n i t i a t e u n lik e m ost
men. He h a s t r a v e l e d th e ro a d " f a r away from t h e one tro d d e n by men"
(tj yap in* ivGpobncov ix ro q ndxoo to r t v - 2 7 ) .
Xpe» 8 s a s JtdvTa^no0so9aL
fylsv 'AXrjSstiTq s&xoxXsoq dxpensq rprop
fi5e B o o t S v 6o£aq, zaZq o6x s v i nlorxq iXr)8f]q.
dXX' ep.nr,q x a l Taura jiaSfjaeat &q Td ooxouvra
XP?iv Soxlpax; s tv a t 5 ta nav-cdq navxa nspoavTa
(28- 32 ).
with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith out p e r m is s io n .

1|7 „
E r ic A. H a v elo c k , l o c . c i t . p . 133: The jo u r n e y , t h e h o r s e s ,
t h e d a u g h te rs o f th e s u n , th e g a te w a y , t h e c o u r ty a r d , and t h e r e s t o f
i t a r e a d m itte d ly h ig h ly c o n c r e te sy m b o ls, b u t i t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t
th e y a r e d e s ig n e d t o r e c a l l and r e i n f o r c e c e r t a i n c o n te x ts o f e x p e r ie n c e
v h ic h i n t e r p e n e t r a t e th e p h ilo s o p h y o f t h e w hole poem. "
^ I b i d . p . lU2 f n . 38 : "65dq 5c£r)Oi.oq: F ra g . 2 , l i n e 2 ; F r a g . 6 ,

l i n e 3 ; F ra g . 7 , l i n e 2 ; S t^ n a a a u : F ra g . 8 , l i n e 6 ; c f . H e r a c l.
22B 1 0 1 , and L.S_. sub w . The v e rb i s Hom eric and l y r i c . The noun
seem s c o n fin e d t o P a rm e n id e s, th o u g h D ie ls in tr o d u c e d i t ( i n t h e p i . )
i n t o t h e c o r r u p t t e x t o f a m a g ic a l fo rm u la w hich K ern (O rph. F ra g ,
p . 333) r e j e c t e d as n o n -O rp h ic ."
^ 9I b i d . p . 139.
^ I b i d . p . 13 7 . I n f o o tn o te 2 6 , p ag e l U l , H avelock l i s t s t h e
v a r io u s in s ta n c e s o f t h e u s e o f " r o a d w o rd s" . I g iv e them f o r r e f e r e n c e
!b o o q : F ra g . 1 , l i n e s 2 , 5» and 2 7 ; F ra g . 2 , l i n e 2 ; F ra g . 6 , l i n e 3 ;
F r a g . 7 , l i n e s 2 and 3 ; F ra g . 8 , l i n e s 1 and 1 8 ; xsXeo0oq: F r a g . 1 ,
lin e 11; F ra g . 2 , l i n e U; F ra g . 6 , l i n e 9 . dxapnoq: F ra g . 2 , l i n e 6 .
H ote a l s o &hcl£ lt6 v ; F ra g . 1 , l i n e 2 1 ."
51C f. B a c c h y lid e s S n e ll 1 7 .8 9 : liocpa 5* tre p a v fcnopoov*65 o v .
52E . 216-217:
. . . 65oq 6 ' bxepTypu napeX Sslv

xpslaow v Iq Ta S tx a u a .
H ote a ls o E. 287-292 w here H e sio d d e s c r ib e s t h e d i f f i c u l t way o f

E x c e lle n c e i n c o n t r a d i s t i n c t i o n t o t h e way o f B ad n ess:
{*cv t o 1. xaxoTqra x a l lXa5ov s o t l v iXsodai.

jbir]t5ltoq» Xetrj usv 6 5 o c . uaXa 5 ' iyyuSL v a le t*
TT^q 5 ' dpeTT^q tSporra 8 s o l n p o rap o t9 ev sOryxav
dOdvaxot* jiaxpoq 5s x a l oo0toq oljioq £q a&rr]v
x a l T prjxoq t o nparrov* fenrjv 6 ’ e tq axpov tx rrra u ,
6f] s n e tx a neX et, xa ^ £irH n£P £ouaa.
53 C oncerning t h i s jo u rn e y and how i t i s d e s c r ib e d , S n e l l , o p . c i t .

p^ n An t.t-?4 »
'Vs Ua caoe in t +• ^0 c n l own onfl
d ra m a tic r e c i t a l b a s e d , as i s p ro v e d by a number o f a n a lo g ie s w ith a

238
poem by P in d a r , on t h e m odel o f c h o r a l p o e t r y . ” He c i t e s Olympian

6 . 2 2 f f . C f. a l s o P y th ia n 3.103-U :
e t 6e v6qp Ttq exet 0va~

twv AXaQstac fcfiov. XPÎ 71 paxapcov
tuyx ^ vovt' eo rtaoxensv.
51*
T a ra n . o p . c i t . p p . 232?f„
^ I b i d . p p . 2 6 5 -6 f n . 99 r e f e r s t o su ch le a r n e d m inds a s C a e liu s
A n r e lia n u s , W ilam ow itz, E . Lesky ("D ie Zeugungs-und V e re rb u n g sle h re n
d e r Ant i k e u nd i h r N ach w irk en ", Akademie d e r W iss e n sc h a fte n und d e r
L i t e r a t u r i n M ainz, Abhan d iu n g en d e r G e is te s -u n d S o z i a lv is s e n s c h a f tl ic h e n
K la s s e , J a n rg a n g 1 9 5 0 , N r. 1 9 , p p . 1 2 7 2 ff. ) , C e n s o rin u s , and U n t e r s t e i n e r .
56
I agree with Taran, op. cit. pp. 166-7, who cites FrSnkel, Loew,
and Bergk, that plgntai must be preferred over the unmetrical plgnto
D ie ls reads.
57S n e l l , o p . c i t . p . lU 2 , n o te s t h a t Xenophanes fo llo w e d s p e c u la tio n s

.a c c o r d in g t o w hich t h e e a r t h , t h e o c e a n , and p ro b a b ly even t h e
cosmos w ere s e e n a s p e r f e c t ro u n d s ." The h ig h ly p h en o m en o lo g ical
q u a l i t y o f t h e ^ ’s p e c u la tio n s " s h o u ld b e o b v io u s.
^ ^ T a ra n , o p . c i t . p p . 3 3 -^0 i s q u i t e c o r r e c t i n r e a l i z i n g t h a t th e
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h i s fra g m e n t and e s p e c i a l l y th e s u b j e c t o f t h i s
v e r b ( e s t i n ) a r e c r u c i a l t o t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f P a rm e n id e s' p h ilo s o p h y
as a w h o le. He p o i n t s o u t t h a t R e in h a rd t (o p . c i t . p p . 3 5 ff ) and
D e ic h g ra b e r (o p . c i t . p . kk) fo llo w e d an i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f Z e l l e r ’ s
( ZN p . 687) and D ie ls (P arm en id es p . 33) t h a t ta k e s t h e s u b j e c t t o be
a n o n -e x p re s s e d " d a s S e ie n d e " . V erdeniub c o n clu d e s t h a t th e s u b je c t
i s " r e a l i t y " ( " n o t i n t h e s e n s e o f 't h e r e a l n a tu r e o f th in g s a s
opposed t o a p p e a r a n c e ,' b u t o f a l l t h a t e x i s t s , t h e t o t a l o f t h i n g s " ,
o p . c i t . p . 32 f n . 3 .) . T a ra n n o te s t h a t more r e c e n t l y ( Mnemosyne
s e r . 1 5 , 1 9 6 2 , p . 237) V erd en iu s h a s m a in ta in e d t h e s u b j e c t t o b e
T r u th . T aran i s a ls o c o r r e c t i n s e e in g (p p . 33-*0 t h a t V e rd e n iu s '
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n i s no d i f f e r e n t from t h a t o r i g i n a t e d by D ie ls and Z e l l e r .
A n o th er i n s i g h t on T a ra n * s p a r t i s t o p o i n t o u t th e f a l l a c y i n R av e n 's
in s is t e n c e - t h a t th e d i f f i c u l t y c o n s i s t s i n P a rm e n id e s' c o n fu s io n (? )
o f t h e " e x i s t e n t i a l and t h e p r e d i c a t i v e u s e o f th e v e rb ' t o b e '"
fT). 3 3 ). T aran arom as foroefi.il.l.v a g a in s t »ny srirh " c o n fu s io n " SIS v e i l
h e s h o u ld . I a g re e w ith him a ls o when he a rg u e s t h a t "P arm enides
s t a t e s t h a t t h e r e a r e two ways o f in q u ir y t h a t can b e c o n c e iv e d : one

a s s e r t s 'e x i s t * , t h e o t h e r a s s e r t s * e x i s t s - n o t " f (p p . 3 6 - 7 ) . B ut
I do n o t a g re e w ith him vhen h e s t a t e s t h a t "P arm en id es s t a r t s from
t h e p r i o r i t y o f t h e o n t o lo g ic a l problem " ( p . 3 7 ) . I c o n te n d t h a t
P arm enides s t a r t s from th e p r i o r i t y o f a l o g i c a l p ro b lem t h a t r e l a t e s
t o t h e s t r u c t u r e s o f th e v o r l d o f e x p e rie n c e — a d y a d ic o p p o s itio n v i t h
a n u n d e r ly in g t h i r d te rm . I n so f a r th e n a s " d a s S e ie n d e " i s t h i s
t h i r d te r m , I am i n co m p lete a c c o rd v i t h D i e l s , Z e l l e r , R e in h a rd t,
and e s p e c i a l l y V e rd en iu s who h a s p o in te d t o T r u th a s t h i s te rm v i t h
good re a s o n —c f . l i n e 4 o f t h e fra g m e n t u n d e r c o n s id e r a t io n ( >A\-n0etrj
y a p 6 n r)5 e t). T r u th i n t h i s c a s e i s d e f i n i t e l y an u n d e r ly in g te rm .
59
B o te a l s o t h e c a r e f u l c o r r e l a t i o n o f t h e s e s ta t e m e n ts :
o& rc o x u S v a u e v o v n d v r g navrw q x a x a x o a p o v
o& rs amn.QTau.6vov
60
I n t h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n I am i n ag reem en t v i t h P a t i n , o p . c i t .
p p . 5 o ? ff.
^ T a r a n s h o u ld n o t d o u b t t h e p la c e m e n t o f t h i s frag m e n t ( o p . c i t .
p p . 5 1 -5 3 ). He n e a r s my own i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o n ly once i n t h e b e g in n in g
o f h i s commentary v h en he s t a t e s t h a t th e s t a r t i n g p o i n t m ig h t b e i n
sp a c e ( p . 5 1 ) . T h is i s in d e e d t h e c a s e , e x c e p t th e s p a c e t o w hich
-Parm enides r e f e r s i s v h a t we s h o u ld c a l l l o g i c a l s p a c e . T h ere i s no
o b je c t iv e o r m a t e r i a l sp a c e in v o lv e d .
P arm en id es d id n o t hav e H e r a c litu s i n m ind a n d , f o r th e sak e

o f a rg u m en t, n o t t h e l a t t e r * s f o llo w e r s who m ig h t h av e m isu n d e rsto o d
>*■???* viic e ls e *sl.l 2. d ir e c t lin e O— c ritic is m ? Could i t
p o s s ib ly b e some group t h a t a rg u e d o r spoke i n c o n t r a d ic t i o n t o th e
id e a t h a t B ein g m ust be alw ays th o u g h t and spoke (xP'H ^ X syetv r e v o etv
T* t&v em iev at - 6 . 1 ) ? Could P a rm e n id e s, i n o t h e r w o rd s , b e a tta c k in g
t h e s o p h i s t s o r s o p h i s t i c tr e n d s t h a t te n d e d t o make u s e o f o p p o s itio n s
f o r t h e i r a rg u m e n ta tiv e v a lu e r a t h e r th a n t h e i r l o g i c a l one? I n t h i s
c a s e t h a t docum ent o f n o rm a lly q u e s tio n a b le v a lu e w r i t t e n a t th e end
o f th e f i f t h c e n tu r y , th e D is s o i Logoi c o u ld b e o f some h e l p , f o r i t
r e p r e s e n ts c l e a r l y t h e a rg u m e n ta tiv e u s e o f o p p o s iti o n s . T here i s no
sp a c e t o exam ine t h i s document i n d e t a i l , b u t t h e m a n ip u la tiv e
fo r m u la tio n o f o p p o s itio n s c o u ld e a s i l y r e p r e s e n t w hat Parm enides
d i s l i k e d m o s t: th e n o n - in c lu s iv e l i s t i n g o f exam ples on b o th s id e s
o f a q u e s ti o n . I n t h e f i r s t s e t o f a rg u m e n ts , as I h av e in d ic a te d
( s u p ra p . U1 ) , ' t o a g a th o n ' and*t o k a k o n * a r e c o n s id e re d a s
a t t r i b u t e s o f d i f f e r e n t phenomena a t d i f f e r e n t tim e s . No a r c h a ic

2hO
c o r r e l a t i o n o r i d e n t i t y i s in v o lv e d . I n t h e sec o n d tw o - f o ld example
' t o k a lo n * and ' t o a is c h r o n ' a r e c o n s id e re d s i m i l a r l y . I t i s " h o n o ra b le ”
f o r a woman t o b a th e a t home b u t n o t i n p u b l i c ; i t i s h o n o ra b le t o do
good t o o n e 's f r i e n d s , d is h o n o ra b le t o do good t o o n e 's e n em ies. The
v a r io u s s e t s o f argum ents c o n tin u e i n t h e same v e i n . (The e x c e p tio n
l i e s i n t h e e ig h th s e c t i o n w here th e know ledge o f x seems t o im p ly t h e
know ledge o f n o t - x . I s u s p e c t , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t t h i s s e c t i o n i s a s e t
o f n o te s l a r g e l y b a s e d on a much e a r l i e r a u t h o r .) I t i s c l e a r , i n any
c a s e , t h a t t h e i d e a o f o p p o s itio n no lo n g e r m a in ta in s i n t h e D is so i
L ogoi i t s a r c h a ic s t r u c t u r a l an d sy m b o lic p r o p e r t i e s . T h ere i s no
lo n g e r a s tr o n g c o r r e l a t i o n o f o p p o s ite s im m e d ia te ly r e l a t e d t o a t h i r d
te rm . The p o s s i b i l i t y i s r a t h e r s tr o n g t h a t i t was t h i s s e c o n d - r a te
ty p e o f s o p h i s t i c th o u g h t t h a t P arm en id es was a t t a c k i n g vh en he
denounced t h e (3porol s ld o re q o 65ev.
63W.R. C h alm ers, "P arm en id es and t h e B e l i e f s o f M o r ta ls " , P h ro n e s is

3 -5 (1 9 5 8 -1 9 6 0 ), 5:1» PP» 5 -2 2 , a rg u e s t h a t t h e b a s i c d i s t i n c t i o n
betw een P a rm e n id e s8 two w o rld s o f T ru th and B e l i e f i s th e d i s t i n c t i o n
b etw een E t e r n i t y and Tim e. He p o i n t s t o t h i s s i g n i f i c a n t f i f t h v e r s e
o f frag m en t e i g h t a s p r o o f . T h is h e r e g a r d s a s "o n e o f t h e f i r s t
c l e a r s ta te m e n ts o f t h e c o n c e p t o f E t e r n i t y i n G reek p h ilo s o p h y " ( p .
1 6 ) . I t i s a ls o one o f t h e f i r s t c l e a r s ta te m e n ts o f th e tim e le s s
q u a l i t y o f an a r c h e ty p e . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , Chalm ers p o i n t s o u t t h a t
when th e go d d ess sp ea k s o f th i n g s m o r ta l sh e m e n tio n s s t r a i g h t away
jfty v eo Q a t ts x a l oXXuoQau ( 8 .U0 ) . B ein g i t s e l f i s e a r l i e r d e s c r ib e d
a s n o t a llo w e d by DikS " o u r s YevsoQat o u r s SXXuoOau" (8 .1 3 -1 * 0 .
Chalm ers i s c o r r e c t , I t h i n k , when h e draw s o u r a t t e n t i o n t o t h i s
d i s t i n c t i o n betw een Time and E t e r n i t y w hich c a u se s th e c o n fu s io n when
one tu r n s t o Parm enides* l o g i c i t s e l f and t h e h o d o i o f v a r io u s k i n d s .
E v e n tu a lly i t m ust b e a s k e d w h e th e r L ogic f o r P arm enides h a s a te m p o ra l
a sp e c t o r n o t.
^ F .M . C o rn fo rd , P l a t o and P arm en id es (London 1939)* P»
^ F ra g m e n t 19 r e f e r s t o a f a l s e nam ing p ro c e s s b y sym bols to o .

M o rta ls have p o s i t e d d i s t i n c t i v e names f o r s ta g e s o f a grow ing p ro c e s s
w hich i s r e a l l y o n e :
ouxso r o t xaxa. 5o£av ecpu -raSs xau vuv SaoL

x a l neTEJien’ due -touSe TsXeornoouot Tpa<pevra*
TOtq 6f Svop/ avQpconou xaTeSsvT' fcnloTiuov fcxaorw.
^ A .H . Coxon, "The P h ilo so p h y o f P a rm e n id e s" , CQ 193**, 2 8 : 1U 2-3.
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n o f t h e co p y rig h t owner. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n prohibited w itho ut p e r m is s io n .

68
C a s s i r e r , oj). c i t . 1 1 :6 3 .
69
^ J a e g e r , cm. c i t . p p . 9T -8 .
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n o f t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

2b2
C h a p te r 5 : An I n q u ir y i n t o t h e C h a r a c t e r i s t i c Q u a l i t i e s o f P ro ta g o re a n
T h o u g h t: A C o n clu sio n
I f in d e e d t h e a r c h a ic c o n f ig u r a tio n o f th o u g h t was a?
p e r v a s iv e a s I h av e i n d i c a t e d , one s h o u ld e x p e c t t o f i n d d e f i n i t e
t r a c e s o f i t s p re s e n c e i n men fo llo w in g c lo s e upon t h e h e e ls o f
P arm enides and t h e l a t e l y r i c p o e ts . P e rh a p s t h e r e a r e ev en f u r t h e r
t r a c e s i n th o s e a u th o rs even more d i s t a n t l y r e l a t e d t o them i n tim e .
I s i t , f o r i n s t a n c e , p o s s i b l e t o d is c o v e r sy m b o lic and s t r u c t u r a l
phenomena i n t h e s o p h i s t i c p e rio d ?
P r o ta g o r a s , i n my o p in io n , i s s t i l l v e i l v i t h i n t h e a r c h a ic
node o f th o u g h t— e s p e c i a l l y i n so f a r as he was a s e r i o u s th in k er^"
h i s th o u g h t y i e l d s some b a s i c u n d e rly in g u n i t y . A rc h a ic q u a l i t i e s
a r e e s p e c i a l l y e v id e n t i n t h e one s ta te m e n t g e n e r a lly re c o g n iz e d a s
c o n ta in in g th e key t o P r o ta g o r a s 5 th o u g h t as a w h o le: "O f a l l th in g s
th e m easure i s m an, o f t h e th in g s t h a t a re t h a t th e y a r e , and o f th e
th in g s t h a t a r e n o t , t h a t th e y a r e n o t" ( l ) . Y e t, o th e r s a r e j u s t
a s r e v e a lin g .
T a k e , f o r i n s t a n c e , th e p h r a s e : "T h ere a r e two lo g o i
c o n c e rn in g e v e r y th in g v h ic h l i e a g a in s t one a n o th e r" (duo Xoyooq
• t v c , 7! ; p l u p a y u /iT o c A v t l x e l i i e v o u c AXXfiXoto - 6 a ) . Nov, th e
te m p ta tio n w ith t h i s fra g m e n t h as b een t o r e l a t e i t t o l a t e r th o u g h t—

t h a t i s , c e r t a i n E l e a t i c an d e r i s t i c m odes. D u p re e l, f o r i n s t a n c e ,
2
a rg u e s t h a t t h e D is s o i L ogoi shows a P ro ta g o re a n i n f l u e n c e , and o f
c o u rs e t h e r e i s a c e r t a i n " l o g i c o f o p p o s ite s " i n E l e a t i c th o u g h t.
T a k e , f o r i n s t a n c e , Zeno’ s p a ra d o x : " th e t h i n g t h a t moves moves
n e i t h e r i n t h e p la c e i t i s n o r t h e p la c e i t i s n o t" ( t 6 x tv o u n sv o v
oSr* tv ^ so tl Tonqs xkvetT dk our* tv ^ prj s o r t - k ) . A s ta te m e n t o f
t h i s s o r t r e v e a ls a s o p h i s t i c p a r a l l e l i s m o f o p p o s ite s t h a t le a d s
t o a n i n t e l l e c t u a l p a ra d o x . T h e re i s no s u b s ta n tiv e t h i r d v a lu e
in v o lv e d . The a u th o r o f t h e D is s o i Logoi s o l e l y f o r t h e s a k e o f
argum ent i n d i c a t e s s e t s o f n o n - p o la r o p p o s ite s t h a t f a l l w ith th e
l e a s t a p p l i c a t i o n o f common s e n s e , e . g . : " I n G reece p h ilo s o p h e r s
advance tw o argum ents c o n c e rn in g *ho a g a th o s * an d 'h o k a k o s ’ .
Some sa y t h a t ’^ o a g a th o s * and *ho kakos* a r e d i f f e r e n t , o t h e r s .
s a y t h a t t h e r e i s t h e t h i n g i t s e l f and t o some i t i s g o o d , t o o t h e r s
h a d , v h i l e even t o t h e same man a t h i n g a t one tim e m ig h t h e good
end a t a n o th e r had." ln v n ■ XsyovTCt iv t ^L 1EWcLS« in o tssv
<pi\ooo<pouvTcov nepL AyaGS x a l t S xaxco. *rol jasv yap X syovT t, &q
aXXo p.£v feort r d AyaGov aXXo 5e t b xaxov* t o I 6 s , &q v& a firo £ c t l ,
x a l T olq iisv AyaGov s ir ) , x o lq 6 s x ax 6 v , x a l t S a&rô AvGpamig t o t s
Hsv AyaGov, t o t s 5s xax6v - D i e l s 9 0 : 1 . 1 ) . B oth c a s e s in v o lv e a
d e c id e d amount o f i n t e l l e c t u a l m a n ip u la tio n o f o p p o s i t e s .
Y e t, i s i t n e c e s s a r y t o a rg u e t h a t P r o ta g o r a s was d o in g
th e same t h i n g when h e s t a t e d t h a t t h e r e w ere tw o lo g o i c o n c e rn in g

2 Ufc
a l l th in g s ? I th in k n o t. The d y a d ic o r o p p o s i t i o n a l mode o f th o u g h t
t h i s fra g m e n t im p lie s we h a v e fo u n d i n p r e - P r o ta g o r e a n th o u g h t
p a t t e r n s , an d a lth o u g h i t i s t r u e t h a t t h e H e r a c li te a n Logos ( c f .
s u p r a p p . 1 3 6 ff ) i n t h i s in s t a n c e n o lo n g e r r e t a i n s i t s u n i t y i n
P r o ta g o r a s — t h e r e a r e two l o g o i —t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e th o u g h t h a s
re m a in e d c o n s t a n t . The w hole H e r a c lit e a n c o n c e p t o f t h e p o l a r i t y
an d u n d e r ly in g u n i t y o f o p p o s ite s re m a in s p o s s i b l e w it h in P r o ta g o r a s '
f o r m u la tio n o f h i s o p p o s ite s a s "5uo XSyot" w hich "d v x ix eC iisv o i
dXXfjXoLq". H e r a c l i t u s gave h i s o p p o s ite s t h e i r com prehensive
m eaning h y i n s i s t i n g on t h e i r a ll- e m b r a c in g u n i t y and u l t i m a t e
c o rre la tio n . H is m ethod o f e x p r e s s in g t h i s a s s o c i a t i o n , a s we h a v e
s a i d ( s u p r a p p . l 60- l ) h a s much t o do w ith th e p h y s ic a l j u x t a p o s i t i o n
- o r t h e " l a y i n g to g e th e r " o f o p p o s ite s : 6 Ocdq fjuepr]/ efcpp6vrk xecyfiav/
Gepoq, nfiX spoq/ etpTjvn, x o p o q / X t|Jt6 q ... (67) o r [ (d G d v ax o t/ B v r jv o t)/
(BvrfcoZ/ dG avaxou)] S^Ssvxeq x6v ix stv w v Gavaxov, xSv 5 s fexctvaw p to v
xeGvearteq - ( 6 2 ) . O nly w ith t h i s id e a o f an u n d e r ly in g ccm p reh sn siv en es
do s ta te m e n ts i n te rm s o f o p p o s ite s hav e any m eaning a t a l l .
H e r a c litu s s e e s g o d , man, and t h e w o rld th ro u g h o p p o s i t e s : h is s ty le
i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y t h e s e t t i n g o f t h e s e o p p o s ite s a p p o s i t i o n a l l y
back t o b a c k . P r o ta g o r a s sp e a k s 6 f a l l p ra g m a ta a s p o s s e s s in g a
tw o fo ld n a t u r e . ^ I t i s d i f f i c u l t n o t t o r e l a t e t h e tw o v ie w s w i t h i n

2U5
A n o th e r f i n e exam ple o f t h e d y a d ic s t r u c t u r e o f th o u g h t
i s r e v e a le d i n P r o ta g o r a s s p e a k in g a n t h e g o d s: " C o n ce rn in g t h e
gods I have n o t t h e w h e re w ith a l! t o know e i t h e r t h a t th e y a r e o r
t h a t th e y a r e n o t (ou9* e to tv oud* oox s l o l v ) o r v h a t t h e i r
f o r a i s s f o r many th in g s p r e v e n t know ing b o th t h e o b s c u r it y aod
s h o r tn e s s o f human l i f e " ( n s p l p.ev 0eSiv o6x e lS e v a t, o50# Aq
c t a l v oo0* &q o6x e t a l v oo0* 6 n o to t Tuveq tSsav* xoXXa yup t a
xuXuovra e lS s v a t t] t * d&qXornq x a l ppaxpq «v 6 p to q t o o &v0pwnou -U ).
The a g n o s tic s e n tim e n t h e r e i s p e rh a p s a b i t n o n -H e ra c lite a n — h e knew
t h a t t 6 ©etov e x i s t e d —b u t a g a in i t i s t h e way i n w hich P r o ta g o r a s
h a s e v in c e d h i s b e l i e f t h a t s u g g e s ts a r c h a ic te n d e n c ie s . N ote th e
s tr o n g p a r a l l e l i s m in v o lv e d . He does h o t know e i t h e r o f th e
e x is te n c e o r n o n - e x is te n c e . The c o r r e l a t i v e s oo0* . . . o u 0 ' p ro v id e
t h e a n c ie n t form f o r p o s s i b l e o p p o s itio n ( c f . s u p r a , p . 19)» .
and i t i s t e l l i n g t h a t t h e id e a s th e y c o r r e l a t e a r e ones found

7 ~ h
p r e v io u s ly i n H e r a c l i t u s ( . . . sup-cv t & x a l o6x s lu s v -U 9 a ).
A v e ry l a r g e p a r t o f t h e re m a in in g fr a g m e n ts , w ith t h e
e x c e p tio n o f th e a n th ro p o s frag m e n t w hich I s h a l l d is c u s s s h o r t l y ,
form a s e t d e a lin g w ith e d u c a tio n and t h e p o l i s . T h is s e t n o t o n ly
r e v e a ls c e r t a i n a r c h a ic s t r u c t u r e s b u t a l s o i s p e r f e c t l y c o n s i s t e n t
w ith any p o l i t i c a l o r e d u c a tio n a l v ie w p o in t t h a t d e f in e d a man a s
man i n te rm s o f t h e c o l l e c t i v i t y o f th e group— a r e f l e c t i o n o f w hich
P la to c e r t a i n l y d is p la y s i n h i s P r o ta g o r a s . 7 P r o ta g o r a s s a i d :

21*6
"T e a c h in g n e ed s n a tu r e and p r a c t i c e . One m u st b e g in t o l e a r n frcm
y o u th " ( 3 ) . One i s b o rn w ith t h e n a t u r a l a b i l i t y t o l e a r n t o become
a man ( " a lth o u g h t h e Logos i s common, t h e many l i v e a s i f th e y
p o s s e s s e d a p r i v a t e p h ro n g s is " —H e r a c l itu s 2 [ c f . s u p r a p . ll*9 ]).
The r e a l i s a t i o n o f t h i s a b i l i t y , h o w ev er, n e c e s s i t a t e s e d u c a tio n
fro m y o u th . " A rt ( te c h n e ) w ith o u t c a r e (m e le tg ) , and c a r e w ith o u t
a r t , i s n o th in g ( 1 0 ) . (N ote t h e r e c i p r o c i t y in v o lv e d i n su ch a
s t a t e m e n t .) T h is fra g m e n t i s a c t u a l l y j u s t a n o th e r s ta te m e n t o f
t h e v a lu e o f e d u c a tio n a s was 3 . The two fra g m e n ts a r e p r im a r i l y
t e c h n i c a l i n c h a r a c t e r and a r e e a s i l y r e c o n c i l a b l e w ith w hat P r o ta g o r a s
i n P la to * s " G re a t Speech" h a s t o s a y a b o u t t h e p o l i s - c e n te r e d e d u c a tio n
(3 2 5 c -3 2 6 e ).
The p o l i t i c a l and e d u c a tio n a l fra g m e n ts i n th e m s e lv e s ,
h o w ev er, do n o t p ro v id e c e r t a i n p r o o f o f t h e a r c h a ic q u a l i t y o f
P r o ta g o r e a n th o u g h t. My argum ent h a s b e en m e re ly t h a t t h e r e i s no
r e a l e v id e n c e w hich w ould f o r c e one t o c o n clu d e t h a t P r o ta g o r a s
w ro te p r im a r i ly o u ts id e o f th e a r c h a ic m a tr ix . A c tu a ll y , i t s h o u ld
b e a rg u e d t h a t P ro ta g o ra s * id e a s on e d u c a tio n and t h e n o l i s a r e
p e r i p h e r a l r a t h e r th a n c e n t r a l t o h i s th o u g h t. They e r e d ep en d en t
upon seme t r u l y p h ilo s o p h ic i d e a w hich g ro u n d s o r u n i t e s w hat h e
h a s t o s a y ab o u t e d u c a tio n , th e p o l i s , t h e in d iv id u a l , and h im s e lf
a s e d u c a to r . I f P r o ta g o r a s i s a p h ilo s o p h e r a t a l l , t h e q u e s tio n
m ust b e p la c e d : "What i s th e g ro u n d in g p r i n c i p l e o f P ro ta g o re a n

2kj
philosophy, a n d , i n a r c h a i c t e r m s , w hat i s i t s sym bol? The answ er
is c l e a r enough: t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e in d i v i d u a l man and men a s a
p o l i t i c a l s p e c ie s — t h e P ro ta g o r e a n u s e o f a n th rS p o s . Ilavnoiv XPTH1“ 'PUV
(icrpcv i o r t v avSpconoq, -riov p lv 5vTtav &q ecrrtv , Ttcv 5c o6x Svtbsv Saq oftx
t a r tv ( 1 ) . The hom o-m ensura frag m e n t i s open t o a m y riad c f p o s s i b l e
m eanings from a p u r e ly l i n g u i s t i c p o i n t o f v ie w . A lf r e d Neumann h a s
shown c l e a r l y th e m e a n in g le s s a b s u r d ity t o w hich g ra m m a tic a l and
l i n g u i s t i c i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s h av e re d u c e d it.* * I t i s w ith same
h e s i t a t i o n , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t I c o n s id e r t h e t h r e e tro u b le s o m e w o rd s ,
" e h r B s a ts " . " n a t r o n " . end " a n th rS p o s 11 i n th e m s e lv e s . I s h o u ld n o t do
so i f I d id n o t r e c o g n iz e t h a t i n t h e l a s t o f t h e t h r e e te rm s l i e s
n o t o n ly th e m eaning o f t h e fra g m e n t b u t a l s o th e gro u n d o f Protagorean
p h ilo s o p h y a s a w h o le . M oreov er, c e r t a i n a r c h a ic ech o es i n the words
and p h ra s in g o f t h i s frag m e n t m e r it a t t e n t i o n .
U n te r s t e i n e r i n an e x c u rs u s t o t h e t h i r d c h a p te r of his
S o p h i s t s 1 a tte m p ts w ith some s u c c e s s , i n my o p in io n , t o attribute
some m eaning t o t h e w ords in v o lv e d . He s e e s chrem a a s a particular
o b je c t w hich i s u s e d o r o f w h ich one h a s n e e d , an "event™ which one
u n d e rg o e s , a " g o a l" o r " r e s u l t " and a " d e c is io n " . "The words paf&ggft
and p ra ssC w ith w hich chrgm a i s o f te n i d e n t i f i e d e x p r e s s that doable
meaning v h ic h c o n s i s t s o f e x p e r ie n c e and a c t i o n , s o closely linked

o
i n n a n ." C hrem ata w ould c o n s i s t , t h e n , o f m a n 's e x p e r ie n c e , ra n g in g
from t h e s e n s ib le t o t h e i n t e l l i g i b l e . T h is d e f i n i t i o n m akes s e n s e

2k8
'because i t a v o id s l i n k i n g th e v o rd w ith p o s t - P l a t o n i c a b s t r a c t i o n s
a s does someone l i k e W isniew sk i who e x p la in s ch rg m a ta n o t as
e x p e r i e n t i a l phenomena b u t a s p r e d i c a t e s v h ic h a r e a t t r i b u t a b l e t o
o b je c t s — "L ’homme e s t l e m esure d es v a l e u r s d ’u n e c h o s e , m ais p as
WUC
i ——
A a
■ .—
C u v o c
t
C A A C *M C iltC e
n9 llrri
i«UV bU
i
^1^1 | ) i u
M UMV
. mpo
WV1 UM
g r e a t e r a b s t r a c t i o n i n t h e la n g u ag e b u t p o i n t s back w ard .
H. Gomperz r i g h t l y rem ark s t h a t i t s h i s t o r i c a l p re d e c e s s o r
i s i n A naxagoras ( l , & 12) w here t h e p h ra s e a p p e a r s .10 T here
t h e u n ity o f " a l l t h i n g s ” i s s t r e s s e d (6noo navxa xPnM ata-l) and
• g a in i n U w here t h e u n i t y o f ” a l l t h i n g s ” p r e v e n ts d i s t i n c t i o n
b etw een s e t s o f o p p o s ite s t h a t c o u ld e a s i l y enough b e H e r a c l i t i a n
(h p lv 5e 4noxpt0Tivat r a o r a navTcov 6uou feovTccw o 6 6 s XP0 ^ svSrjXoq rjv
obSepla* dnexaXue yap +1 o u w h .£ l< ; ndvrcov ypnuaTcav. to o t s S iepou x a l
■too £r)pou x a l to o 0eppoo x a l to o yoxpoo x a l to o Xap.npou x a l to o
gxpepou . . . . " ) "T h in g s b e in g s o , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o b e l i e v e t h a t i n
t h e w hole in h e r e a l l t h i n g s ” (to o tc o v 6e oorcoq fex°VT01v a u jJ in a v T c
XpT*] 5oxetv tv e lv a u JiavTa xPHtMtta -U ). A naxagoras l in k s t h e p h ra s e
w ith t h e a r c h a ic i d e a o f t h e cosmos— t h e t o t a l com prehensive
e x p e rie n c e and n o u s : " F o r i t , n o u s , i s t h e f i n e s t o f a l l th in g s
(n a v ra x P ^ ^ T a) and t h e p u r e s t . . . ( s o r t y ap XenToraTov ts nav-caw
XpnrpaTtov x a l xaSaparaTOv . . . 1 2 ) . T h ere s u r e l y i s an h o l i s t i c i d e a
r e t a i n e d i n th e w ords i n P r o ta g o r a s .
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m is s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r . F u r th e r re p ro d u c tio n prohibited w ith out p e r m issio n .

" M e tro n " , a c c o rd in g t o U n t e r s t e i n e r , " . . . i s t h e m a s te ry
f ' ■ 1 1
o f e x p e r ie n c e w hich can g iv e th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f k n o w le d g e ....
A lth o u g h t h e w ord i s t r a n s l a t e d g e n e r a l l y a s " s ta n d a r d " o r " r u l e " ,
t h e r e a r e d e f i n i t e o v e rto n e s i n t h e o l d e r la n g u a g e o f a " m a ste ry
o v e r so m eth in g ” , a " c u lm in a tin g p o i n t o r f u l l n e s s " ( I I . 1 1 .2 2 5 , Od.
4 .6 6 8 , e t a l . ) I have i n d i c a t e d p r e v io u s ly ( s u p r a p p .l6 8 -S i t h a t th e
w ord h a s t o do w ith u n se e n ways and means— "m e asu re s" t h a t r e f e r
im m e d ia te ly t o a sy m b o lic and p h e n o m en o lo g ica l re a lm . In H e ra c litu s ,
i t w i l l b e r ememb e r e d , t h e u n iv e r s e and t h e onoma o r sym bols r e v e a l i n g
i t s c o m p re h en siv e n ess a r e r e g u l a t e d by t h e Logos w hich a p p li e s i t s
m a tro n ( 3 0 , 3 1 , an d 9 4 ) . The m e tro n . t h e n , i n one a r c h a ic u s e a t

' ' ■' ;
l e a s t i s r e la te d , t o t h e c o n c e p t o f c o m p le ten e ss o r w h o le n e s s . r I t
w ou ld n o t b e s u r p r i s i n g i f t h e w ord m a in ta in e d some o f t h i s u n iv e r s a l i t y
i n t h e p h ilo s o p h ic c o n te x t o f P ro ta g o r e a n th o u g h t*
The m o st o b v io u s ly a r c h a ic q u a l i t y o f t h e hom o-m ensura
f r a g m e n t, h o w e v er, i s t h e p h r a s in g o f t h e l a s t h a l f : " . . . twv nev
5vzSnt scttv v , tS v 5 s c&x wvtcuv o6x s o r t v . " U n te rs te in e r,
c o r r e c t l y , I t h i n k , comments t h a t i t r e v e a l s " . . . a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
12
• p o l a r e x p re s s io n * o f la n g u a g e ." The b a la n c in g o f o p p o s ite s i s
re m in i s c e n t o f th o s e H e r a c l i t i a n fra g m e n ts I hav e exam ined i n a
p re v io u s c h a p te r . The b a la n c e i s a c h ie v e d b y a c o r r e l a t i v e pav . . . 5 s
c o n s tru c tio n . The s t r i k i n g s i m i l e r i t y b etw een t h e P r o ta g o r e a n
o p p o s itio n an d t h e H e r a c l i t i a n a s i s i s t h a t b o th u s e d y a d ic o p p o s itio n s

250
t o r e p r e s e n t w h o le s . I n t h i s c a s e , P ro ta g o re a n man, " m a s te r o f t h e
•u n iv e rs e " , d iv id e s t h e u n iv e r s e i n tw o .
The m a jo r and c e n t r a l p ro b lem w ith t h e frag m e n t i s , h o w ev er,
t h e e x a c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e v o r d a n th ro p o s . I t may mean p r o v i s i o n a l l y
cri - o f t h r e e t h i n g s : ( l ) « « o n ly a s an i n d i v i d u a l (H e g e l, Z e l l e r ,
H a to rp , H. Gomperz, C a lo g e ro , L e v i ) , (2 ) man: o n ly a s a s p e c ie s
o r i n g e n e r a l ( G r o te , N e s t l e ) , o r (3 ) man w ith no d i s t i n c t i o n b e tw ee n
i n d i v i d u a l and s p e c ie s (L ew is C am pbell, P l a t o : T faeaetetu s (O x fo rd ,
1 8 8 3 ), p . 25*0 I am o f t h e o p in io n t h a t t h e t h i r d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n —
t h e a r c h a ic i n t e r p r e t a t i o n w hich h a s made n o a b s o lu te d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n
betw een t h e one a n d t h e many— i s n o t o n ly p h i l o l o g i c a l l y t h e m ost
s a t i s f a c t o r y b u t a l s o t h e o n ly one w hich g iv e s any m eaning t o P r o ta g o r a s '
e d u c a tio n a l and p o l i t i c a l t h e o r i e s . I f man i s a t once t h e one and
t h e many— i . e . , one man w i t h i n a community o f men— th e n t h e u l t i m a t e
v a lu e o f t r a i n i n g men i n c i v i c v i r t u e i s n o t lo d g e d i n t h a t th e y
a re r e l a t i v e t o e a c h o th e r b u t lo d g e d i n t h a t th e y a r e r e l a t i v e
t o a s t a b l e human c o n d itio n .
The h i s t o r y o f t h e c o n c e p t an d w ord a n th ro p o s —t h a t i s , t h e
developm ent o f a n th ro p o lo g y — c o n t r i b u t e s p r o o f t h a t more o f t e n th a n
n o t t h e r e was n o d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n betw een t h e s p e c i f i c and g e n e r a l
man when P r o ta g o r a s w r o t e . ^ I s h a l l g iv e a s k e tc h o f th e w o rd 's
h i s t o r y from H e sio d t o D e m o c ritu s.
F o r t h e p o e t s , H e sio d s e t s man a s a g e n e r a l g roup o f f from
t h e A irT rn n ith ro u g h Z e u s ' g i f t o f d ik e (E . 2 7 8 - 8 0 ) ^ — a g i f t s i m i l a r
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n o f t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n pro hibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

251
t o one o f t h e g i f t s Zeus b e sto w s on man i n th e m ythos o f th e " G re a t
S peech". To A naxim ander, man i s an an im a l l i k e o th e r a n im a ls (A 30).
Xenophanes a t t h e t u r n o f t h e s i x t h c e n tu ry d e c la r e d man t o h e
d e sc e n d ed h i s t o r i c a l l y from a common a n c e s try — t h e w a te r an d e a r t h

17 —
o f t h e p r im a l s lim e (3 3 , c f . 2 7 ) . ' i t i s s i g n i f i c a n t , how ever, t h a t
t h e te rm " a n th ro p o s " i s n o t em ployed. A naxagoras a l s o th o u g h t o f
•wiMi i n te rm s o f u n i t y and n o t i s o l a t i o n . Man, a c c o rd in g t o h im , i s
d e sc e n d ed from t h e cosm ic e le m e n ts and h e a r s a r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e
•n-fTnal kingdom (A102, A101, U ). I n t h e l a s t frag m en t A naxagoras

o a . . —
m X i. ^ m w iw A m a « n ^ 4 I , 4 1 4 n w X 4
Covex a uuc expauwe W
X UW5<1UXV U X O W V X Jf HWIUWUOVO U
V/ uvuuouwxvxxx2 a vxvu •
T h e re in a c o n t i n u i t y o f developm ent i s e v id e n t. Man i s re g a rd e d a s an
a n im a l, and t h e p o l l s i s c o n s id e re d a p a r t o f t h e cosm ic d evelopm ent
a s a w h o le. A rc h e la u s , h i s d i s c i p l e , does n o t a l t e r t h e c o n c e p t o f
man a s p r i m a r i l y a s p e c i e s . He sp e a k s o f t h e g e n e r a tio n o f a l l l i f e
a s a sp o n tan e o u s phenomenon from th e e a r t h when i t was a swamp and
in c lu d e s t h e human s p e c ie s i n t h i s g e n e s i s . He makes a p o in t o f t h i s
s p e c i e s ' community w ith a l l form s o f l i f e . Hunan h s in g s a r e o n ly -
p a r t i a l l y s e l e c t e d o u t hy t h e i r w it and m o b ility (AU & A l) . T h ere i s ,
t h e n , a s tr o n g t r a d i t i o n l i n k i n g t h e co n ce p t o f an th rC p o s w ith t h e
a r c h a ic c o n c e p t o f t h e g e n o s. T h e re i s no t r a d i t i o n o f a n th rS p o s a s
a s o lita r y in d iv id u a l. T o t a l in d iv i d u a tio n h a d n o t y e t o c c u r re d .
I t i s i n t h e w r i t i n g s c f D e m o critu s, how ever— a man a t l e a s t
tw e n ty y e a r s y o u n g e r th a n P r o ta g o r a s —t h a t t h e d e c is iv e p r o o f o f th e

252
g e n e r a l i t y o f a n th ro p o s l i e s . He to o sp e a k s o f t h e g e n e r a l u n i t y o f
a an as he i s an and a s h e s p ra n g from t h e w a te r and mud (A139
& 2 7 8 ), A nim als a n d , h y e x te n s io n , man, s i n c e h e i s g e n e t i c a l l y an

l8
a n im a l, h e r d t o g e t h e r i n s p e c i e s . D e m o c ritu s, t h e n , c a r r i e s
a n th ro p o lo g y down t o t h e i d e a o f s p e c i e s , h u t t h e r e h e s to p s and
s a k e s tw o s ta te m e n ts w hich o f f e r no o th e r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n th a n t h a t
h e th o u g h t t h e i n d i v i d u a l and t h e s p e c ie s t o h e i n some s e n s e o n e:
ivBpoanoq t a r i v 8 u av req iSjxsv ( 165 ) and a fra g m e n t w hich Freeman
p e r v e r s e ly l a b e l s h o th " c o r r u p t” and "m eaning unknown"

19 and D ie ls
sim p ly " u u v e rstfS n d lic h " w h u t w hich seems t o me t o make p e r f e c t l y
good s e n s e i f t h e a r c h a ic i d e n t i t y o f man a n d men was i n f o r c e a t
t h e t i n e , SvSpcMiou c tq e o r a i x a t av0pconoq navxeq (1 2 b ). 165 , " I
a s s e r t t h e fo llo w in g a b o u t t h e T o t a l i t y o f T h in g s : man i s t h e one
whom we know ", c l e a r l y h o ld s t h a t we a s i n d i v i d u a l s know th e
c o l l e c t i v e phenomenon w hich i s "man"—t h a t i s , b etw een t h e s p e c ie s
and i n d i v i d u a l t h e r e i s an u n d e r ly in g a r e a 01 i d e n t i t y . 12i;, "Man
w i l l h e one and a w i l l h e a l l " , i s a s im p le s ta te m e n t o f t h e
p a r a d o x ic a l r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een t h e one a n d t h e many— a p a ra d o x
w hich can h e a c c e p te d o n ly i f t h e one— i n t h i s c a s e a n th ro p o s —
and t h e many— a n th r S p o i—a r e h e ld t o b e u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d . T h is
r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw ee n t h e " s p e c i f i c " and t h e " g e n e r ic " e n t a i l s a

\
ty p e c f t h i n k i n g we e n c o u n te re d i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een t h e
c o n c e p ts o f m o r ta l and im m o rtal ( s u p ra p p . 5^-ff. ) i u t h a t t h e

253
u n d e r ly in g amp h a s is r e s t s i n a m id d le g ro u n d betw een tv o te rm s .
n - fchamfijh t h e i d e a o f o p p o s itio n h e r e e x te n d s o n ly t o t h a t in h e r e n t
a p p o s i t i o n b e tw e e n one and a g roup o r t h e One and t h e Many,
s t i l l t h e a p p e a ra n c e o f t h e t h i r d c o n n e c tin g a r e a o f m eaning i s
r e m in is c e n t o f phenomena we h av e e n c o u n te re d i n t h e H om eric Hymns,
H e s io d , and H e r a c l i t u s .
T h e re i s , i n any c a s e , s tr o n g h i s t o r i c a l an d p h i l o l o g i c a l
e v id e n c e t o show t h a t t h e tw o fo ld u s e o f a n th ro p o s I c la im i s found
I n P r o ta g o r a s was p re d o m in a te i n t h e s i x t h and f i f t h c e n t u r i e s .
B ecau se o f t h e u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d n a tu r e o f t h e w ord i n P r o ta g o r a s
a n d b e c a u se o f i t s c e n t r a l i t y t o P ro ta g o re a n th o u g h t a s a w h o le—
t h a t i s , i t s f u n c tio n a s a g ro u n d in g p r i n c i p l e t o h i s p h ilo s o p h y
i n g e n e r a l— i t i s im p o s s ib le t o a v o id t h e c o n c lu s io n t h a t P r o ta g o r a s
v a s p r i m a r i l y an a r c h a ic t h i n k e r . Man (6 avGpeonoq) i s t h e symbol
and a c t u a l g ro u n d o f a l l t r u e know ledge. The c h a rg e s o f t o t a l
r e l a t i v i s m w h ich have b e e n b ro u g h t a g a i n s t him —c h a rg e s w h ich w ould
p la c e him among t h e more i n t e l l e c t u a l l y ^ m a n ip u la tiv e s o p h i s t s o f c
t h e l a t e r h a l f o f t h e f i f t h c e n tu ry — a r i s e from a m is u n d e rs ta n d in g ~
o f t h e m eaning o f t h i s one w ord.
I n e x am in in g P r o ta g o r e a n th o u g h t f o r i t s a r c h a ic t e n d e n c ie s ,
I h av e n o t e x c lu d e d p o s s i b l e s o p h i s t i c o v e rto n e s t h a t c o u ld v e ry w e ll
21
come a b o u t a s h i s th o u g h t d e v elo p e d . My p o i n t h a s b e e n sim p ly
t h a t - s t r o n g a r c h a ic phenomena do e x i s t from th e ip s i s s i m a v e rb a as
we have th em .
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith out p e r m is s io n .

25
Y e t, i n c o n c lu s io n , i f s tr o n g a r c h a ic q u a l i t i e s a r e a p p a r e n t
i n P r o ta g o r a s — q u a l i t i e s t h a t re m in d u s o f H e r a c l i t u s an d t h e e p ic
a n d l y r i c t r a d i t i o n I have i n d i c a t e d l e d up t o h i s th o u g h t—th e n may
•we n o t t a k e t h e n e x t l o g i c a l s t e p an d lo o k i n t o t h e w r i t i n g s o f
P l a t o h i m s e l f , s e e k in g o u t i n s t a n c e s o f a r c h a ic th o u g h t and p o s i t i n g
t h e q u e s tio n o f t h e i r im p o rta n c e t o h i s own th o u g h t? M ight n o t
P l a t o i n d i c a t e same d e s i r e t o draw a r c h a ic p a t t e r n s an d sym bols i n t o
h i s own w o r k s :in d e a lin g w ith s u b j e c t s o t h e r th a n P r o ta g o r a s ? One
m u st e v e n tu a lly a s k , "Why a P a rm e n id e s? " What i s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p
b e tw ee n t h e d ia lo g u e and t h e p h ilo s o p h e r h im s e lf? How f a r and how
c o n s c io u s ly h a s P l a t o in c o r p o r a t e d t h e l o g i c a l p a t t e r n s and t h e
" l o g i c a l a rc h e ty p e o f o p p o s ite s " I h av e d e s ig n a te d p r e v io u s ly i n my
s tu d y o f P arm en id es i n t o h i s own th o u g h t? C e r t a i n l y o u r u n d e rs ta n d in g
o f t h e P arm en id es m ig h t p r o f i t fro m s u c h q u e s t i o n s . T h en , t o o , how
c a n t h e T in a e u s —t h a t d ia lo g u e t h a t d e a ls d i r e c t l y w ith th e i d e a o f
t h e cosmos— e v e r h e com prehended w ith o u t a f u l l c o n s i d e r a ti o n o f
a r c h a ic in f l u e n c e s i n te rm s o f s y m b o liz a tio n ?
^ The ways o f a r c h a ic th o u g h t a r e b o th g ra p h ic and s im p le ,
e v e n th o u g h i n t h e i r s i m p l i c i t y th e y c a u se g r e a t c o n fu s io n f o r t h e
m odern m in d . Y e t, i t i s im p o s s i b le , on t h e one h a n d , t o deny t h e i r
p o w e rfu l i n f l u e n c e s on e a r l y G reek l i t e r a t u r e a n d p o s s i b l e , on th e
o t h e r , t o t r a c e t h e i r l i n g e r i n g pow er i n l i t e r a t u r e s o f l a t e r d a te s
A •
a nd l a t e r c o n f ig u r a tio n s o f m in d . O nly a f o o l o r a "Comte w ould
e v e r deny t h e i r v a l i d i t y .
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n o f t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n proh ibited w ithout p e r m is s io n .

255
FOOTNOTES
CHAPTER 5
“ P l a t o , f o r in s t a n c e d e f i n i t e l y ra n k s P r o ta g o r a s i n t h i s c a t e g o ry
when h e u n i t e s him w ith H e r a c lit u s and Em pedocles (T h e a e te tu s 1 5 2 e ).
Y e t, i t i s a d m itte d ly d i f f i c u l t t o s a y how c l e a r l y P l a t o r e p r e s e n t s
t h e r e a l P r o ta g o r a s h e r e o r anyw here e l s e . B ecause o f t h e d i f f i c u l t y
o f t h e q u e s tio n an d t h e sco p e o f t h i s p a p e r , I s h a l l n o t d e a l w ith
t h i s p ro b le m . Views o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p ' b etw een P r o ta g o r a s and t h e
d ia lo g u e b e a r in g h i s name a r e m anyiand v a r i e d . F o r i n s t a n c e , c o n c e rn in g
t h e nffgfchos o f th e " G re a t Speech" o p in io n s show a g r e a t v a r i a t i o n .
£ • HaveTock a rg u e s t h a t t h e sp eech d e s tr o y s P r o ta g o r a s ' o r i g i n a l
s e n tim e n ts ( L i b e r a l Temper (New Haven 1957 ) 3 P* 88 ) . T . Gomperz s e e s
t h e o n ly P ro ta g o r e a n w ord i n t h e s y th o s t o b e te c h n g . On t h e o th e r
h a n d , t h e r e a r e s c h o la r s su ch a s Adam (P r o ta g o r a s , e d i t e d by J . Adam
and A.M. Adam ( Cam bridge 1 8 9 3 ), p . x x i) who s e e t h e form o f t h e myth
as a m ethod P r o ta g o r a s u s e d . E d u ard Nor den (A gnostos Theos (L e ip z ig
1 9 1 3 ), p p . 367-37^) e n t e r t a i n s a s i m i l a r p o s s i b i l i t y . W. N e s tle i n
t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o h i s e d i t i o n o f t h e P r o ta g o r a s (L e ip z ig & B e r lin
1931 ) , p p . 22-2 6 i s a b s o l u t e l y c o n f id e n t t h a t P l a t o m odeled t h e m ythos
"on a w ork o f P r o ta g o r a s and t h a t t h e c o n te n t o f t h e o r i g i n a l i s
. O th e r exam ples o f c o n je c tu r e and o p in io n c o u ld
-- n o te d . M. G a g a rin ( t o whom I am h e a v ily in d e b te d f o r th e
: ^ ^ 4 .; S S ( i ^ r y o f p o s itio n s - -P la to and P r o ta g o r a s -t -u n published
t, Y a le 1968 , p p . 8 5 -8 8 ) h as r e v e a le d t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s . ~
■ iSCk th e u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e e x a c t r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een •>, * *i
■ and P l a t o . One o f th e m a jo r g o a ls o f h i s w ork i s ' t o open
I avenues o f r e l i a b l e in q u ir y — c f . p p . 179- 180 . • * ^
s r e t , h i s s ta te m e n t on te a c h in g ( 3 ) su p p o se d ly comes from a work

1
e n t i t l e d Maya? A6y o q . I f we can a c c e p t book" t i t l e s — alw ays a r i s k y
b u s in e s s — t h i s one w ould seem t o i n d i c a t e th a t~ P r o ta g o r a s somewhere
o r somehow i n h i s th o u g h t r e t a i n e d t h e " e s s e n t i a l u n i t y o f t h e Logos.
C e r ta i n ly th e p r e s e n t frag m en t i s n o t t h e o n ly i n d i c a t i o n o f a
d u a l i t y o f l o g o i . I f jwe may* ta k e t h i s sim p le t i t l e " C o n tr a d ic to r y
A rgum ents" ( ’ AvtuXqYtxot - 5) a s a u t h e n t i c , t h e d u a l i s t i c p r i n c i p l e
o f o p p o sin g o p p o s ite s i s e v id e n t enough o n c e ^ t g a i u . . . ..
• f t ft
9

256
D i e l s , o p , c i t . 1 1 .2 6 5 c i t e s q u e s tio n s r e g a r d in g t h e a u t h e n t i c i t y
o f . t h e t h i r d o o re -p h ra s e (o u 0 ’ 6 n o to t ru v s q L 6eav). C e r ta in ly th e
s i m p l i c i t y o f t h e p re v io u s o p p o s itio n i s r a t h e r s p o i l e d hy t h i s t h i r d
c l a u s e , and i t s s e n tim e n t i s a d m itte d ly o f a n o th e r l e v e l — one t h a t i s
e a s i l y d is tin g u is h e d from t h a t o f t h e two p h ra s e s b e f o r e . I t w ould b e
c o n v e n ie n t t o d e l e t e t h e p h r a s e .
'W hat I r e f e r t o h e r e i s a c e r t a i n v iew o f t h e w o rld t h a t d e f in e s

a man o n ly i n so f a r as he e x i s t s w it h i n a group— no d o u b t a t r i b a l
i d e a whose o r ig i n s a r e f a r b a ck i n t h e r a c e o f men. The m ythos o f
P l a t o 's " G re a t Speech" d e a ls w ith t h e c e n t r a l i t y and p rim acy o f c i v i c
v i r t u e s f o r t h e P ro ta g o re a n man. I n t h i s c o n te x t th e p o l i s i s g iv e n
i t s m y th ic a l d e r i v a t i o n . I n a p r i m i t i v e h i s t o r y o f c u l t u r e , P r o ta g o r a s
T e la te s th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f t h e - p o l i s i n te rm s o f m an 's s a l v a t i o n from
w ild b e a s ts (3 2 2 b ), th e r e b y im p ly in g ', I t h i n k , t h a t th e c i t y a ls o i s
t h a t w hich d i f f e r e n t i a t e s men from t h e b e a s t s . I n any c a s e , t o th e s e
men form ing t h e i r c i t i e s Zeus th ro u g h Hermes im p a rts t o a l l (322d) two
p a r t i c u l a r l y human v a lu e s : t h e r e s p e c t f o r o th e r s an d t h e s e n s e o f
J u s t i c e and o rd e r (32 2 c ). The m ythos i s d e v e lo p e d h e re i n su ch a way
t h a t t h e p rim a ry human v a lu e s a re T lo d g e d i n t h e p o l i s , o u ts id e o f w hich
l i e s n o th in g b u t b e a s ts and t h e d e p ra v e d . F o r i n s t a n c e , i f someone can
a c q u ir e n e i t h e r r e s p e c t f o r a n o th e r n o r t h e s e n s e o f j u s t i c e and o r d e r ,
t h i s in d i v i d u a l i s p u t t o d e a th (322d) o r e x p e ll e d (3 2 5 b ). E very
member o f th e p o l i s a s h e i s a man, t h e r e f o r e , i s endowed w ith a
c e r t a i n c a p a c ity f o r e x c e lle n c e , " f o r a man c a n n o t b e w ith o u t some
s h a r e i n j u s t i c e o r h e w ould n o t be human" (dx; A vayxatov o66eva 8 vtlv*
ApSq ye JiSq p.sT&x&'-v W suvac Av6pa>*notq - 3 2 3 b - c ) . T h ere
i s , t h e n , an i d e n t i t y o f anthrU pos and a n th ro p o i i n so f a r a s th e
c o n te x t o f v i r t u e i s p o l i t i c a l .
:■ ^ A lfre d Neumann, "D ie P ro b le m a tik d es Homo-mensura S a t z e s " , CP

3 3 .( 1 9 3 3 ) ,-pp. 368-379* "Es z e i g t s i c h a l s o , d a ss e in e s p r a c h lic h e
I n t e r p r e t a t i o n ...des M assatzes i n keinem P u n k te je n e s ic h e r e F u n d ieru n g
a c h e f fen* k a n n ,' d ie "‘ffir e in e e in d e u tig e an d r e s t l o s e p h ilo so p h i£ c e~
•LBsung u n e r l& s s lic h e r s c h e i n t" (p i 375)* - ' '
^ 5 =* - * - 4
^M ario U n t e r s t e i n e r , The S o p h is ts (New York 195*0, p p . 7 7 -8 8 .
^T b id . p . 7 8 . .^
" \
o M n
'B . Wisniewski, Protagoras et Hcraclite , F.evue beige de nhilologie
e t d'histoire, 31 (1 9 5 3 ), p . U07.
with p e r m i s s io n o f t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

257
10S . Gomperz, S o p h is tik und H h e to rik ( L e ip z ig - B e r lin 1 9 1 2 ), p p .

2 5 1 -3 . " A lle n Vermuten n a c h s t e l l t e v ie lm e h r d e r S o p h is t h e w u sst
d i e W orte je n e s A u to rs [A nax ag o ras] and den A nfang, dem e r d ie
m a th rp h ilo s o p h is c h e n V o ra u sse tz u n g e n s e i n e r Bede e n t l e h n t e . Der
ganze P ro ta g o re is m u s i s t , von d ie se m G e sc h ic h tsp u h k te a u s g e se h e n ,
n i c h t s a l s e in e ErgMnzung d es A naxagoreism us" p . 2 5 2 .”
^ U n te r s te in e r , op. c i t . p . 82.
12I b i d . p . 8 5.
i 3 The h i s t o r i c a l a n te c e d e n t f o r su ch a v iew i s , o f c o u r s e , P l a t o
■who i n t h e T faea& tetus. i n o r d e r t o p ro v e t h a t " p e r c e p tio n i s n o t
k now ledge", i n t e r p r e t s t h e homo m en su ra fra g m e n t i n t h i s way: =: S o c r a t e s ,
" Y e s, and "besides t h a t i t in v o lv e s a r e a l l y e x q u i s i t e c o n c lu s io n .
P r o ta g o r a s , f o r h i s p a r t a d m ittin g a s h e does t h a t e v e ry b o d y 's _ o p in io n
£a t r u e , m ast acknow ledge t h e t r u t h o f h i s o p p o n e n t's b e l i e f a b o u t h i s
<mn b e l i e f , w here th e y t h i n k h e i s wrong" (C o rn fo rd , T h e a e te tu ? 1 7 1 a ).
B a t one m ust a s k t h e q u e s tio n w h e th e r P r o ta g o r a s a c t u a l l y was ^
c o n te m p la tin g a e s t f i e s i s and a p p e a ra n c e a s i s P l a t o when t h e fo rm er
th e h«ap^~^s*l»^Tâ s ta t e m e n t. T h is i s n o t t h e c a s e w ith th e
" e ^ p la n a tiQ n 1' o f i t a t 1 5 2 a : "He p u ts i t i n t h i s s o r t _ o f w ay, d o e s n 't
h e (ofixouv ourco too? Xeye) t h a t any g iv e n t h i n g ' i s t o h e a s i t a p p ea rs
" to me, and i s t o y o u su c h a s i t a p p e a rs t o y o u , ^ o u and I b e in g men?"
G agari n i n h i s P l a t o and P r o ta g o r a s f i n d s i n t h e T h e a e te tu s " th r e e
d i f f e r e n t k in d s o f 'P r o ta g o r e a n ' m a t e r i a l . ^ F i r s t t h e r e i s t h e man-
m easure s a y in g i n i t s f u l l e s t fo rm , w h ic h ^ P la to q u o te s d i r e c t l y from
t h e A le th e i a o f P r o ta g o r a s . S eco n d ly t h e r e i s th e e x p la n a tio n o f t h i s
s a y in g , t h a t e v e r y th in g i s a s i t a p p e a r ^ t o each m an, w hich somehow
goes b a c k to P r o ta g o r a s (a c c o rd in g t d T l a t o ) , b u t i s n o t q u o te d
d i r e c t l y from h i s w r i t i n g s . F i n a l l y th e r e s t o f t h e e la b o r a ti o n
a nd d e fe n s e o f P r o ta g o r a s ’ .p o s i t i o n i s P l a t o 's own c r e a t i o n , b a s e d
on th e m an-m easure sa y in g ^ a n d i t s e x p la n a tio n " ( p . lU 2 ). I w ish to
a v o id t h e g r e a t p ro b le m -Jb f how P l a t o was vising P r o ta g o r a s o r why h e
s h o u ld choose t o i o o k upon him a s he d o e s . p o i n t i s sim p ly t h a t
t h e o n ly s ta te m e n t we can p o i n t t o a s P ro ta g o re a n i s th e homo-mensura
frag m e n t as i € s ta n d s i n D i e l s . P l a t o 's i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f i t form a
d i f f e r e n t "problem a l t o g e t h e r .
l l i •
U n t e r s t e i n e r , o p . c i t . p . 8 7 , makes a f a i r l y e x te n s iv e l i s t o f
t v a r io v s - n n i n t s o f v ie w . Von F r i t z i n h i s a r t i c l e i n P au ly -W isso v a
( S t u t t g a r t 1 $ 5 7 , ^ 5 : c o l s . 9 0 8-921) a rg u e s a f o u r tn p o s i t i o n , n a m e l y
#
with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith out p e r m is s io n .

t h a t P r o ta g o r a s com bines ( l ) and ( 2 ) — t h a t i s , h e a f f ir m s e a c h p e r s o n 's
know ledge and a l s o t h a t p o s s e s s e d b y men i n g e n e r a l. He ' p a ra p h ra s e s
t h e hom o-m ensura s ta te m e n t i n t h i s m anner: "V ie e s s i n n lo s i s t , einem
e in z e ln e n M enschen d e m o n s trie re n zu v o l l e n , d a ss WErme b e s t e h t , vo
e r H a lt e m p fin d e t, so i s t e s e r s t r e c h t u n s in n ig , den M enschen im
a llg e m e in e n b e v e is e n zu V o lle n , d a ss d i e V e it ganz a n d e rs i s t a l s s i e
vorkammt" ( c o l . 9 1 5 )• Y e t, su ch an i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ta k e s i t f o r
g r a n te d t h a t P r o ta g o r a s v a s in d e e d ex am in in g p e r c e p tio n i n h i s homo-
m e n su ra s ta te m e n t— a c o n d itio n I h av e a lr e a d y c a l l e d i n t o q u e s ti o n .
fo llo w in g rem arks a r e c u l l e d l a r g e l y from E . H a v e lo c k 's L i b e r a l

Tem per i n G reek P o l i t i c s (Hew H aven, 1 9 5 7 ), p p . 10U-12U, "The Fragm ents
o f t h e G reek A n th r o p o lo g is ts " , from p e r s o n a l c o n v e r s a tio n s w ith h im ,
and from h i s own u n p u b lis h e d n o t e s . s i am g r e a t l y in d e b te d t o him f o r
M-s e f f o r t s i n e n a b lin g me t o u n d e r s ta n d t h e u sag e and mean in g o f
a n th ro p o s i n s i x t h and f i f t h c e n tu r y G reek th o u g h t.
"‘‘“tovSs y&P &vepa»nouot vopov 6 cera£& Kpovtwv/ IxS’ JO'- jisv xal Gripcrl
xac otesvolq JiexeTjvOLq io6 siisv dXXrjXouq, £nel 06 6 lxr) ia r i afrrolq */
4^0pa>notai 6 * &5ax& blxrjv, r) jioXXov dpCorrj Ytyve'tat.
-4 “
^ n a v r e q yap yauTj^ x e x a l obaxoq txyevoiisoQ a fex y a ln q Y^P ndvxa
xal ctq navxa xeXeuTij (27).
xal Y°P diiOYeveau £ £ o tq oovaYeXaJêTau . tx; n e p to x e p a l

ttepuoxcpalq xac y e p a v o t Y epavotq x a l fenl xwv aXXcov &XoY&av fcoaurtoq (l6 U ).
Freem an, A n c illa t o th e P r e - S o c r a t i c P h ilo s o p h e rs (C am bridge

19 6 2 .), P . 10l4.
“ e . D i e l s , D ie Fragm ente d e r V o r s o k r a tik e r ( B e r lin 1 9 5 * 0 , I I . I 67 .
G a g a rin , o p . c i t . p p . IU 5- 6 , f o r i n s t a n c e , s p e c u la te s w ith some

r e a s o n t h a t t h e hom o-m ensura s ta te m e n t c o u ld h ave o c c u rre d a t an
e a r l i e r p o in t i n P r o ta g o r a s ' c a r e e r an d t h a t c a s e s o f i n d i v i d u a l
i n s t a n c e s h a d b e e n l a t e r p u t t o him t o w hich he made t h e ty p e o f
answ er we f i n d i n P l a t o .
with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ithout p e r m is s io n .

259
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Those w orks p re c e d e d b y an a s t e r i s k (* ) a r e im p o r ta n t p r i m a r i l y f o r
th e ir h is to ric a l in te re s t.
A. Greek A u th o rs , T e x ts , T r a n s l a t i o n s , C o m m e n ta r ie s
A r i s t o t l e , M e ta p h y s ic s , C om plete T e x t by W. J a e g e r ( OCT. O x fo rd ,
1 9 6 3 ).
? , P h y s ic a , Com plete T e x t by W.D. Ross ( OCT, O x fo rd , 1 9 5 6 ).
B a c c h y lid e s , B a c c h y lid e s , T ex t an d P r e f a c e b y B runo S n e l l ( L e ip z ig ,

1 9 6 1 ).
H e r a c l i t u s , H e r a c l i t u s ; The Cosmic F ra g m e n ts. T e x t, T r a n s l a t i o n ,

and Commentary b y G .S. K irk (C am bridge, 195*0.
H e s io d , H esio d u s C arm ina, T ex t b y A lo is iu s Rzach ( S t u t t g a r t , 1 9 5 8 ).
, Theogony, I n t r o d u c t i o n and T r a n s la tio n by Norman 0 . Brown

( L ib r a r y o f L i b e r a l A r t s , 1 9 5 3 ).
. Theogony, e d i t e d w ith Prolegom ena and Commentary by

M.L. W est (O x fo rd , 1966 ) . *
Homeric Hymns, Homeri O p era, V ol. V. by Thomas W, A lle n ( OCT.

O x fo rd , 1961 )".
, The H om eric Hymns, T e x t, I n t r o d u c t i o n , and Commentary

by T.W. A lle n , W.R. H a l l i d a y , and E .E . S ik e s (A m sterdam , 1 96 3 ,
o r i g i n a l e d i t i o n O x fo rd , 1 9 3 6 ).
P a rm e n id e s, P a rm e n id e s . T ex t w ith T r a n s l a t i o n , Commentary, an d
C r i t i c a l E ssa y s by Leonardo T aran ( P r in c e t o n , 1965 ) .
P in d a r , P in d a r i C arm in a, T e x t by C.M. Bowra (OCT, O x fo rd , 1 9 6 1 ).

\
P l a t o - O p era. V o ls . I & I I I , Com plete T ex t by Jo h n 3 u m e t ( OCT,

O x fo rd , 1 9 5 8 -1 9 6 1 ).
D i e l s , Hermann and K ra n z , W a lth e r, Die Fragm ente d e r V o r s o k r a tik e r

(1 2 th e d . Z u r ic h , 1966) .
P a g e , D .L ., L v r ic a G raeca S e l e c t s ( OCT, O x fo rd , 1968 ) .
with p e r m i s s io n o f t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n

260
B. Modern Authors
1. G e n e ra l Works
Brum baugh, R o b e rt S . , P l a t o on t h e One; The H y p o th eses i n

t h e P arm enides (New H aven, 1961 ) .
, The P h ilo s o p h e rs o f G reece (New Y o rk ,
♦ B u rn e t, J o h n , E a r ly G reek P h ilo so p h y (L ondon, 1 9 0 8 ).
C a lla h a n , Jo h n F . , F ou r Views o f Time i n A n c ie n t P h ilo so p h y

(C am bridge, 1 9 ^ 8 ).
C a s s ir e r * E r n s t , The P h ilo so p h y o f Sym bolic Form s, V o ls . I - I I I

(Hew H aven, 196)87"!
C h e r n is s , H a ro ld , A r i s t o t l e 's C r i tic is m o f P r e s o c r a t i c P h ilo so p h y

( B a ltim o r e , 1 9 3 5 ). -
d e v e , F e lix M ., The G ia n ts o f P r e - S o p h is ti c G reek P h ilo s o p h y ,

V o ls . I i I l l T h e H ague, 1965 )*
C o m fo rd , F .M ., P l a t o and P arm en id es (L ondon, 1939) •
, P rin c ip iu m S a p i e n t i a e : The O rig in s o f G reek

P h il o s o p h ic a l T hought ( C am bridge, 1 9 5 2 ).
♦ F la c h , H ans, Das System d e r H e sio d is c h e n Kosmogonie

( L e ip z ig , 18 t M !
i t f i n k e l , H . , Wege und Formen f r lih g r ie c h is c h e n Denkens (2 n d .

e d . Mllnchen, 1960T!
.. . ' . V . ' , D ichtung und P h ilo s o p h ie d es friih e n G rie c h e n tu a s

(2nd e d . Miinchen, 1 9 6 2 ).
Freem an, K a th le e n , The P r e - S o c r a t ic P h ilo s o p h e r s . A Companion

t o D i e l s , Fragm ente d e r V o r s o k r a tik e r (O x fo rd , 19 5 9 )•
, a n c i l l a t o th e P r e - S o c r a t ic P h il o s o p h e r s ,
A Com plete T r a n s la tio n o f t h e Fragm ents i n D i e l s ,
—,c~ tc d e r V o r s c k r a tik e r ” Tcsm bririge, 1966 ) -
von F r i t z , K u r t , " P r o t a g o r a s " , i n P au ly -W isso w a. R e a le n c y c lo p S d ie ,

V o l. h5 ( S t u t t g a r t , 1 9 5 7 ), c o l s . 9 0 8 -9 2 1 .

261
G a g a rin , M ., P l a t o and P r o ta g o r a s (-u npublished d i s s e r t a t i o n

Y a le , 1 9 6 6 ).
G igon, 0 . , P e r U rsprun g d e r g rie c h is c h e n P h ilo s o p h ie von H esio d

b i s P arm enides ( B a s e l, 1 9 ^ 5 ).
♦Gomnerz, T h e o d o r, The G reek T h in k e rs , V o ls . I- I V (London,

~196U, 1 s t e d . 1 9 0 l ) .
. D ie A p o lo g ie d e r H e ilk u n s t (2nd e d . L e ip z ig ,
19107 ; .
Gomperz, H ., S o p h is tik und H h e to rik ( L e i p z ig /B e r li n , 1 9 1 2 ).
von G ro n in g e n , B .A ., La C om position L i t t e r a i r e A rch alq u e

G recque (A m sterdam , i 960 ) .
G u ih r ie , W .K .C ., H is to r y o f Greek P h ilo s o p h y . V o ls. I - I I

( C am bridge, 1962-1965)•
H a v elo c k , E r ic A ., The L i b e r a l Temper i n G reek P o l i t i c s

(Hew H aven, 1957)•
* H eg el, Georg W ilhelm F r i e d r i c h , V o rlesu n g en fib er d ie G e sc h ic h te

d e r P h ilo s o p h ic ( B e r l i n , 1 8 3 3 ), E r s t e r Band ( i n S E m tliche ~
W erke. V o l. 1 7 , S t u t t g a r t , 1 9 2 8 ).
J a e g e r , W ern er, The T heology o f t h e E a rly Greek P h ilo s o p h e rs

(O x fo rd , I 9V8 ) .
^ ______________* P a i d e i a (U th e d . O xford, 195*0.
J u n g , C .G ., " S y n c h r o n ic ity : An A c au sal C o n n ectin g P r i n c i p l e , ”

The I n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f Nat u r e and t h e Psyche (New Y ork,
1955T
, The A rc h ety p es and th e C o lle c tiv e U n co n scio u s,

V o l. 9 : 1 ( i n t h e C o lle c te d W orks, New Y ork, 1 9 5 9 ).
*Kemmer, E . , "D ie p o l a r e A u sd ru ck sv e ise i n d . g r . L i t e r a t u r , "

B eitr& g e z u r H is to r is c h e n S y n tax d e r G rie c h is c h e n S prache
15 (1 9 0 3 ), 1 -2 5 5 1
K ir k , C .S . and H aven, JWE.. TTie P r e s o c r a t i c P h ilo s o p h e rs

(C am bridge, 1 9 6 2 ).
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n

262
K ra n z , V a l t h e r , " V o rs o k ra tis c h e I , " Hermes 69 (1 9 3 ^ ), llU -1 1 9 .
L f r v i- S tr a u s s , C ., S t r u c t u r a l A n th ro p o lo g y ( A n th ro n o lo g ie
s t r u c t u r a l e ) ( Garden C ity , 1 9 6 7 )•
, The Savage Mind (L a P e n see sau v ag e)

(C h ic a g o , T 968 ) .
, Totemism (Le t o t £ — s e e au d o u rd * h u i)
(B o s to n , 196 8TI
L e v y -B ru h l, L . , Hov N a tiv e s T h in k ( Les F o n c tio n s m e n ta le s

d an s l e s s o c i e t e s i n f e r i e u r e s ) (London, 1 9 2 3 ).
, P r im iti v e M e n ta lity (La M e n ta lity p r imi t i v e )

( L o n d o n ,1923).
, The ~ S o u l' o f t h e P r im iti v e ( L 'Jtae p r i m i t i v e )

( L o n d o n ,1928).
L lo y d , G .E .R ., P o l a r i t y and A nalogy (C am bridge, 1 9 6 6 ).
N e s t l e , W ilhelm , Vom Mythos zum L ogos: D ie S e l b s t e n t f a l t u n g

d e s G rie c h is c h e n Denkens von Homer b i s a u f d ie S o p h is tik
a n d S o k ra t e s (S t u t t g a r t , 1 9 ^ 6 , 1 s t e d , 1 9 ^ 0 )."’
Neumann, A lf r e d , "D ie P roblem aE ik d es Homo-mensura S a t z e s ,"

C l a s s i c a l P h ilo lo g y 33 (1 9 3 8 ), 368-379.
N ils s o n , M a rtin , " G u tte r und. P s y c h o lo g ie b e i Homer," A rc h iv

f t t r R e lig io n s v is s e n s c h a f t 22 (1923-1*), 363-390.
N o rd en , E d u a rd , A gnostos THfeos X L e ip z ig , 1 9 1 3 ).
P h i l i p p s o n , P . , "G en e a lo g ie a l s m y th isc h e Form: S tu d ie n z u r

\ T heogonie des H e sio d ," Sym bolae O s lo e n s a s , F a s c ic u lu s
S u p p le tu s 6 ^ 1 9 3 6 ) . ^
P o r t e r , H .N ., " R e p e titio n i n t h e Homeric Hymn t o A p h ro d ite ,"

A m erican J o u r n a l o f P h ilo lo g y 70 (19^9) > 21*9-272.
P u h v e l, J a a n , "In d o -E u ro p ean N e g a tiv e C o m p o sitio n ," Language

29 (1 9 5 3 ), lU -2 5 .
R e in h a r d t, K a r l, P arm enides und d ie G e sc h ic h te d e r g r ie c h is c h e n

P h ilo s o u h ie (2nd e d . F r a n k f u r t am M ain, 1 9 5 9 ).

• S c h le ie r m a c h e r , F .E .D ., Z ur P h il o s o p h ie , Z w eite Band S B m tliche
tfe rk e ( B e r l i n , 1 8 3 8 ).
•Schw enn, F r i e d r i c h , D ie T heogonie des H esio d o s ( H e id e lb e r g ,

193U ).
S ch w y zer, E d u a rd , G rie c h is c h e Grammatik a u f d e r G rundlage

von K a r l Brugmanns G r ie c h is c h e r G ram m atik, V o ls . I & I I
T i& n ie h , 1 9 3 9 -1 9 5 0 ).
•S lo n im sk y , H ., " H e r a k l it und P a rm e n id e s ," P h ilo s o p h is c h e

^ o i t e n (1 9 1 2 -1 3 ), 1 -6 2 . _
S n e l l , B ru n o , The D isco v e ry o f t h e Mind ( D ie E ntdeckung des

G e i s t e s ) (New Y ork, 1960T .
S o lm sen , F . , H e sio d and A esch y lu s ( I t h a c a , 1 9 ^ 9 ).
•T a n n e ry , P . , P o u r l ' h i s t o i r e de l a s c ie n c e H e lle n e (2 ndêd.

P a r i s , 1 9 3 0 ).
T h o rn to n , H. & A ., Time and S t y l e : A P s y c h o - L in g u is tic E ssay

i n C l a s s i c a l L i t e r a t u r e (L o n d o n ,*196277 a
U n t e r s t e i n e r , M ario , The S o p h is ts (New Y o rk , 1 9 5 ^ )•
W a c k e m a g e l, J a c o h , V o rlesu n g en ttb e r S y n ta x , V o ls . I & I I

( B a s e l , 1 9 5 7 ). f
•W e lc k e r, F .G ., Die H e sio d is c h e T h eogonie ( E l h e r f e l d , 1865) .
I von .W ilam ow itz-M B llendorf .*»U.. P e r G lauhe d e r H e lle n s n , V o ls.

I I & I I ^ D a rm sta d t, 1 9 5 ^ ).
i • Z e l l e r , 3 E d u a rd , D ie P h ilo s o p h ie d e r G rie c h e n i n i h r e r
g e s c h ic h tlic h e n E n tw ic k lu n g ^ V o l s . I - I I I " (L e ip z ig ,
1892 ) .
•W
R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n o f t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n

26 k
B. Modern Authors
2. Works C oncerning H e r a c li tu s
• B e rn a y s , J . , " H e r a k l i t i s c h e S tu d ie n ," Gesammelte A bhandlungen.

V o l. I , B e r l i n 1885 , 3 7 -7 3 .
P r s s k e i , H. , "A T hought P a t t e r n i n H e r a c l i t u s ." A m erican

J o u r n a l o f P h ilo lo g y 59 (1 9 3 8 ), 3 0 9-337.*
K ir k , G .S ., " H e r a c l i t u s and D eath i n B a t t l e ( f r . 2hj)) , n

A m erican J o u r n a l o f P h ilo lo g y TO (1 9 ^ 9 )1 38H -393.
• L a s s a l l e , F e rd in a n d , D ie P h ilo s o p h ie H e r a k le ito s d es D unklen

Ton E p h e s o s . U B&nde ( L e ip z ig , 1909)".
•M in a r, Edwin L . , "The Logos o f H e r a c l i t u s C l a s s i c a l P h ilo lo g y

3k (1 9 3 9 ), 3 2 3 -3 ^ 1 .
• P a t r i c k , G .T.W ., The Fragm ents o f th e Work o f H e r a c l i t u s o f

E phesus on n a tu r e (B a ltim o re , 1889 ) .
- * P f l e i d e r e r , E . , D ie P h ilo s o p h ie des H e r a k l i t von E phesus im

L ic h te d e r M y ste rie n id .e e ( B e r l i n , 1 8 8 6 ).
• S c h u s te r , P . , " H e r a k l i t von E p h e su s," A c tis s o c . p h i l . L i p s . 3

(1 8 7 3 ), 1 -3 9 7 .
• S o lo v in e , M a u ric e , H e r a c l i t e d ’ ephese d o c tr in e s p h ilo s o p h iq u e s

( P a r i s , 1 9 3 1 ).
•T e ic h m lllle r, G u sta v , Heue S tu d ie n z u r G e s c h ic h te d e r B e g r if f e

(G o th a , 1 ^ 7 6 ).
• V la s to s , G re g o ry , "On H e r a c l i t u s , " A m erican J o u r n a l o f P h ilo lo g y

76 (1 9 5 5 ), 3 3 7 -3 6 8 .
•W isn ie w sk i, " P r o ta g o r a s e t H e r a c l i t e , ” Revue b e ig e d e ~ p h ilo lo g i e

e t d 'h i s t o i r e 31 (1 9 5 3 ), U90-U 99 .

L
265
B. Modern Authors
3. Works C oncerning P arm enides
B o o th , N .B .f "Were Zeno’ s A rguments D ir e c te d A g a in st th e .

P y t h a g o r e a n s P h r o n e s is 2 : 1 (1 9 5 7 )* 1 - 9 .
C h alm ers, W .R ., "P arm en id es and t h e B e l i e f s o f M o r ta ls ,"

P h r o n e s is 5 : 1 ( i 960 ) , 5 -2 2 .
C o rn fo rd , F .M ., " P a rm e n id e s' Two W ays," C l a s s i c a l Q u a r te r ly

27 (1 9 3 3 ), 9 7 -1 1 1 .
C oxon, A .H ., "The P h ilo so p h y o f P a rm e n id e s ," C l a s s i c a l

Q u a r te r ly 28 (1 9 3 4 ), 13**-lM .
D e ic h g rE b e r, K ., " P a rm e n id e s' A u f f a h r t z u r G fittin d es R e c h ts .

U h tersu ch u n g en zum P ro o im io n s e in e s L e h r g e d ic h ts ,"
Akadamie d e r W iss e n sc h a fte n und d e r L i t e r a t u r Mainz
A bhandlungen d e r G e is te s — und S o z ia l—- w is s e n s c h a f tlic h e n
K la s s e 11 TT958T. 6 3 3 -7 2 4 .
• D i e l s , H ., P arm enid es L e h rg e d ic h t ( L e ip z ig , 1 8 9 7 ).
H a v e lo c k , E r ic A ., "P arm en id es and O d y sse u s," H a rv ard S tu d ie s

i n C l a s s i c a l P h ilo lo g y 63 (1 9 5 8 ), 1 3 3 -1 ^ 3 . ~
J a S e s o n , G ., "W e ll-ro u n d e d T r u th and C i r c u l a r Thought i n

P a rm e n id e s," P h r o n e s is 3 : 1 (1 9 5 8 ), 1 5 -3 0 .
M an sfield , J . , Die Offehbstrung des Parmenides und d ie

M enschliche Welt (A ssen, 19&M .
• P a t i n , A ., "P arm en id es im Kampfe gegen H e r a k l i t , " J a h rb llc h e r

f t t r c l a s s i s c h e P h il o l o g ie 25 (S upplem entband 1899 ) ,
TJSsf-Ô.
R aven, J . E . , P y th a g o re a n s and E l e a t i c s (C am bridge, I 96U ).
• B i e z l e r , K ., P arm en id es ( F r a n k f u r t am M ain, 193*0.
• U n t e r s t e i n e r , M ., P a rm e n id e . T e s tim o n ia n z e e^ fram m e n ti.

I n tr o d u z io n e , tr a d u z io n e e cPim ento ( F i r e n z e , 1 9 5 8 ).
V e rd e n iu s , W .J. , P a rm e n id e s. Some Comments on h i s Poem

(G ro n in g en , 1 9 ^ 2 ).
, " P a rm e n id e s' C o n cep tio n o f L ig h t," Mnemosyne

Uth S e r ie s 2 (I9 * t9 ), 1 1 6 -1 3 1 .

Structure and Symbol in Heraclitus and Parmenides Towards A Reconstruction of An Archaic Logic

Transféré par

Informations du document

Titre original

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Structure and Symbol in Heraclitus and Parmenides Towards A Reconstruction of An Archaic Logic

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

I

PRIER, J r . , Raymond A dolph, 1939-

University Microfilms, A XEROXCompany, Ann Arbor, Michigan

RAYMOND ADOLPH PRIER, J r .

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED

R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

TOWARDS A RECONSTRUCTION OF AN ARCHAIC LOGIC

Raymond A dolph P r i e r ' ,.

R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

T h is d i s s e r t a t i o n exam ines s p e c i f i c a r c h a ic sy m b o lic and '

s t r u c t u r a l phenom ena w hich i t t r a c e s i n t h e H om eric Hymns, H e sio d ,

H e r a c l i t u s , P a rm e n id e s , and P r o ta g o r a s . The s p e c i f i c sym bols and

a r c h a ic t h i n k i n g . The sec o n d d e a l s w ith an a r e a o f m ix tu re o r p a r t i a l

i n t h e H om eric Hymns. S p e c i f i c i n s t a n c e s o f sym bol and s t r u c t u r e a r e

exam ined i n t h e Hymns and H e sio d . The t h i r d and f o u r t h c h a p te r s

r e p r e s e n t an a tte m p t t o draw t h e th o u g h t p a t t e r n s o f H e r a c l i t u s and

p o s s ib le . The argum ent p o s i t s t h e i n f l u e n c e o f a g iv e n e p ic and

sy m b o lic and s t r u c t u r a l te r m s . The l a s t c h a p te r i s an a tte m p t t o

■„ s i n c e S cil.clcrm ach ex ' and Htfgei i s in c lu d e d a t n e c e s s a r y ju n c tu r e s i n

s u rro u n d t h e b a s i c i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f H e r a c lit u s and P a rm e n id e s.

R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n prohib ited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

I. The Archaic Configuration of Mind p. 1

II* Structure and Symbol in the Homeric Hymns andHesiod*... -?. 5^

III. Structure and Symbol in Heraclitus........... ........ p. 123

IV* Structure and Symbol in Parmenides.................... p. 188

V. An Inquiry into the CharacteristicQualities of

B ib lio g r a p h y * ........ P* 259

R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

judgm ent f o r C l a s s i c a l P h ilo lo g y and t o e x p l i c a t e i n some s m a ll way

& mode o f th o u g h t s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t fro m o u r own. T hese two

p u rp o s e s m erge i n t o one i n so f a r a s "both come a b o u t from my own

c a lle d p re -S o c ra tic s . T hese u n f o r tu n a t e a t t i t u d e s a r e c h a r a c t e r i z e d ,

t h e One and t h e Many and o p p o s itio n a l phenom ena o f a l l s o r t s . T hese

m odem d ic h o to m ie s d id n o t e x i s t i n t h e e a r l i e r G reek w o rld i n any

t w e n tie th c e n tu r y h a s assum ed o th e rw is e and h a s , c o n s e q u e n tly ,

s e v e r e ly l i m i t e d i t s e l f and i t s f u t u r e b y a d o p tin g a n arro w and

u n n e c e s s a r ily r i g i d c r i t e r i o n o f judgm ent t h a t m is r e p r e s e n ts th e

C l a s s i c a l P h il o lo g y shows o n ly m om entary g r a s p s o f t h e p e r i o d b etw een

w ith p a r t i c u l a r men t h a t I am i n d is a g re e m e n t so much a s w ixn a

R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r re p r o d u c tio n prohib ited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

The m ethod I s h a l l u s e was c o n c e iv e d e i g h t y e a r s a g o . T h is

en d e a v o r w ith o u t t h e encourag em en t and h e lp o f B rooks O t i s , A.M. D a le ,

T .B .L . W e h s te r, E r i c H a v e lo c k , R o b e rt Brum baugh, Thomas C o le , Lawrence

R ic h a rd s o n , J r . , C h r is to p h e r Dawson, and M ic h a e l G a g a rin i n a d d i tio n

t o t h e many men I have m et o n ly i n h o o k s. E s p e c ia l th i n k s m u st he

e x te n d e d t o my a d v i s o r s , Thomas C ole an d R o b e rt Brumbaugh and t o th e

f a c i l i t i e s and l i b e r a l i t y o f S ta n f o r d and Y ale U n i v e r s i t i e s .

New Haven 1970

R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e co p y rig h t o w n er. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e r m is s io n .

C h a p te r 1 : The A rc h a ic C o n fig u ra tio n o f Mind

a c r i t e r i o n b y w hich t h i s p e r io d c o u ld b e com prehended s a t i s f a c t o r i l y .

B oth c o n d itio n s m ay, h o w ev er, b e e x p la in e d b y t h e same r e a s o n :

t h a t t h e te rm " a r c h a ic " when a p p lie d t o p r e - A r i s t o t e l i a n th o u g h t

does n o t i n any way p a r ta k e o f th e m eaning " a n t i q u a t e d " , " u n d e r­

d e v e lo p e d " , o r even " e m b ry o n ic ". A rc h a ic th o u g h t i s a s e l f - c o n t a i n e d

and s e l f - s u p p o r t i n g p o i n t o f v ie w , p o s s e s s e d o f i t s own s t r u c t u r e and

sym bols and t o t a l l y in d e p e n d e n t o f th e s o - c a l l e d r a t i o n a l p a t t e r n s

o f D e s c a r te s o r num erous l o g i c a l p a t t e r n s t r a c e a b l e from A r i s t o t l e

t o th e p r e s e n t. I t i s co m p reh en siv e and a l l - i n c l u s i v e i n n a t u r e ,

on r> oe + oV»T_2.eVi£r^ ’lO't CIl2^r ° e

R e p r o d u c e d with p e r m i s s io n of t h e cop y rig h t o w n e r. F u r th e r r e p r o d u c tio n prohibited w ith o u t p e rm is s io n .

does n o t i n any way p a r ta k e o f th e m eaning " a n t i q u a t e d " , " u n d e r