Ophion

Ophion
Ophion (serpent) wrapped around Eurynome (egg)
Orphic King of the Gods
General Information
Species	Deity, Protogenoi, Titans
Form	Serpent
Gender identity	Male
Relationships
Parents	None stated
Spouses	Eurynome
Languages
Hellēnikḗ(Ancient Greek)	Ὀφίων   Ὀφίωνος {genitive case) Ὀφιονεύς (Ophioneus)

In some Orphic traditions of Greek mythology, Ophion (Ancient Greek: Ὀφίων meaning: "serpent"; genitive case: Ὀφίωνος), also called Ophioneus (Ὀφιονεύς) ruled the world with with his wife Eurynome before the two of them were cast down by by Cronus and Rhea.

Mythology and Sources

Pherecydes

Pherecydes of Syros's Heptamychia is the first attested mention of Ophion. We also have fragments of the writings of the early philosopher Pherecydes of Syros (6th century B.C.E.), who devised a myth or legend in which powers known as Zas and Chronos ("Time") and Chthonia ("Earth") existed from the beginning and in which Chronos creates the universe. Some fragments of this work mention a birth of Ophioneus and a battle of the gods between Cronus (not Chronos) on one side and Ophioneus and his children on the other in which an agreement is made that whoever pushes the other side into Ogenos will lose, and the winner will hold heaven.

The story was apparently popular in Orphic poetry, of which only fragments survive.

Callimachus

Callimachus, in his Aetia (Fragment 54) states:

"As he [Helios the Sun] shines on the descendants of Ophionides (Sons of Ophion) . . ((lacuna)) the older gods [the Titanes]."

Apollonius of Rhodes

Apollonius of Rhodes in his Argonautica (Book 1. line 495) summarizes a song of Orpheus:

He sang how the earth, the heaven and the sea, once mingled together in one form, after deadly strife were separated each from the other; and how the stars and the moon and the paths of the sun ever keep their fixed place in the sky; and how the mountains rose, and how the resounding rivers with their nymphs came into being and all creeping things. And he sang how first of all Ophion and Eurynome, daughter of Oceanus, held the sway of snowy Olympus, and how through strength of arm one yielded his prerogative to Cronos and the other to Rhea, and how they fell into the waves of Oceanus; but the other two meanwhile ruled over the blessed Titan-gods, while Zeus, still a child and with the thoughts of a child, dwelt in the Dictaean cave; and the earthborn Cyclopes had not yet armed him with the bolt, with thunder and lightning; for these things give renown to Zeus.

Lycophron

Lycophron in his Alexandra (line 1191) relates that Zeus' mother, Rhea, is skilled in wrestling, having cast the former queen Eurynome into Tartarus.

Nonnus

Nonnus in his Dionysiaca has Zeus say after defeating Typhon (Book 2. line 563-5):

"A fine ally has old Kronos found in you, Typhoeus! Gaia could scarcely bring forth that great son for Iapetos! A jolly champion of Titanes! . . . Bring back Astraios to heaven; if you wish, let Eurynome and Ophion return to the sky, and Kronos in the train of that pair!’"

Ophion is mentioned again in Book 8. line 158 as Hera says:

"I will go to the uttermost bounds of Oceanus and share the hearth of primeval Tethys; thence I will pass to the house of Harmonia and abide with Ophion."

Harmonia here is probably an error in the text for Eurynome.

Ophion is mentioned again by Nonnus (Book 12. line 43):

"Beside the oracular wall she saw the first tablet, old as the infinite past, containing all the things in one: upon it was all that Ophion lord paramount had done, all that ancient Cronus accomplished."

Ophion is mentioned again, this time about his Oracular Tablets (Book 41 line 335-8 and 383):

"Upon these, ancient Ophion has engraved in red letters all the divers oracles of fate for the universe. But since you ask me about the directing laws, this prerogative I keep for the eldest of cities."

"Then the goddess, having learnt all the oracles of Ophion, returned to her own house."

Preceded by: None (Title created)

King of the Greek Gods Mythic

Succeeded by Cronus