Taylor - Eleusianian and Bacchic Mysteries.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

68 Eleusinian andpiodorus, then, a most learned and excellentcommentator on Plato, in his commentary011 that part of the Phcedo where Platospeaks of the prohibitionof suicide in thearguaporrheta, observes as foliows : The /"ment which Plato employs in this placeagainst suicide is derived from the Orphicmythology, in which four kingdoms arecelebrated ;the first of Uranus [Ouranos](Heaven), whom Kronos or Saturn assaulted, cutting off the genitals of hisfather.* But after Saturn, Zeus or Jupitersucceeded to the government of the world,having hurled his father into Tartarus. Andafter Jupiter,Dionysus or Bacchus rose tolight, who, according to report, was, throughthe insidious treachery of Hera or Juno, tornin pieces by the Titans, by whom he was surrounded, and who afterwards tasted his flesh :but Jupiter, enraged at the deed, hurled histhunder at the guilty offenders and consumedthem to ashes. Hence a certain matter be-*In the Hindu mythology, from which this symbolism isevidently derived, a deity deprived thus of the lingam or phallus, parted with his divine authority.