Bacchus and the Muses

Use in the book

Ficino reports an Orphic naming scheme in which each cosmic soul has a knowing power and a bodily life-giving and governing power. In the four elements the pairs are Pluto/Proserpina, Oceanus/Thetis, Jupiter the Thunderer/Juno, and Phanetas/Aurora. For the lunar sphere through the eighth sphere, the pairs are Bacchus Licnitus/Thalia, Bacchus Silenus/Euterpe, Lysius/Erato, Trietericus/Melpomene, Bassareus/Clio, Sabasius/Terpsichore, Amphietus/Polyhymnia, and Pericionius/Urania. World-soul has Bacchus Eribromus/Calliope. The subsequent image of the Muses drunk with divine knowledge explains the relation: their powers receive the higher knowing power's nectar. These names thus serve as a vocabulary of coordinated functions rather than a collection of disconnected mythological characters. The edition retains Ficino's source spellings while giving conventional nominatives in English; it does not warrant silently equating every epithet with a modern reconstruction of an ancient cult name. The nine Bacchuses and nine Muses include the world-soul pair.

Two musical scenes should remain distinct. IV.1.52 closes the Pythagorean hierarchy with the Muses' perpetual singing and dancing at Apollo's command. IV.1.94–952 assigns paired names to the knowing and animating powers of sphere-souls, then says that each Muse's power is drunk with the nectar of divine knowledge supplied under its Bacchus. The subsequent revel around the invisible sun's splendor explains dependence and coordination through ecstatic imagery. It does not equate knowledge with ordinary alcoholic intoxication. The pairs also have different spheres and must not be moved from one list to another because a divine name recurs.

Further passage references. IV.1.94–IV.1.952; apparatus

IV.1.52: the lyre tunes the cosmic chorus at the close of the marked excursion IV.1.94–952: named pairs distinguish cognition from bodily animation; nectar explains the animating powers' dependence on divine knowledge

Places to read

1. IV.1.94The Orphic naming scheme maps two powers across elements, eight heavens and world-soul.
2. IV.1.95Nectar and intoxication portray the lower powers’ reception of higher divine knowledge.

Translation in this edition

The Latin gives accusative forms and Ficino’s source spellings, while English uses conventional name forms. Preserve the paired functions and the world-soul pair; the nine Bacchuses and nine Muses are not nine unrelated mythological anecdotes.

“Revel” and “drunk with the nectar” preserve the metaphor. The Latin passage itself supplies the interpretation through designantur, “are signified,” so the imagery need not be silently literalized or erased.

chorea / modulus / cithara

chorea / modulus / cithara. Printed forms: chorea; cithara; modulis.

Dancing chorus, musical measures, and lyre. The closing Pythagorean image depicts orderly perpetual activity under Apollo's command. References: IV.1.52. See Bacchus and the Muses.

nectar / ebrius / debacchari

nectar / ebrius / debacchari. Printed forms: debacchantur; ebriae; nectare.

Nectar; intoxicated; to revel. The text interprets the imagery as the Muses' powers filled with divine knowledge under their respective Bacchuses. References: IV.1.95. See Bacchus and the Muses.

Oceanus / Thetis

Oceanus / Thetis. Printed forms: Oceanum; Thetin.

The names assigned to the watery sphere's two powers. The first names cognition and the second life-giving bodily rule within the reported Orphic scheme. References: IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses.

Pluto / Proserpina

Pluto / Proserpina. Printed forms: Plutonem; Proserpinam.

The names assigned to earth-soul's knowing and animating powers. Their paired roles belong to this list, which should not be conflated with zodiacal names or another sphere's pair. References: IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses.

Tuning the whole heaven (Greek quotation)

Σὺ δὲ πάντα πόλον κιθάρῃ πολυκρέκτῳ ἁρμόζεις

Ficino’s Latin gloss describes tuning the whole heaven with a melodious lyre. The line gives musical form to the ordered chorus of Muses under Apollo. The same unit retains perhaps in its hierarchy and closes by leaving the Pythagorean conversation for the established Platonic order. Both qualifications matter to the quotation’s doctrinal use.

Place. IV.1.52. See Bacchus and the Muses.

Air (cosmic names)

Air (aere). Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Jupiter; life-giving and governing power Juno. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Elements and their spheres.

Amphietus (cosmic names)

Amphietus (Amphietum). Name of the knowing power of the soul of Saturn, paired with Polyhymnia, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Apollo (cosmic names)

Apollo (Apollinem, universalem Apollinem). In the Pythagorean ascent, the universal Apollo names the unqualified One; in the later image, the nine Muses and Bacchuses revel around Apollo as the splendor of the invisible sun. This universal role differs from the particular Phoebus in Gemini. IV.1.51–IV.1.522; IV.1.95. See Apollo; Bacchus and the Muses; Zodiac.

Aurora (cosmic names)

Aurora (Auroram). Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of fire, paired with the knowing power named Phanetas. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Bacchus (cosmic names)

Bacchus (Bacchum, Bacchis). Collective naming principle for the knowing powers paired with the nine Muses, with one Bacchus presiding over each Muse; the nine pairs comprise eight celestial spheres plus world soul. IV.1.94–IV.1.952. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Bacchus Eribromus (cosmic names)

Bacchus Eribromus (Bacchum Eribromum, Eribromus). Name of the knowing power of the world-soul, paired with Calliope, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Bacchus Licnitus (cosmic names)

Bacchus Licnitus (Bacchum Licnitum, Licnitus). Name of the knowing power of the soul of Moon, paired with Thalia, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Bacchus Silenus (cosmic names)

Bacchus Silenus (Bacchum Silenum, Silenus). Name of the knowing power of the soul of Mercury, paired with Euterpe, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Bassareus (cosmic names)

Bassareus (Bassareum). Name of the knowing power of the soul of Mars, paired with Clio, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Calliope (cosmic names)

Calliope (Musam Calliopen). Name of the power giving life to and governing the world-soul's body, paired with the knowing power named Bacchus Eribromus. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Clio (cosmic names)

Clio (Clio). Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of Mars, paired with the knowing power named Bassareus. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Earth (cosmic names)

Earth (elemento terrae). Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Pluto; life-giving and governing power Proserpina. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Earth soul; Elements and their spheres.

Eighth sphere (cosmic names)

Eighth sphere (Octavae sphaerae). Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Pericionius; life-giving and governing power Urania. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Spheres and stars.

Erato (cosmic names)

Erato (Erato). Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of Venus, paired with the knowing power named Lysius. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Euterpe (cosmic names)

Euterpe (Euterpen). Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of Mercury, paired with the knowing power named Bacchus Silenus. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Fire (cosmic names)

Fire (igne). Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Phanetas; life-giving and governing power Aurora. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Elements and their spheres.

Juno (cosmic names)

Juno (Iuno, Iunonem). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Aquarius in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of air, paired with the knowing power named Jupiter. IV.1.94. See Zodiac; Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Jupiter (cosmic names)

Jupiter (Iupiter particularis, fulminatorem Iovem, Jupiter the Thunderer, Iovis). A particular divine soul assigned to the heart of Leo in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. Name of the knowing power of the soul of air, paired with Juno, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Sabasius; life-giving and governing power Terpsichore. IV.1.94. See Zodiac; Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers; Spheres and stars.

Lysius (cosmic names)

Lysius (Lysium). Name of the knowing power of the soul of Venus, paired with Erato, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Mars (cosmic names)

Mars (Mars, Martis). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Scorpio in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Bassareus; life-giving and governing power Clio. IV.1.94. See Zodiac; Bacchus and the Muses; Spheres and stars.

Melpomene (cosmic names)

Melpomene (Melpomenen). Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of Sun, paired with the knowing power named Trietericus. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Mercury (cosmic names)

Mercury (Mercurius, Mercurii sphaerae). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Cancer in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Bacchus Silenus; life-giving and governing power Euterpe. IV.1.94. See Zodiac; Bacchus and the Muses; Spheres and stars.

Moon (cosmic names)

Moon (sphaerae lunaris). Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Bacchus Licnitus; life-giving and governing power Thalia. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Spheres and stars.

Muses (cosmic names)

Muses (Musae, Musis, Musarum, Musam). The nine life-giving/governing powers named Thalia, Euterpe, Erato, Melpomene, Clio, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia, Urania, and Calliope; their powers are described as drunk with the nectar of divine knowledge. IV.1.94–IV.1.952. See Bacchus and the Muses.

Oceanus (cosmic names)

Oceanus (Oceanum). Name of the knowing power of the soul of water, paired with Thetis, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Orpheus (cosmic names)

Orpheus (Orphei, Orpheus, Orpheum). Authority to whom Ficino attributes the twofold naming of cosmic souls; in the following unit, the Bacchus/Muse relation is interpreted through divine knowledge. IV.1.94–IV.1.952. See Bacchus and the Muses.

Pericionius (cosmic names)

Pericionius (Pericionium). Name of the knowing power of the soul of the eighth sphere, paired with Urania, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Phanetas (cosmic names)

Phanetas (Phanetam). Name of the knowing power of the soul of fire, paired with Aurora, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Pluto (cosmic names)

Pluto (Plutonem). Name of the knowing power of the soul of earth, paired with Proserpina, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Polyhymnia (cosmic names)

Polyhymnia (Polymniamque). Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of Saturn, paired with the knowing power named Amphietus. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Proserpina (cosmic names)

Proserpina (Proserpinam). Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of earth, paired with the knowing power named Pluto. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Sabasius (cosmic names)

Sabasius (Sabasium). Name of the knowing power of the soul of Jupiter, paired with Terpsichore, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Saturn (cosmic names)

Saturn (Saturni). Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Amphietus; life-giving and governing power Polyhymnia. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Spheres and stars.

Sun (cosmic names)

Sun (Solis). Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Trietericus; life-giving and governing power Melpomene. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Spheres and stars.

Terpsichore (cosmic names)

Terpsichore (Terpsichorem). Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of Jupiter, paired with the knowing power named Sabasius. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Thalia (cosmic names)

Thalia (Thaliam Musam). Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of Moon, paired with the knowing power named Bacchus Licnitus. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Thetis (cosmic names)

Thetis (Thetin). Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of water, paired with the knowing power named Oceanus. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Trietericus (cosmic names)

Trietericus (Trietericum). Name of the knowing power of the soul of Sun, paired with Melpomene, in Ficino's reported Orphic catalogue. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Urania (cosmic names)

Urania (Uraniam). Name of the power giving life to and governing the body of the eighth sphere, paired with the knowing power named Pericionius. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Intellectual and animating powers.

Venus (cosmic names)

Venus (Venus, Veneris). Divine soul assigned to the heart of Taurus in Ficino's reported Pythagorean catalogue. IV.1.43. Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Lysius; life-giving and governing power Erato. IV.1.94. See Zodiac; Bacchus and the Muses; Spheres and stars.

Water (cosmic names)

Water (aqua). Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Oceanus; life-giving and governing power Thetis. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; Elements and their spheres.

World soul (cosmic names)

World soul (anima... mundi). Context in the Orphic catalogue: knowing power Bacchus Eribromus; life-giving and governing power Calliope. IV.1.94. See Bacchus and the Muses; World soul.

Orpheus and the Orphics (authorities and cited works)

Orpheus and the Orphics. Supply divine names, hymnic descriptions, and mythological interpretations throughout the argument: infinite end, necessity, divine sight, cosmic order, and the paired powers of souls. These are Ficino's presented attributions. II.4.8; II.7.11; II.9.18–222345; II.10.7; II.13.21–24234; IV.1.94–952; IV.2.12. See End and limit; Apollo; Bacchus and the Muses; Proteus.