❝The Cave of the Nymphs❞
- interpreting the allegories -
In Odyssey, the cave is described as a pleasant cavern beneath a branching olive tree, where the Naiads delight and display amazing webs of purple hue and exquisite array.
Although the cave is mentioned in Pherecydes' book on cosmogony, we lack clear details. All we have is Porphyry's influence by Pherecydes' writings.
ত Porphyry says "Odyssey" is a symbolic description of man's successive passing through genesis (γÎνεσις, 'origin'), and interprets the cave of the nymphs as an allegorical image of the relationship between the soul and genesis at the end of Odysseus' journey.
ত He interprets the cave as a symbol for the cosmos and the soul, and associates it with Plato's allegory of the cave and the Mithraeum.
He believes the cave is a symbol of the sensible world, and that it represents the point of communication between higher and lower realms.
ত The positions of the two gates are connected to the zodiac, ancient Greek astronomy and the north and south winds.
꘏ there are two entrances, one through which the souls go up to heaven,
the other through which they come down to Earth. ꘏
꘏ two highest points in the heaven exist,
of which one is not more southern than the winter solstice,
and the other not more northern than the summer solstice. ꘏
ত Porphyry uses different symbolic interpretations of the Naiad nymphs :
• as both souls and dynámeis
• as daimon of generation
Naiad nymphs are deemed to be souls descending into genesis, apart from the fact they are traditionally the divine powers associated with water.
꘏ in parts of greek tradition,
souls descend into genesis due to their inclination to pleasure,
identified with ‘becoming moist’ ꘏
ত The olive tree outside the cave is associated with Athena and thoughtfulness.
The olive tree as the plant of Athena also symbolises God’s phronesis, and because of its intellectual nature and wisdom the olive tree stands apart from the cave.
To Porphyry, Homer’s image of the olive tree and Athena as separate from the cave means that acquisition of phronesis is the first step in achieving a state of impassivity towards all kinds of pleasures, emotions, power and wealth which belong to the
material world.
Porphyry associates Athena with the Moon because the soul acquires its spirited and mild character in the Moon. Accordingly, the dual aspect of Athena emerges as the lover of war and the lover of wisdom in the soul.
꘏ Homer’s description of Athena who is the first to meet Odysseus after disembarking on Ithaca seems to imply that Odysseus is in the lunar sphere of Athena and in the preparatory phase of his ascent towards the intelligible realm. ꘏
In conclusion, the cave of the nymphs is a metaphorical representation of the relationship between the soul and the cosmos, it symbolizes the journey of the soul from the material to the divine world, and informs us that Phrónesis (practical Wisdom) is our main asset.
Readings available at Bookshelf :
• Homer's Odyssey
• Porphyry's on the Cave of the Nymphs (a thesis)
Intellectual Meditations
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Follow noetic trails that lead you to Cosmic horizons
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Meditate on and Contemplate with,
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