IV. <Περὶ δραπετῶν>

OTTO KERN

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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.

ON RUNAWAY SLAVES

Josef Heeg Die Angeblichen Orphischen Ἔργα καὶ Ἡμέραι p. 56 concluded, not without integrity, that the Orphic poem Περὶ δραπετῶν (On runaway slaves) appears to have existed. Which is imitated by Maximos in the poem Περὶ καταρχῶν (On beginnings) v. p. 280 fr. 280, of which part VIII of Περὶ δραπετῶν vs. 320 begins with the words:

εἰ δ’ ἄρα καὶ δμώων ὀλοφώια ἔργα πύθοιο οἵ τε γ’ (γ’ add. Arthur Ludwich) ἑοὺς λείποντες ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄνακτας γαῖαν ἐς ὀθνείην ποσὶ καρπαλίμοις ἀλάληνται δρῆσται ἀταρτηροί . . . ἀλλὰ σὺ καὶ τοίων μερόπων ἐπιφράζεο μοῖραν. ἢν μὲν ἔηι πανδῖα μετ’ εὐπόκου Ἀρνειοῖο, ὦκά μιν εἰσανάγοιο κτλ.

“And if, then, you also wish to learn the destructive works of the slaves, who, that is to say, leaving their masters in their homes, wander with swift feet in a strange land, mischeivous runaway slaves . . . but you also recognize the fate of such men. If indeed you permit yourself the all-divine (benefits) by means of fleecy Aries (i. e. “the Ram”), may you quickly lead him to... ” etc.

(trans. by the author)

The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.

We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.

Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.

Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods.

How do we know there are Gods? Experiencing Gods.