ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 104

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony consists of two lines from a poem by Sidonius Apollinaris: the first speaks of Orpheus celebrating the birth of Athena, the second has Orpheus singing of his mother Calliope.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 104.

Apollinarii Sidonii Praefatio panegyrici dicti Avito Augusto VI 1 p. 275 Mohr:

Pallados armisonae festum dum cantibus ortum personat Hismario* Thracia vate chelys

“While the Thracian lyre of the Ismarian* bard rings out with its song the festive birth of Pallas, clattering in armor.”

(trans. by the author)

*i. e. “Thracian,” from Ἴσμαρος, a city of Thrace.

Compare to Apollinarii Sidonii Praefatio panegyrici dicti Avito Augusto VI 29:

hinc sese ad totam genetricem transtulit Orpheus et docuit chordas dicere Calliopam.

“Hereupon Orpheus directed himself wholly toward his mother and instructed the strings to call out Calliope.”

(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.