ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 112
OTTO KERN
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SUMMARY: This testimony, from Themistius, says that the mysteries of Orpheus are even connected to agriculture, and through agriculture, Orpheus tamed everything, even the brutality of our souls, and that it was because of him that men learned the art of agriculture.
ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 112.
Θεμιστίου λόγος XXX 349 b p. 422, 10 Dind.:
οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ Ὀρφέως τελετάς τε καὶ ὄργια γεωργίας ἐκτὸς συμβέβηκεν εἶναι, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὁ μῦθος τοῦτο αἰνίττεται, πάντα κηλεῖν τε καὶ θέλγειν τὸν Ὀρφέα λέγων, ὑπὸ τῶν καρπῶν τῶν ἡμέρων ὧν γεωργία παρέχει πᾶσαν ἡμερῶσαι φύσιν καὶ θηρίων δίαιταν, καὶ τὸ ἐν ταῖς ψυχαῖς θηριῶδες ἐκκόψαι καὶ ἡμερῶσαι (Dind.] ἡμερῶσειν A). καὶ τὰ θηρία γὰρ τῶι μέλει κηλεῖν ἐπιστεύθη θυσίας τε πάσας καὶ τελετὰς διὰ τῶν ἐκ γεωργίας καλῶν εἰς θεοὺς ἀνάγων. πάντας γοῦν ἀνθρώπους ἐπήλθε τῆι δόξηι καὶ πάντες ἐδέξαντο γεωργίαν.
“Nor again are the secret rites and mysteries of Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς) excluded from agriculture, but also, the myth hints at this, saying that Orphéfs both charms and enchants everything. And of the fruits and domesticated animals that agriculture affords, he tamed all nature and (improved) the living conditions of animals, and he cut out and tamed the brutality in souls. For it was even believed that he charmed the wild animals with his song, while (in truth) he offered every sacred rite from the beautiful things of agriculture to the Gods. In any case, he approached all kinds of men, and because of his fame, they all learned agriculture.”
(trans. by the author)
Otto Kern Orpheus 32.
The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.
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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.
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Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.
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