HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 112

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 112

OTTO KERN

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

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.

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.

This logo is the principal symbol of this website. It is called the CESS logo, i.e. the Children of the Earth and the Starry Sky. The Pætilía (Petelia, Πετηλία) and other golden tablets having this phrase are the inspiration for the symbol. The image represents this idea: Earth (divisible substance) and the Sky (continuous substance) are the two kozmogonic substances. The twelve stars represent the Natural Laws, the dominions of the Olympian Gods. In front of these symbols is the seven-stringed kithára (cithara, κιθάρα), the the lyre of Apóllôn (Apollo, Ἀπόλλων). It (here) represents the bond between Gods and mortals and is representative that we are the children of Orphéfs (Orpheus, Ὀρφεύς).

PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the pages of this website, you will find fascinating stories about our Gods. These narratives are known as mythology, the traditional stories of the Gods and Heroes. While these tales are great mystical vehicles containing transcendent truth, they are symbolic and should not be taken literally. A literal reading will frequently yield an erroneous result. The meaning of the myths is concealed in code. To understand them requires a key. For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level. Similarly, sexual union with a God is a transformation.

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.

SPELLING: HellenicGods.org uses the Reuchlinian method of pronouncing ancient Greek, the system preferred by scholars from Greece itself. An approach was developed to enable the student to easily approximate the Greek words. Consequently, the way we spell words is unique, as this method of transliteration is exclusive to this website. For more information, visit these three pages:

Pronunciation of Ancient Greek

Transliteration of Ancient Greek

Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos

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