ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 114
OTTO KERN
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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.
SUMMARY: This testimony makes reference to an oracle inscribed at Delphi which says that the Pierians (a Thracian tribe) killed Orpheus.
ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 114.
σχολιαστὴς τοῦ Πινδάρου 313 a (II 139, 25 Drachmann):
ὁ μέντοι Χαῖρις οὐκ ἀπιθάνως τούτους |140 Drachm. φησὶν ὠνομάσθαι τοὺς ἐκ θεῶν γεγονότας, οἷον Διοσκούρους καὶ Ἡρακλέα· οὕτω δὴ καὶ Ὀρφέα, διὰ τὸ Ἀπόλλωνος εἶναι υἱὸν γόνωι. παρατίθεται δὲ καὶ χρησμόν τινα, ὅν φησι Μέναιχμον ἀναγράφειν ἐν τῶι Πυθικῶι (Scr. rer. Alex. 146 fr. 11). ἔχει δὲ οὕτως·
Πιέρες αἰνοπαθεῖς, στυγνὴν ἀποτείσετε λώβην
Ὀρφέ’ ἀποκτείναντες Ἀπόλλωνος φίλον υἱόν.
“To be sure, Hairis (Χαῖρις) says that it is not inconceivable that these men are called ‘born from the Gods,’ men such as the Dióskouri (Διόσκοροι) and Iraklís (Ἡρακλῆς); and in the same way, this was fitting to Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς), through his being a son of Apóllôn (Ἀπόλλων) by birth. And he explains himself also with an oracle, which he says Mǽnaikhmos (Μέναιχμος) inscribed in the sanctuary at Pythóh (Πυθώ, i.e. Delphi). And it is like this:
‘You Pierians who suffer terribly, will pay for your hateful outrage,
having killed Orphéfs, the beloved son of Apóllôn.’ ”
(trans. by the author)
About (Orpheus), the son of Apollo, see Orphic Critical Testimony 22.
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.