ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 117
OTTO KERN
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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.
SUMMARY: This testimony, from the Astronomica of Hyginus, says that Orpheus was torn apart by the Bacchantes, either because he omitted praise of Dionysus in his songs while journeying in the Underworld, or because he had spied on the Mysteries of Dionysus.
ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 117.
Hygini De Astronomica II 7:
(Orpheus) qui querens uxoris Eurydices mortem ad inferos descendisse existimatur, et ibi deorum progeniem suo carmine laudasse praeter Liberum patrem; hunc enim obliuione ductus praetermisit, ut Oeneus in sacrificio Dianam. postea igitur Orpheus, ut complures dixerunt, in Olympo monte, qui Macedoniam dividit a Thracia, sed ut Eratosthenes (nr. 113) ait, in Pangaeo sedens, cum cantu delectaretur, dicitur ei Liber obiecisse Bacchas, quae corpus eius discerperent interfecti. sed alii dicunt, quod initia Liberi sit speculatus, id ei accidisse; Musas autem collecta membra sepulturae mandasse, et lyram quo maxime potuerunt beneficio, illius memoriae causa figuratam stellis inter sidera constituisse Apollinis et Iovis voluntate, quod Orpheus Apollinem maxime laudarat, Iupiter autem filio beneficium concessit (sequitur nr. 121).
“While grieving the death of his wife Eurydice, it is believed that Orpheus descended to the Underworld, and in that place, he praised the lineage of Gods with his song, but he omitted Father Liber; the reason he omitted him was forgetfulness, as Oeneus forgot Diana while sacrificing. Consequently later, as many people say, Orpheus was sitting on Mount Olympus, which divides Macedonia from Thrace, or perhaps as Eratosthenes says, on a mountain of Pangaeus; and while Orpheus was delighting in song, Father Liber sent out the Bacchantes against him, to kill him and tear his body to pieces. But others say that this came about because he spied on the sacred mysteries of Father Liber. But the members of his body were gathered together by the Muses, who gave them burial; and with the greatest gratitude they could give him in honor of his memory, they placed the lyre in the form of stars amongst the constellations, in accordance with the will of Apollo and Zeus, for Orpheus had greatly honored Apollo, and Zeus conceded the benefaction to his (Apollo’s) son (this passage is followed by Orphic Critical Testimony 121).
(trans. by the author)
Carl Robert Griechische Heldensage I 406, v. nr. 136.
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.
