ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 12

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony states that Orpheus never imitated anyone in his verses, and never used the Paeonic and Cretic rhythm.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 12.

Ἠθικὰ Πλουτάρχου· 78 Περὶ μουσικῆς 1132 f, 49 p. 20 Rein. (auctore Glauco Rhegino Ed. Hiller Rhein. Mus. XLI 1886, 412):

ἐζηλωκέναι δὲ τὸν Τέρπανδρον Ὁμήρου μὲν τὰ ἔπη Ὀρφέως δὲ τὰ μέλη· ὁ δ᾽ Ὀρφεὺς οὐδένα φαίνεται μεμιμημένος· οὐδεὶς γάρ πω γεγένητο, εἰ μὴ οἱ τῶν αὐλωιδικῶν (αὐλητικῶν Westph.) ποιηταί· τούτοις δὲ κατ᾽ οὐθὲν τὸ Ὀρφικὸν ἔργον ἔοικε.

“Terpander imitated Homer in his verses and Orpheus in his musical compositions; but that Orpheus never imitated any one, since in his time there were none but such as composed to the pipe, which was a manner quite different from that of Orpheus.”

(trans. from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by William W. Goodwin, 1874)

In the same essay, 1134 d, 98 p. 40 Rein.:

Γλαῦκος γὰρ μετ᾽ Ἀρχίλοχον φάσκων γεγενῆσθαι Θαλήταν (Wilamowitz Griech. Verskunst 330 n. 1. 502) μεμιμῆσθαι μὲν αὐτόν φησι τὰ Ἀρχιλόχου μέλη, ἐπὶ δὲ τὸ μακρότερον ἐκτεῖναι, καὶ Μάρωνα καὶ Κρητικὸν ῥυθμὸν εἰς τὴν μελοποιίαν ἐνθεῖναι, οἷς Ἀρχίλοχον μὴ κεχρῆσθαι, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ Ὀρφέα οὐδὲ Τέρπανδρον (v. see also 1133 f, 84 p. 34 Rein. de Stesichoro).

“For Glaucus, asserting Thaletas to be born after Archilochus, says that he imitated the odes of Archilochus, only he made them longer, and used the Paeonic and Cretic rhythm, which neither Archilochus nor Orpheus nor Terpander ever did”

(trans. from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by William W. Goodwin, 1874)

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.