ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 122

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony, from On the Names of Rivers and Mountains by pseudo-Plutarch, says that after the Thracian women tore Orpheus in pieces, his whole body assumed the shape of a dragon. From his blood arose an herb called ‘the harp’ which makes a sound like a lyre during the rites of Dionysos.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 122

Περὶ ποταμῶν καὶ ὀρῶν ἐπωνυμίας (De fluviis) ψευδούς-Πλουτάρχου III 4 (Ἔβρος) p. 44 Herch.:

γεννᾶται δὲ καὶ ἐν τῶι Παγγαίωι ὄρει βοτάνη Κιθάρα καλουμένη διὰ ταύτην τὴν αἰτίαν. διασπαράξασαι (αἱ before διασπ. add. Wytt.) τὸν Ὀρφέα τὰ μέλη τοῦ προειρημένου εἰς ποταμὸν ἔβαλον Ἕβρον· καὶ ἡ μὲν κεφαλὴ τοῦ θνητοῦ κατὰ πρόνοιαν θεῶν εἰς δράκοντα μετέβαλεν τὴν μορφὴν τοῦ σώματος (τ. σήματος Wytt.)· ἡ δὲ λύρα κατηστερίσθη (Natal. Comes, Wytt.] καταστηρίχθη P, κατεστηρίχθη ed. Lips. a. 1778 and cett. edd.) κατὰ προαίρεσιν Ἀπόλλωνος· ἐκ δὲ τοῦ ῥεύσαντος αἵματος ἀνεφάνη βοτάνη Κιθάρα καλουμένη. τῶν δὲ Διονυσίων τελουμένων αὕτη κιθάρας ἀναδίδωσιν ἦχον· οἱ δ’ ἐγχώριοι νεβρίδας περιβεβλημένοι καὶ θύρσους κρατοῦντες ὕμνον ἄιδουσιν (Salmas.] καὶ θ., ὕ. ἄιδ. κρ. καὶ τότε P)]

‘μή τότε φρονήσηις, ὅταν ἔσηι μάτην φρονῶν’

(Haupt] καὶ τότε φρονήσει ὅταν εσηματην φρονῶν P)·

καθὼς ἱστορεῖ Κλειτώνυμος ἐν τῶι γ’ τῶν Θραικικῶν (Reinesius] Τραγικῶν P, τῶι and τῶν secl. Herch., FHG IV 367).

“Also upon the mountain Pangaeus grows an herb, which is called the harp upon this occasion. The women that tore Orpheus in pieces cast his limbs into the river Hebrus; and his head being changed, the whole body was turned into the shape of a dragon. But as for his harp, such was the will of Apollo, it remained in the same form. And from the streaming blood grew up the herb which was called the harp; which, during the solemnity of the sacrifices to Bacchus, sends forth a sound like that of an harp when played upon. At which time the natives, being covered with the skins of young hinds and waving their thyrsuses in their hands, sing a hymn, of which these are part of the words,

‘When wisdom all in vain must be,

Then be not wise at all; —’

as Clitonymus reports, in his Third Book of Thracian Relations.”

(trans. by several translators. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, 1874-1875)

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.