ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 150
OTTO KERN
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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.
SUMMARY: This testimony presents a sketch of a stone seal which has both an image of a crucifixion and the name Orpheus.
ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 150
The inscription ΟΡΦΕΟΣ ΒΑΚΚΙΚΟΣ “Vakkhic Orphéfs” is found on a seal-stone representing the crucifixion, at present preserved in the Berlin Museum*:
(O. Wulff Altchristliche Bildwerke I 1909, 234 n. 1146 tab. 56). I publish a sketch by Maria Seidel, which Curtius Regling examined.
*During WWII the stone vanished.
TRANSLATOR’S NOTE: This seal is the subject of much controversy, some people declaring it to be a fake, while others defending its authenticity. I am not qualified to say whether or not it is genuine. There is an excellent article online which includes pictures of the seal and thoroughly discusses the controversy: ORPHEOS BAKKIKOS – THE MISSING CROSS by Francesco Carotta with Arne Eickenberg, 2008.
(https://www.carotta.de/subseite/texte/articula/Orpheos_Bakkikos_en.pdf)
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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