ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 158
OTTO KERN
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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.
SUMMARY: This testimony, from the chronicle of the sack of Thessalonica in 904 CE by the Christian John Kaminiatos, says that the works of Orpheus are inscribed with false idols and spurious rumors which lead men astray and enslave them to deception.
ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 158
Εις την άλωσιν της Θεσσαλονίκης Ἰωάννου Καμινιάτου 11 (in the year 904; Gottlieb Lukas Friedrich Tafel De Thessalonica 3 ss., 203; Bekk. p. 503, Jacque Paul Migne Patrologia Graeca 109, 541):
τί γὰρ ἦν πρὸς τοῦτον τὸν ὕμνον ὁ μυθικὸς Ὀρφεὺς ἢ ἡ Ὁμηρικὴ Μοῦσα ἢ τὰ τῶν Σειρήνων ληρήματα, τῶι ψεύδει τῶν πλασμάτων ἀναγραφόμενα, οἷς λόγος μὲν ἐπαίνων οὐδεὶς ἀληθής, φῆμαι δὲ ψευδεῖς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους πλανῶσαι καὶ πρὸς ἀπάτην ἀνδραποδίζουσαι.
“For, compared to this hymn, what were the legendary Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς) or the Homeric Mousa (Μοῦσα) or the ravings of the Seirívæs (Σειρῆνες), inscribed with the deceit of images, for which there is no true account worthy of praise, but false rumors leading men astray and enslaving them to deception?”
(trans. by the author)
V. Krumbacher Gesch. d. bysantin. Litteratur2 266 n. 1.
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.