HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 166

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 166

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony, from the Suda, says that Musaeus was a pupil of Orpheus, even though he was much older than Orpheus. And in another quotation, Berlin Papyrus 44 says that Orpheus, inspired by God, composed hymns which Musaeus wrote down.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 166

Σοῦδα:

Μουσαῖος Ἐλευσίνιος ἐξ Ἀθηνῶν υἱὸς Ἀντιφήμου τοῦ Εὐφήμου τοῦ Ἐκφάντου τοῦ Κερκυόνος, ὃν κατεπολέμησεν ὁ Θησεύς, καὶ Σελήνη (ἐλήνης I IV] ἐλένης BE [A ?]) γυναικός. ἐποποιός, μαθητὴς Ὀρφέως, μᾶλλον δὲ πρεσβύτερος· ἤκμαζε γὰρ κατὰ τὸν δεύτερον Κέκροπα καὶ ἔγραψεν Ὑποθήκας Εὐμόλπωι τῶι υἱῶι ἔπη δ΄ καὶ ἄλλα πλεῖστα.

“Mousaios of Ælefsís (Ἐλευσίνιος) from Athens, the son of Antíphîmos (Ἀντίφημος), son of Éfphimos (Εὔφημος), son of Ékphandos (Ἔκφαντος), son of Kærkýôn (Κερκύων) who Thîséfs (Θησεύς) made war against, and of his wife Sælínî (Σελήνη). A maker of verses, pupil of Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς), but quite a bit older; for he flourished under the second Kǽkrops (Κέκροψ Βʹ) and he wrote Instructions (Ὑποθήκας), poems to his son Évmolpos (Εὔμολπος), and very many other things.”

(trans by the author)

Hoefer quoted in Rosch. II 3235; Herman Diels Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker II³ 179 n. 1; Carl Robert Griechische Heldensage I 411; v. nrr. 15. 16. 31. 90. 97.102. 161.

166 a. Papyrus Berolinensis 44 (v. P. II), 4 on the hymns of Orpheus:

οὓς ὀλίγα Μουσαῖος ἐπα<νορθώσας κατέγρ>αψεν.

“...that Mousaios wrote down with few corrections.”

(trans. by the author)

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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