ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 169

OTTO KERN

HellenicGods.org

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT

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


SUMMARY: This testimony, from the ancient historian Diodorus Siculus, calls Musaeus the son of Orpheus, and that at one time he was in charge of the initiatory rites at Eleusis.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 169

Βιβλιοθήκη ἱστορικὴ Διοδώρου Σικελιώτου IV 25, 1 (v. nrr. 97. 160 a):

αὐτὸς δ᾽ ἐγκυκλωθεὶς τὸν Ἀδρίαν καὶ πεζῆι περιελθὼν τὸν προειρημένον κόλπον κατήντησεν εἰς τὴν Ἤπειρον, ἐξ ἧς πορευθεὶς εἰς τὴν Πελοπόννησον, καὶ τετελεκὼς τὸν δέκατον ἆθλον, ἔλαβε πρόσταγμα παρ᾽ Εὐρυσθέως τὸν ἐξ ἄιδου Κέρβερον πρὸς τὸ φῶς ἀγαγεῖν. πρὸς δὲ τοῦτον τὸν ἆθλον ὑπολαβὼν συνοίσειν αὑτῶι, παρῆλθεν εἰς τὰς Ἀθήνας καὶ μετέσχε τῶν ἐν Ἐλευσῖνι μυστηρίων, Μουσαίου τοῦ Ὀρφέως υἱοῦ τότε προεστηκότος τῆς τελετῆς.

“But when Heracles had made the circuit of the Adriatic, and had journeyed around the gulf on foot, he came to Epirus, whence he made his way to Peloponnesus. And now that he had performed the tenth Labour he received a Command from Eurystheus to bring Cerberus up from Hades to the light of day. And assuming that it would be to his advantage for the accomplishment of this Labour, he went to Athens and took part in the Eleusinian Mysteries, Musaeus, the son of Orpheus, being at that time in charge of the initiatory rites.”

(trans. Charles Henry Oldfather, 1935)


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.