HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 171

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 171

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony, from the Neoplatonic philosopher Hermias, shows the deep love that Orpheus had for Musaeus.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 171

σχόλιον Ἑρμείου επὶ Φαίδρου Πλάτωνος 244 a p. 88, 24 Paul Couvreur:

οὐδένα γὰρ ἐνθουσιασμὸν ἄνευ τῆς ἐρωτικῆς ἐπιπνοίας συµβαίνει γίνεσθαι. ὁρᾶις πῶς Ὀρφεὺς (ὁ Σωκράτης A but with a crossed line he wrote over it with the same hand ὀρφεὺς Couvreur, ὁ Ὀρφεύς Gesn.) πάσας ἐπιτηδεύσας φαίνεται ὡς δεοµένας καὶ ἐχοµένας ἀλλήλων· τελεστικώτατον µὲν γὰρ αὐτὸν καὶ µαντικώτατον παρειλήφαµεν καὶ ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος κινούµενον, ἔτι ποιητικώτατον, ὅν γε δι’ αὐτὸ τοῦτο καὶ Καλλιόπης υἱὸν γενέσθαι φασίν· ἐρωτικώτατός τέ ἐστιν ὡς αὐτὸς λέγων φαίνεται πρὸς τὸν Μουσαῖον καὶ προτείνων αὐτῶι τὰ θεῖα ἀγαθὰ καὶ τελειῶν αὐτόν. (Abel fr. 275)

“For not one divine inspiration occurs without motivation born from love. See how Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς) took care disclosing all things as regards to our needing and being near one another? For we have received from him the most mysterious and prophetic teaching. And Orphéfs was moved by Apóllôn (Ἀπόλλων), and as yet, he is the most celebrated among poets; at any rate, for this same reason, they say also that he was born the son of Kalliópî (Καλλιόπη). And he is the most erotic as he is seen speaking to Mousaios and holding out to him divine blessings and initiating him into the Mysteries.”

(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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