ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 18

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony consists of three quotations from Christian authors, two of which state that Orpheus became famous and that Musaeus was his pupil; the third says that Orpheus lived 200 years after the time of Cecrops.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 18.

Παντοδαπὴ Ἱστορία· Χρονογραφία ἤ Χρονικοὶ Κανόνες* τοῦ Εὐσεβίου τῆς Καισαρείας a. 749 (II 46 Alfred Schöne; Hieronym. 56, 3 Helm):

Όρφεύς Θᾶιξ ἐγνωρίζετο· τούτου μαθητὴς Μουσαῖος ὁ Εὐμόλπου υἱός. Λίνος διδάσκαλος Ἡρακλέους ἐγνωρίζετο.

“Thracian Orphéfs (Όρφεύς) became famous; Mousaios, the son of Évmolpos (Εὔμολπος), was his pupil. Línos (Λίνος), the teacher of Iraklís (Ἡρακλῆς), became famous.”

(trans. by the author)

*Editor’s (JVK) note: It seems like this quotation is from the Canons, but I am not sure.

In the preface of Interpretatio Chronicae Eusebii Panphili, auctore Hieronymo II 7 Schoe. (13 b 2 Helm. v. also 9 b 16):

Porro Liber et reliqui quos mox inferemus post CC annum Cecropis fuerunt, Linus scilicet et Zethus et Amphion, Musaeus, Orpheus, Minos, Perseus, Aescolapius, gemini Castores, Hercules, cum quo Apollo servivit Admeto.

“Henceforth Liber, and the remaining whom we will presently introduce, lived 200 years after Cecrops, Linus, you may be sure, and Zetus and Amphion, Musaeus, Orpheus, Minos, Perseus Aesculapius, the twins Castor (and Pollox), Hercules, with whom Apollo served Admetus.”

(trans. by the author)

Ἐκλογὴ Χρονογραφίας Γεωργίου Συγκέλλου 296, 7 Dind.:

Όρφεύς Θᾶιξ ἐγνωρίζετο (sc. at the time of Ἀμφίων). τούτων μαθητὴς Μουσαῖος ὁ Εὐμόλπου υἱός. V. also Lactantius nr. 99.

“Thracian Orphéfs (Όρφεύς) became famous (at the time of Ἀμφίων). His pupil was Mousaios, the son of Évmolpos (Εὔμολπος).”

(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.