HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 180

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 180

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony points out that in addition to the texts previously mentioned, there are the Orphic golden lamella found in tombs of southern Italy.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 180

To these also are added the Orphic golden tablets (lamellae) found in the tombs of southern Italy, concerning which you see in Part II, and an inscription from (ed. a cemetery in) Cumae (Κύμη) discovered in 1903, Domenico Comparetti Laminette Orfiche 47 (Latte De saltationibus Graecorum RVV XIII 3, 98); SGDI IV p. 851 n. 2:

οὐ θέμις ἐν|τοῦθα κεῖσθ|αι <ε>ἰ μὴ τὸν βε|βαχχευμέ|νον.

“It is not right to be laid here if not initiated into the Bacchic Mysteries.”

(trans. by the author)

To which Georg Wissowa compares an inscription found at Rome on the Via Nomentana road which De Rossi and Mommsen held to be Christian:

monumentum Valeri Mercuri et Iulittes, Iuliani et Quiintilies Verecundes, libertis libertabusque posterisque eorum at religionem pertinentes meam

“The tomb of Valerius Mercurius and Jullita, of Juliano and Quintilia Verecunda, to their freedmen and freedwomen, and to the coming generations of those who belong to my religion.”

(trans. by the author)

CIL VI 10412 = Dessau II 8337. V. also what I have examined about Therone of Agrigento and Micythus of Reggio Orph. 4 (E. Preuner Archaeol. Jahrb. XXXV 1920, 62).

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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For answers to many questions: Hellenismos FAQ

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