HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 188

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 188

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony, by John Philoponus the Byzantine commentator on Aristotle, says that the doctrines in the Orphic poetry belong to Orpheus, but that Onomacritus put them into verse.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 188

σχόλιον Ἰωάννου Ἀλεξανδρέως τοῦ Φιλοπόνου επὶ Περὶ Ψυχῆς τοῦ Ἀριστοτέλους A 5 p. 186, 24 of Ioannis Philoponi in Aristotelis De anima libros commentaria by Michael Hayduck:

λεγομένοις (ἐν τοῖς Ὀρφικοῖς καλουμένοις ἔπεσι ap. Aristoteles) εἶπεν, ἐπειδὴ μὴ δοκεῖ Ὀρφέως εἶναι τὰ ἔπη, ὡς καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν τοῖς Περὶ φιλοσοφίας (fr. 7 Rose³) λέγει· αὐτοῦ μὲν γάρ εἰσι τὰ δόγματα, ταῦτα δέ φασιν (DR] φησιν Trincavell.) Ὀνομάκριτον ἐν ἔπεσι κατατεῖναι (καταθεῖναι Cudworth; Christian Lobeck Aglaophamus I 349 n. a).

“Aristotle said, ‘in the so-called (Orpheus)’ (‘in the epic poetry called Orphic’ in Aristotle), since it seems that the epic verses are not by Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς), as he also says in On Philosophy (fr. 7 Rose): for the doctrines are his, but they say that Onomákritos extended them into verse.”

(trans. by the author)

Erwin Rohde Psyche I⁶ 112 n. 1.

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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