ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 20

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 consists of three quotations from The City of God by Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo, who says that Orpheus lived during the time of the Hebrew Judges; later he says that Orpheus lived before the time of Romulus; and in the final quote, he says that Orpheus lived before the time of the Hebrew Prophets.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 20.

Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis: De civitate Dei contra paganos XVIII 14; II 285, 18 Hoffm. (~ Otto Frising. Chron. I 24 p. 56, 7 Hofmeist.):

per idem temporis interuallum (i. e. Hebraeorum iudicum) extiterunt poetae, qui etiam theologi dicerentur, quoniam de dis carmina faciebant, sed talibus dis, qui licet magni homines, tamen homines fuerunt aut mundi huius, quem uerus deus fecit, elementa sunt aut in principatibus et potestatibus pro voluntate creatoris et suis meritis ordinati, et si quid de uno vero deo inter multa vana et falsa cecinerunt, colendo cum illo alios, qui di non sunt, eisque exhibendo famulatum, qui uni tantum debetur deo, non ei utique rite servierunt nec a fabuloso deorum suorum dedecore etiam ipsi se abstinere potuerunt — Orpheus, Musaeus, Linus. Verum isti theologi deos coluerunt, non pro dis culti sunt; quamuis Orpheum nescio quo modo infernis sacris vel potius sacrilegiis praeficere soleat civitas impiorum.

“During the same period of time (i. e. of the Hebrew judges) arose the poets, who were also called theologues, because they made hymns about the Gods; yet about such Gods as, although great men, were yet but men, or the elements of this world which the true god made, or creatures who were ordained as principalities and powers according to the will of the creator and their own merit. And if, among much that was vain and false, they sang anything of the one true god, yet, by worshipping him along with others who are not Gods, and showing them the service that is due to him alone, they did not serve him at all rightly; and even such poets as Orpheus, Musæus, and Linus, were unable to abstain from dishonoring their Gods by fables. But yet these theologues worshipped the Gods, and were not worshipped as Gods, although the city of the ungodly is wont, I know not how, to set Orpheus over the sacred, or rather sacrilegious, rites of hell.”

(trans. Marcus Dods, 1887)

Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis: De civitate Dei contra paganos XVIII 24 (II 300, 19):

eodem Romulo regnante Thales Milesius fuisse perhibetur, unus e septem sapientibus, qui post theologos poetas, in quibus Orpheus maxime omnium nobilitatus est, σοφοί appellati sunt, quod est Latine sapientes.

“While Romulus reigned, Thales the Milesian is said to have lived, being one of the seven sages, who succeeded the theological poets, of whom Orpheus was the most renowned, and were called Σοφοί, that is, sages.”

(trans. Marcus Dods, 1887)

Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis: De civitate Dei contra paganos XVIII 37 (II 327, 2):

soli igitur illi theologi poetae, Orpheus, Linus, Musaeus et si quis alius apud Graecos fuit, his prophetis Hebraeis, quorum scripta in auctoritate habemus, annis reperiuntur priores.

“So that only those theological poets, Orpheus, Linus, and Musæus, and, it may be, some others among the Greeks, are found earlier in date than the Hebrew prophets whose writings we hold as authoritative.”

(trans. Marcus Dods, 1887)


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

PHOTO COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The many pages of this website incorporate images, some created by the author, but many obtained from outside sources. To find out more information about these images and why this website can use them, visit this link: Photo Copyright Information

DISCLAIMER: The inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) with the views of HellenicGods.org by the external sources from which they were obtained.

Further, the inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) by HellenicGods.org of the contents or views of any external sources from which they were obtained.

For more information: Inquire.hellenicgods@gmail.com

For answers to many questions: Hellenismos FAQ

© 2010 by HellenicGods.org. All Rights Reserved.

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT