ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 200
OTTO KERN
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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.
SUMMARY: This testimony, from the Christian church-father Clement of Alexandria, offers the name Prodicus of Samos as the author of The Descent into the Underworld, but this seems to be a mistake derived from a text which corrupted the name Herodicus into Prodicus.
ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 200
Prodicus of Samos? (the author of) Εἰς Ἅιδου κατάβασις, (a conjecture by) Clement of Alexandria, which seems to have arisen solely from a poem of Herodicus of Perinthus on the same subject, in having corrupted the name ΗΡΟΔΙΚΟΥ (“of Herodicus”) into ΠΡΟΔΙΚΟΥ (“of Prodicus”) and then with the addition of the ethnic Σαμίου (“of Samos”) (Paul Tannery Revue de philosophie XXI 1897, 192 n. 2). I went astray in Orpheus p.18.
See v. Cercops nr. 174, Herodicus nr. 199, Orpheus of Camarina nr. 176.
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.
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Pronunciation of Ancient Greek
Transliteration of Ancient Greek
Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos
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