HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 202

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 202

OTTO KERN

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

IGNOTAE ORIGINIS (Of Unknown Origin)

SUMMARY: This testimony, from the geographer Pausanias, says that on a painting by Polygnotus, there is the figure of a man named Promedon.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 202

Promǽdôn (Προμέδων): Pausanias’ description of The Descent to the Underworld by the ancient painter Polygnotus Ἑλλάδος Περιήγησις Παυσανίου 10.30.7 (Φωκίς) (v. nr. 69):

τῶι δένδρωι δὲ τῆι εἰτέαι (sub qua Orpheus sedet) κατὰ τὸ ἕτερον μέρος προσανακεκλιμένος ἐστὶν αὐτῆι Προμέδων· εἰσὶ μὲν δὴ οἳ νομίζουσι καθάπερ ἐς ποίησιν ἐπεσῆχθαι τὸ (τὸ Korais] τοῦ codd.) Προμέδοντος ὄνομα ὑπὸ τοῦ Πολυγνώτου, τοῖς δὲ εἰρημένον ἐστὶν ἄνδρα Ἕλληνα ἔς τε τὴν ἄλλην ἅπασαν γενέσθαι φιλήκοον μουσικὴν καὶ ἐπὶ τῆι ὠιδῆι μάλιστα τῆι (τοῦ L¹) Ὀρφέως.

“On the other side of the willow-tree (under which Orpheus sits) Promedon is leaning against it. Some there are who think that the name Promedon is as it were a poetic invention of Polygnotus; others have said that Promedon was a Greek who was fond of listening to all kinds of music, especially to the singing of Orpheus.”

(trans. W. H. S. Jones, 1918)

Carl Otfried Mueller Kleine deutsche Schriften über Religion II 403;

Carl Robert Die Nekyia des Polygnot 50;

Ferdinand Duemmler Delphika; Untersuchungen zur griechischen Religionsgeschichte 20 = Kl. Schr. II

145 n. 1;

Ernst Maaß Orpheus 65 n. 78;

Paul Knapp Über Orpheusdarstellungen 12 n. 3;

Otto Kern Orpheus 18.

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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