HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 209

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 209

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony, from the satirist and rhetorician Lucian, discusses the Bacchic pantomimic dancing in which the dancers depicted Titans, Corybantes, Satyrs, and cattle-herders.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 209

Περὶ ὀρχήσεως Λουκιανοὺ 79:

ἡ μὲν γε Βακχικὴ ὄρχησις ἐν Ἰωνίαι μάλιστα καὶ ἐν Πόντωι σπουδαζομένη, καίτοι σατυρικὴ οὖσα, οὗτω κεχείρωται τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς ἐκεῖ, ὥστε κατὰ τὸν τεταγμένον ἕκαστοι καιρόν ἁπάντων ἐπιλαθόμενοι τῶν ἄλλων κάθηνται δι᾽ ἡμέρας Τιτᾶνας καὶ Κορύβαντας καὶ Σατύρους καὶ βουκόλους ὁρῶντες· καὶ ὀρχοῦνταί γε ταῦτα οἱ εὐγενέστατοι καὶ πρωτεύοντες ἐν ἑκάστηι τῶν πόλεων, οὐχ ὅπως αἰδούμενοι, ἀλλὰ καὶ μέγα φρονοῦντες ἐπὶ τῶι πράγματι μᾶλλον ἤπερ ἐπ᾽ εὐγενείαις καὶ λειτουργίαις καὶ ἀξιώμασι προγονικοῖς.

“The Bacchic form of Pantomime, which is particularly popular in Ionia and Pontus, in spite of its being confined to satyric subjects has taken such possession of those peoples, that, when the Pantomime season comes round in each city, they leave all else and sit for whole days watching Titans and Corybantes, Satyrs and neat-herds*. Men of the highest rank and position are not ashamed to take part in these performances: indeed, they pride themselves more on their pantomimic skill than on birth and ancestry and public services.”

(trans. H. W. Fowler and F. G. Fowler, 1905)

*cow herders.

On the cattle-herders see Kern Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft ² III 1013; Carl Robert Genethliakon 1910, 96. You can also find Βουκόλος in a ritual booklet P. II fr. 31 vs. 25.

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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