HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 220

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 220

OTTO KERN

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

3. DE SCRIPTIS ORPHICS (ON ORPHIC TEXTS)

SUMMARY: This testimony, from the Learned Banqueters of Athenaeus, quotes from the comedy Linus by the comic poet Alexis, which mentions Orpheus as one of several authors in Linus’ library of books and plays.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 220

Δειπνοσοφισταί Ἀθηναίον Ναυκρατίου IV 164 b. c. from the Linus by (the comic poet of Middle Comedy) Alexis (Ἄλεξις) (Kock CAF II 345 fr. 135):

βιβλίον ἐντεῦθεν ὅ τι βούλει πρσελθὼν γὰρ λαβέ (παράλαβε Erfurdt), ἔπειτ’ ἀναγνώσει πάνυ γε διασκοπῶν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπιγραμμάτων ἀτρέμα τε καὶ σχολῆι. Ὀρφεὺς ἔνεστιν, Ἡσίοδος, τραγωιδίαι, Χοιρίλος, Ὅμηρος, Ἐπίχαρμος, συγγράμματα (ἔστ’ Ἐπίχαρμος, γράμματα Herm.) παντοδαπά.

“Linus speaks: ‘Go up and take whatever book from there you wish; then looking very carefully at the titles, quietly and at your leisure, you shall read. Orpheus is there, Hesiod, tragedies, Choerilus, Homer, Epicharmus, histories of all sorts.’ ”

(trans. Charles Burton Gulick, 1928)

On the comedy Κράτεια ἤ Φαρμακοπώλης τοῦ Ἀλέξιδος which pertains to the Orphica v. Georg Kaibel Hermes XXV 1899, 98; Otto Kern RE² XX 1441.

Compare to Ἱππόλυτος Εὐριπίδου 952 nr. 213 and the testimony of the philosopher Plato on the books of Orpheus P. II fr. 3.

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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