ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 24

OTTO KERN

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

MATER (Mother)

SUMMARY: This testimony gives us many opinions as to who was the mother of Orpheus; most of these authors claim that Calliope, the eldest of the Muses, was his mother.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 24.

Please note: All the translations on this page were done by the author.

Most frequently Καλλιόπη (v. e. g. nr. 22. 23).

Πέρσαι Τῑμοθέου τοῦ Μιλησίου 234 (Diels II³ 166, 29 n. 12 a):

πρῶτος ποικιλόμουσο<ν> Ὀρ<φε>ὺς <χέλ>υν ἐτέκνωσεν, υἱὸς Καλλιόπα<ς> Πιερίας ἔ<π>ι.

“Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς), the son of Kalliópî (Καλλιόπη), made the music-giving lyre in Piæría (Πιερία).”

(ΜΟΥΣΟΣΟΡΙΥΣΥΝΕΤΕΚΝ pap. em. Wilam. Καλλιόπα pap. ἔπι Wilam.] ενι pap.)

Πολιτεία Πλάτωνος II 364 e:

Μουσαίου καὶ Ὀρφέως, Σελήνης τε καὶ Μουσῶν ἐκγόνων

“Mousaios (Μουσαίος) and Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς), born of the Moon (Σελήνη) and the Mousai (Μοῦσαι)”

ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 24.12· Νηρηίδων:

Καλλιόπῃ σὺν μητρὶ καὶ Ἀπόλλωνι ἄνακτι.

“with mother Kalliópî (Καλλιόπη) and lord Apóllôn (Ἀπόλλων).”

ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 76.10· Μουσῶν:

Καλλιόπῃ σὺν μητρὶ καὶ εὐδυνάτηι θεᾶι Ἁγνῆι.

“with mother Kalliópî (Καλλιόπη) and the powerful Goddess Ágnî (Ἅγνη).”

Translator’s note: There is another collection of the Orphic Hymns which renders the Greek to this line a little differently and to me makes more sense. It can be found in ORPHICA. NOVA EDITIO ACCVRATA IN VSVM PRAELECTIONVM ACADEMICARVM ET SCHOLARVM. This book does not give any information concerning the manuscript used. It seems to be the same manuscript used by Gottfried Hermann in his well-known collection of Orphica:

Καλλιόπῃ σὺν μητρὶ, μάλ’ εὐδύνάτοι θεαὶ ἁγναί.

“with mother Kalliópî (Καλλιόπη), the very powerful holy Goddesses.”

Kalliópî here is the last in a list of the names of the nine Muses, so the final phrase, “the very powerful holy Goddesses,” is simply commenting on them. In this manuscript, ἁγνή, a plural adjective which simply means “holy,” is not capitalized. The Kern manuscript seems to imply that there are ten Muses, adding a Goddess named Ἁγνή.

(v. Genethliakon für Carl Robert 11910, 97)

Ὀρφέως Ἀργοναυτικά 77:

Ὀρφεῦ, Καλλιόπης τε καὶ Οἰάγρου φίλε κοῦρε, Βιστονίηι Κικόνεσσι πολυρρήνοισιν ἀνάσσων

“Oh Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς), beloved son of Kalliópî (Καλλιόπη) and Íagros (Οἴαγρος), reigning over the Kikoneans (Κίκονες) in Vistonía (Βιστονία) rich in flocks.”

and Ὀρφέως Ἀργοναυτικά 682:

μήτηρ ἡμετέρη κατέλεξε περίφρων Καλλιόπεια

“my (ed. Orphéfs’) mother, the very thoughtful Kalliópeia (Καλλιόπεια), warned us (ed. of the Crashing Rocks).”

Seneca the Younger Medea 625:

ille vocali genitus Camena.

“He who was produced by euphonious Camena.”

Gruppe l. l. 1073; Wilamowitz Die Ilias und Homer 474.

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.