ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 240
OTTO KERN
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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.
SUMMARY: This testimony presents quotations concerning the philosophers Sarapion, Asclepiodotus, and Asclepiades and their relationship to Orpheus.
ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 240
Sarapíôn (Σαραπίων), friend of Isídôros of Alexandria (Ἰσίδωρος ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς [Isidore]; 450-520 C. E.) Σοῦδα s. v.:
ζητητικὸς δὲ ὢν τῆς ἀληθείας καὶ φύσει θεωρητικὸς οὐ περὶ τὰ τεχνικώτερα τῆς φιλοσοφίας ἠξίου διατρίβειν, ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἁδροτέροις καὶ ἐνθουσιαστικωτέροις νοήμασιν ἐνεφύετο. διὸ μόνον σχεδὸν τὸν Ὀρφέα ἐκέκτητο καὶ ἀνεγίγνωσκεν, ἐρωτῶν ἐφ᾿ ἑκάστοις ἀεὶ τοῖς παραπίπτουσι ζητήμασι τὸν Ἰσίδωρον, ἄκραν ὡς εἰπεῖν ἐπιστήμην ἐν θεολογίαι προβεβλημένον . . . ὃς οὕτω μὲν κατεφρόνει χρημάτων ὥστε κεκτῆσθαι μηδ’ ὁτιοῦν ἢ μόνα δύο ἢ τρία βιβλία, ὧν ἦν καὶ ἡ Ὀρφέως ποίησις.
“Being a seeker of truth and of a contemplative nature, he did not think it worthy to waste time on the systematic aspects of philosophy, but rooted himself in the more powerful and inspired ideas. Because of this, he possessed virtually only the poems of Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς) and knew them well, and concerning all the questions which came up, he always inquired of Isidore, who laid before him, so to speak, the highest knowledge in theology . . . Thus, he looked down upon money, so, consequently, he had nothing whatever but only two or three books, where among these were also the poems of Orphéfs.”
(trans. by the author)
Add also from Δαμασκίου εἰς τὸν Ἰσιδώρου τοῦ φιλοσόφου βίον (Damascii Isidori vitam) 126 p. 132 Westerm.; about Asklîpiódotos (Ἀσκληπιόδοτος; flourished circa 475 C. E.):
πρὸς δὲ τὴν Ὀρφικήν τε καὶ Χαλδαϊκὴν τὴν ὑψηλοτέραν σοφίαν καὶ τὸν κοινὸν φιλοσοφίας νοῦν ὑπεραίρουσαν ἔτι μᾶλλον ἐλείπετο.
“But he neglected the lofty Orphic and Chaldean wisdom, and which, moreover, transcends the purpose of the common philosophy.”
(trans. by the author)
(Wilhelm Kroll De oraculis Chaldaicis 8)
and Σοῦδα s. Ἡραΐσκος* about the Neoplatonic philosopher Asklîpiádîs (Ἀσκληπιάδης) (not [Asklîpiádîs] of Mendes v. Freudenthal RE2 II 1631 n. 35):
ὥρμησε γράφειν περιέχουσαν τῶν θεολογιῶν ἁπασῶν τὴν συμφωνίαν.
“He set out to write down the encompassing agreement of all the theologies.”
(trans. by the author)
*Iräískos (Ἡραΐσκος, Heraïskos), Egyptian priest and philosopher, brother of Asclepiades of Alexandria, fifth century C. E.?
Christian Lobeck Aglaophamus I 344 s. I have placed these quotes here since it is not clear whether Asclepiades nor Asclepiodotus nor Sarapion had produced a book on Orpheus.
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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