ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 246

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony, from the Scholia on Lycophron by Tzetzes, says that Hesiod stole and corrupted a section of the theogony of Orpheus.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 246

Στα Εἰς τὸν Λυκόφρονα σχόλια Ισαακίου γραμματικοῦ τοῦ Τζέτζου, a comment about Hesiod 399 p. 149, 13 Sch.:

δίσκον δὲ τὸν Δία λέγει διὰ τὸν λίθον τὸν ἀντὶ Διὸς ὑπὸ Ῥέας σπαργανωθέντα, ὥς φησιν Ἡσίοδος ἐν τῆι Θεογονίαι (485 Rz.) τὴν Ὀρφέως ὑποκλέψας καὶ παραφθείρας Θεογονίαν.

“And he calls Zefs (Ζεύς) “quoit” because of the stone from Rǽa (Ῥέα) wrapped in swaddling cloth in place of Zefs, as Isíodos (Hesiod, Ἡσίοδος) disclosed in the theogony stolen and corrupted from the theogony of Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς).” (the same quotation as Orphic Fragment 147)

(trans. by the author)

See Orphic Critical Testimony 12 on Terpander which says that Orpheus never imitated anyone.

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.