ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 248

OTTO KERN

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SUMMARY: In this testimony, both Diogenes Laërtius and Clement of Alexandria say that Ion of Chios in his book Triads, says that Pythagoras attributed some of his own works to Orpheus; the Suda (hundreds of years later) includes the book Triads in a list of works by Orpheus but notes that it is said to be the work of Ion the tragedian.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 248

Βίοι καὶ γνῶμαι τῶν ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ εὐδοκιμησάντων Διογένους Λαερτίου 8.8· Πυθαγόρας (Diogenes Laërtius):

Ἴων δὲ ὁ Χῖος ἐν τοῖς Τριαγμοῖς* φησιν αὐτὸν (Πυθαγόρας) ἔνια ποιήσαντα ἀνενεγκεῖν εἰς Ὀρφέα.

“And Ion, of Chios, in his Victories* (Τριαγμοί), says that he (Pythagoras) wrote some poems and attributed them to Orpheus.”

(trans. Charles Duke Yonge, 1853)

*I have no idea why Yonge translates the title with the word “Victories;” the title is (in the nominative) Τριαγμοί which means “Triads.”

Λόγος Στρώματα Κλήμεντος του Ἀλεξανδρέως 1.21.131 (II 81, 10 Staeh.) [Stromata of Clement of Alexandria]:

Ἴων δὲ ὁ Χῖος ἐν τοῖς Τριαγμοῖς καὶ Πυθαγόραν εἰς Ὀρφέα ἀνενεγκεῖν τινα ἱστορεῖ.

“Ion of Chios relates in the Triagmi, that Pythagoras ascribed certain works [of his own] to Orpheus.”

(trans. William Wilson, 1885)

Compare to Σοῦδα· Όρφεύς (Suda) Orphic Critical Testimony 223 d:

ἔγραψε Τριασμούς, λέγονται δὲ εἶναι Ἴωνος τοῦ τραγικοῦ· ἐν δὲ τούτοις τὰ Ἱεροστολικὰ καλούμενα.

“He (Orpheus) wrote On Triads (Τριαγμοῖς), but they are said to be by Íôn (ὁ Χῖος) the tragedian; and among them are those named The Sacred Vestments (Ἱεροστολικὰ).”

(trans. by the author)

Hermann Diels Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker I3 287 n. 2. Compare P. II s. ΤΡΙΑΓΜΟΙ.


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).

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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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