HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 27

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 27

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony consists of various opinions as to who were the brothers of Orpheus.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 27.

Ymǽnaios (Ὑμέναιος), Iálæmos (Ἰάλεμος) nr. 22.

Kýmothôn (Κύμοθων)? Σχολιαστὴς επὶ Λυκόφρονος 831 p. 266, 5 Scheer:

διότι πολλὰς αὐτῶν εἰς ἔρωτα κινήσασα (Ἀφροδίτη) ἔπεισεν ἀνδράσι μιγῆναι καὶ τεκεῖν οἷον Καλλιόπην ἐξ Οἰάγρου τεκεῖν Ὀρφέα καὶ Κυμόθωνα (s⁴] κυδρόθωνα a κυμόθω γ²; Ἤμαθον vel Ἠμαθίωνα Lobeck I 325 n. 1, cui assentitur Maaß Orph. 155 n. 49) Τερψιχόρην ἐκ Στρυμόνος Ῥῆσον, Κλειὼ δ' ἐκ Μάγνητος Λίνον.

“Because (Ἀφροδίτη), having moved many of them to love, persuaded them to become mingled with men and to bear young, such as Kalliópî (Καλλιόπη) to bear Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς) and Kýmothôn (Κύμοθων) from Íagros (Οἴαγρος), Tǽrpsikhórî (Τερψιχόρη) to bear Rísos (Ῥῆσος) from Strymóhn (Στρυμών), and Kleióh (Κλειώ) to bear Línos (Λίνος) from Mágnîs (Μάγνης).”

(trans. by the author)

Línos (Λίνος) - Βιβλιοθήκη Ἀπολλοδώρου I 14 nr. 22 (Fraser numbering: 1.3.2):

Καλλιόπης μὲν οὖν καὶ Οἰάγρου, κατ᾽ ἐπίκλησιν δὲ Ἀπόλλωνος, Λίνος, ὃν Ἡρακλῆς ἀπέκτεινε, καὶ Ὀρφεὺς ὁ ἀσκήσας κιθαρῳδίαν, ὃς ᾁδων ἐκίνει λίθους τε καὶ δένδρα.

“Now Calliope bore to Oeagrus or, nominally, to Apollo, a son Linus, whom Hercules slew; and another son, Orpheus, who practised minstrelsy and by his songs moved stones and trees.”

(Sir James George Frazer, 1921)

v. also in Martialis Epigrammata IX 86, 5:

cum grege Pierio maestus Phoeboque querebar,

‘ipse meum flevi’ dixit Apollo ‘Linon’:

respexitque suam quae stabat proxima fratri

Calliopen et ait: 'tu quoque vulnus habes’.

“I grieved with the band from Pieria (i. e. the Muses) and Phoebus,

‘I myself wept,’ said Apollo ‘for Linus:’

He looked back at his own (sister), who was close to his brother,

Calliope, and affirms: ‘You also have misfortune.’ ”

(trans. by the author)

Marsýas (Μαρσύας) – Hyginus Fabulae f. 165:

Oeagri filius, pastor, unus ex Satyris (tibias invenit).

“(Marsyas) the son of Oeagrus, a shepherd, one of the Satyrs (he found the flute*).”

(trans. by the author)

*Ed. According to the myth, the Goddess Athena was playing the flute, but had observed her reflection in the water and was disgusted to see her cheeks puffed out, so she abandoned it, but the flute was later found by Marsýas.

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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