HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 33

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 33

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony associates the Thracian mountain ranges Haemus, Rodope, and Orbelus with the Mysteries, which this quotation affirms were instituted by Orpheus.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 33.

Pomponius Mela (the geographer) De situ orbis libri III I2.17:

montes interior (sc. Thracia) adtollit Haemon et Rhodopen et Orbelon, sacris Liberi patris et coetu Maenadum, Orpheo primum initiante, celebratos.

“The interior (sc. of Thrace) in which the mountain ranges Haemus (Αἷμος), Rodope (Ῥοδόπη), and Orbelus (Ὄρβηλος)* rise up, having been celebrated for the Mysteries of Father Liber and the gathering of Maenads, which Orpheus instituted first.”

(trans. by the author)

Orpheus on coins from Thrace B. Pick Archaeol. Jahrb. XIII 1898, 135. On the coins of Philippoupolis (Φιλιππούπολις, an ancient city of Thrace now Plovdin in Bulgaria) v. Lucian. Δραπέται 29 (Pick l. l. 136 n. 6).

*Translator’s note: Since this is a translation of Latin, I used the Anglicized Latin transliteration of the names of these mountains; the Greek pronunciation is: Aimos (Αἷμος), Rodópî (Ῥοδόπη), and Órvîlos (Ὄρβηλος)

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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