HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 37

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 37

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony consists of three quotations all of which connect both Orpheus and Thrace to religion, one of the quotations even claims that the etymology of the word for religion (θρησκεία) comes from the word for Thracian.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 37.

σχολιαστὴς επὶ Ἀλκήστιδος Εὐριπίδου περί Ἀλκήστιδος 968 (II 239, 10 Schw.):

πρῶτος Ὀρφεὺς μυστήρια θεῶν (B] εἶναι A) παραδέδωκεν· ὅθεν καὶ θρησκεία τὸ μυστήριον καλεῖται, ἀπὸ τοῦ Θραικὸς Ὀρφέως.

“Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς) first transmitted the Mysteries of the Gods; for which reason the mystery rite is also called θρησκεία (i. e. religion, religious worship), sprung from the Thracian Orphéfs.”

(trans. by the author)

Ἐτυμολογικὸν Μέγα 455, 10:

θρῆσκος, ἑτερόδοξος· ἐκ τοῦ Θρᾶιξ Θραικός· καὶ θρησκεία, παρα τὴν τῶν Θραικῶν ἐπιμέλειαν τὴν πρός το θεῖον καὶ τὴν Όρψέως ἱερουργίαν· ούτοι γὰρ πρῶτον ἐξεῦρον τὴν περὶ τὸ θεῖον ἔννοιαν. ἢ παρὰ τὸ τοὺς θεοὺς ἀρέσκεσθαι ἢ ἀρέσκειν, ὅ ἐστιν ἐξευμενίζεσθαι· καὶ ὁ Θεολόγος (Λόγος λθʹ [39] Γρηγορίου ὁ Ναζιανζηνός · Εἰς τὰ ἅγια Φῶτα Jacque Paul Migne 36, 340) ‘Οὐ Θραικῶν ὄργια· παρ’ ὧν καὶ τὸ θρησκεύειν, ὡς λόγος’.

[This is a lexicon entry]: “θρῆσκος (i. e. religious), heterodox; from Θρᾶιξ (Thracian) and Θραικός (Thracian, genitive); and θρησκεία (religion, religious rite), from the care bestowed by the Thracians towards the divine and the religious rite of Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς); for they were the first to discover the meanings concerning the divine. Or for the reason to please or be pleasing to the Gods, that is, to propitiate them; and the Theologian* (says) ‘Non-religious rites of the Thracians; also from θρησκεύειν (to worship), so goes the story.’ ”

(trans. by the author)

*Translator’s note: The text capitalizes the word in which case you would think the author was referring to Orpheus, but this line does not sound like a quotation of Orpheus; since this lexicon entry is from the Byzantine era (1150 C. E.), perhaps the author is referring to a famous Christian theologian who was knowledgeable concerning words.

Ἐτυμολογικὸν Γουδιανόν 264, 51; 536, 14. Orion 73, 26. Suid. v.:

θρησκεύει· λέγεται γὰρ ὡς Ὀρφεὺς Θρᾶιξ πρῶτος ἐτεχνολόγησε τὰ Ἑλλήνων μυστήρια, καὶ τὸ τιμᾶν θεὸν θρησκεύειν ἐκάλεσαν ὡς Θραικίας οὔσης τῆς εὐρέσεως.

[This is another lexicon entry from an earlier lexicon]: “θρησκεύει (he performs religious rites): For it is said that the Thracian Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς) was the first to treat the Hellenic Mysteries systematically, and he called θρησκεύειν (to perform religious rites) worship, so far as it was a Thracian discovery.”

(trans. by the author)

V. also nr. 41.

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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