ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 38

OTTO KERN

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


OLYMPUS ET PIERIA (Olympus and Pieria)

SUMMARY: This testimony links Orpheus to Mount Olympus and calls him the ruler of Pieria.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 38.

Βάκχαι Εὐριπίδου 560:

ἐν ταῖς πολυδένδρεσσιν Ὀλύμπου θαλάμαις ἔνθα ποτ᾽ Ὀρφεὺς κιθαρίζων σύναγεν δένδρεα μούσαις, σύναγεν θῆρας ἀγρώτας.

“Perhaps in the deep-wooded lairs of Olympus, where Orpheus once playing the lyre drew together trees by his songs, drew together the beasts of the fields.”

(trans. T. A. Buckley, 1850)

Scholiast on Pindar Pythian IV (176) 313a. On the Pompeian painting Helbig Wandgem. 893, Atl. tab. X v. Rodenwaldt Komposition der pompeian. Wandgem. 80 and Robert Heldens. I 411. Orpheus king of Macedonia nr. 39.

Ἀργοναυτικὰ Ἀπολλωνίου Ῥοδίου I 32:

Ὀρφέα μὲν δὴ τοῖον ἑῶν ἐπαρωγὸν ἀέθλων

Αἰσονίδης Χείρωνος ἐφημοσύνηισι πιθήσας

δέξατο, Πιερίηι Βιστωνίδι κοιρανέοντα.

“Such then was Orpheus whom Aeson’s son welcomed to share his toils, in obedience to the behest of Cheiron, Orpheus ruler of Bistonian Pieria.”

(trans. R. C. Seaton, 1912)

v. nrr. 23. 24. 80. 126 and Oberhummer RE2 III 504.


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.