ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 5
OTTO KERN
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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.
SUMMARY: This testimony says that some in ancient times believed that there were two Orpheuses.
ΟΡΦΕΙΣ (Orpheus, but in the plural)
ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 5.
σχολιαστὴς επὶ Ἀπολλωνίου τοῦ Ῥοδίου I 23:
Ἡρόδωρος (FHist.Gr. II 38 fr. 39) δύό εἶναι Ὀρφεῖς φησιν, ὧν τὸν ἕτερον συμπλεῦσαι τοῖς Ἀργοναύταις. Φερεκύδης, ἐν τῇι ς΄ (FHist.Gr. I 87 fr. 63) Φιλάμμονά φησι καὶ οὐκ Ὀρφέα συμπεπλευκέναι. ἔστι δέ, ὡς Ἀσκληπιάδης (nr. 22), Ἀπόλλωνος καὶ Καλλιόπης· ἔνιοι δὲ ἀπὸ Οἰάγρου καὶ Πολυμνίας. ζητεῖται δέ, διὰ τί Ὀρφεύς ἀσθενὴς ὤν συνέπλει τοῖς ἥρωσιν. ὅτι μάντις ὢν ὁ Χείρων ἔχρησε δύνασθαι κατὰ τὰς Σειρῆνας παρελθεῖν αὐτοὺς Ὀρφέως συμπλέοντος.
“Iródôros (Ἡρόδωρος) says there were two Orphéfses (Ὀρφεύς), one of whom sailed with the Argováftai (Αργοναύται). Phærækýdîs (Φερεκύδης), in his sixth book, says that Philámmôn (Φιλάμμων) and not Orphéfs sailed with them. And he (Ὀρφεύς) is, as Asklîpiádîs (Ἀσκληπιάδης) says, the son of Apóllôn (Ἀπόλλων) and Kalliópî (Καλλιόπη); but some say from Íagros (Οἴαγρος) and Polýmnia (Πολύμνια). And one wonders why Orphéfs, who was weak, sailed with the Heroes. But Heirôn (Χείρων), who was a seer, proclaimed that they would be able to pass by through the Seirínæs (Σειρῆνες) should Orphéfs sail with them.”
(trans. by the author)
V. look also to verse 31:
Πιερία ὄρος Θράικης, ἐν ἧι διέτριβεν Ὀρφεύς, φησὶ δὲ Ἡρόδωρος (fr. 39), ὅτι παρήινησεν ὁ Χείρων τῶι Ἰάσονι, ὅπως τὸν Ὀρφέα σὺν τοῖς Ἀργοναύταις παραλάβηι v. nr. 79
“Piæría (Πιερία) is a mountain of Thrákî (Θρᾴκη), on which Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς) was living, and Iródôros (Ἡρόδωρος) says, that Heirôn (Χείρων) exhorted Iásôn (Ἰάσων), that ‘you should take Orphéfs with the Argováftai (Αργοναύται).’ ”
(trans. by the author)
Efstáthios (Εὐστάθιος) Il. B 848 p. 359, 15:
οἱ παλαιοί, οἵ καὶ δύο φασὶ γενέσθαι Ὀρφέας Κίκονας, ὧν ὁ εἷς τοῦ Οἰάγρου παλαιὸς καὶ πολλῶι προγενέστερος τοῦ ὑστέρου, καὶ ὡς αὐτοί φασιν, ἕνδεκα γενεαῖς.
“The ancients, who also say that there were two Kikonian Orphéfses (Ὀρφέας Κίκονας), one who was the son of ancient Íagros (Οἴαγρος) and born long before the younger, even as they say, eleven generations.”
(trans. by the author)
Ernst Maaß De biograph. Graec. quaest. sel. (Philol. Untersuch. III) 126 n. 137.
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.
