ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 51

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony says that Orpheus charmed rocks and rivers, and that he led the wild oaks down from Pieria, to stand in ordered ranks on the Thracian shore at Zonê.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 51.

Ἀργοναυτικὰ Ἀπολλωνίου Ῥοδίου I 26:

(πρῶτά νυν Ὀρφῆος μνησώμεθα, τόν ῥά ποτ᾽ αὐτὴ 23

Καλλιόπη Θρήικι φατίζεται εὐνηθεῖσα

Οἰάγρωι σκοπιῆς Πιμπληίδος ἄγχι τεκέσθαι)

αὐτὰρ τόν γ᾽ ἐνέπουσιν ἀτειρέας οὔρεσι πέτρας 26

θέλξαι ἀοιδάων ἐνοπῆι ποταμῶν τε ῥέεθρα.

φηγοὶ δ᾽ ἀγριάδες, κείνης ἔτι σήματα μολπῆς,

ἀκτῆς Θρηικίης Ζώνης ἔπι τηλεθόωσαι

ἑξείης στιχόωσιν ἐπήτριμοι, ἃς ὅγ᾽ ἐπιπρὸ

θελγομένας φόρμιγγι κατήγαγε Πιερίηθεν.

(Ὀρφέα μὲν δὴ τοῖον ἑῶν ἐπαρωγὸν ἀέθλων 32

Αἰσονίδης Χείρωνος ἐφημοσύνῃσι πιθήσας

δέξατο, Πιερίηι Βιστωνίδι κοιρανέοντα.)

“(First then let us name Orpheus whom once Calliope bare, it is said, wedded to Thracian Oeagrus, near the Pimpleian height.)

Men say that he by the music of his songs charmed the stubborn rocks upon the mountains and the course of rivers. And the wild oak-trees to this day, tokens of that magic strain, that grow at Zone on the Thracian shore, stand in ordered ranks close together, the same which under the charm of his lyre he led down from Pieria.

(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)

...who is followed by Pomponius Mela II 28.

Θηριακά Νικάνδρου Κολοφωνίου 461:

Ζωναῖά τ’ ὄρη χιόνεσσι φάληρα καὶ δρύες Οἰαγρίδαο.

“And the mountains of Zóhnî (Ζώνη), speckled with snows of white, and the oaks of Íagros’ (Οἴαγρος) son.”

(trans. by the author)

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.