ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 52
OTTO KERN
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SUMMARY: This testimony is from Culex, the poem of Virgil, in which the Latin poet says that throngs of beasts were enticed by the voice of Orpheus and that the oak dislodged itself, root and all, on hearing him.
ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 52.
Publius Vergilius Maro: Culex (“The Gnat”) 117:
tantum non Orpheus Hebrum restantem tenuit ripis silvasque canendo.
“And Orpheus by his singing didn't hold
The Hebrus standing still between its banks
And woods”
(trans. Joseph J. Mooney, 1916)
Compare to Vergilius: Culex 278.
iam rapidi steterant amnes et turba ferarum
blanda voce sequax regionem insederat orphei;
iamque imam viridi radicem moverat alte
quercus humo [steterant amnes] silvaeque sonorae sponte sua cantus rapiebant cortice avara.
“Already rapid streams had stood
And throngs of beasts had occupied the place
Enticed by Orpheus's alluring voice,
And now the oak had from the verdant soil
Dislodged on high its lowest root [the streams
Had stood] and of themselves the sounding woods
Were soaking up his songs with greedy bark.”
(trans. Joseph J. Mooney, 1916)
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.
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