ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 54

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This testimony says that by his skill at singing, Orpheus enchanted the wild beasts, the birds, the trees, and even stones to follow along with him.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 54.

Διηγήσεις Κόνωνος f. 45:

Οὕτω δὲ θέλγειν καὶ κατακηλεῖν αὐτὸν ὠιδαῖς εἶναι σοφόν, ὡς καὶ θηρία καὶ οἰωνοὺς καὶ δὴ καὶ ξύλα καὶ λίθους συμπερινοστεῖν ὑφ’ ἡδονῆς.

“And thus he was skilled at enchanting and charming with his songs, such that wild beasts, birds, trees, and even stones followed along with him, by their pleasure.”

(trans. by the author)

Βιβλιοθήκη Ἀπολλοδώρου I 14 (Frazer numbering 1.3.2):

(καὶ Ὀρφεὺς) ὁ ἀσκήσας κιθαρωιδίαν, ὃς ἄιδων ἐκίνει λίθους τε καὶ δένδρα.

“and another son, Orpheus, who practised minstrelsy and by his songs moved stones and trees.”

(trans. Sir James George Frazer, 1921)

Ἑλλάδος Περιήγησις Παυσανίου, Book 6.20.18 Ἦλις:

ἠξίου δὲ οὗτος <ὁ> Αἰγύπτιος (αἰγυπτίουσος L, em. and suppl. Bekk.) εἶναι μὲν Ἀμφίονα, εἶναι δὲ καὶ τὸν Θρᾶικα Ὀρφέα μαγεῦσαι δεινόν (v. nr. 84 ss.), καὶ αὐτοῖς ἐπάιδουσι θηρία τε ἀφικνεῖσθαι τῶι Ὀρφεῖ καὶ Ἀμφίονι ἐς τὰς τοῦ τείχους οἰκοδομίας τὰς πέτρας.

“This Egyptian thought that Amphion and the Thracian Orpheus were clever magicians, and that it was through their enchantments that the beasts came to Orpheus, and the stones came to Amphion for the building of the wall.”

(trans. W. H. S. Jones, 1918)

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.