ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 65
OTTO KERN
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SUMMARY: This testimony tells the whole story of Orpheus and Euridice, ending with Orpheus putting aside women, and surrendering himself to lonely places.
ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 65.
De mythographi Vaticam secundi fontibus I 76:
Orpheus, Oeagri et Calliopae Musae filius, ut quidam putant, Apollinis filiam (Apollinis filius Bode) habuit uxorem Eurydicem. Quam dum Aristaeus, Cyrenis filius, pastor cupidus, persequitur, volens eam stuprare, illa fugiens concubitum, serpentem non devitauit; et haec ei causa mortis fuit. Orpheus coactus desiderio coniugis temptavit dulcedine cantus citharae lenire Ditem et Proserpinam, si posset Eurydicen ad superos revocare. Descendit igitur ad inferos et in miserationem eos cantu suo conpulit; acceptaque lege, impetravit Eurydicen ita demum, si non ante respexisset quam ad superos perveniret. Deinde ut est dura amantium perseverantia, Orpheus timens ne non inesset pollicitis Ditis fides, respexit et irritum fecit suum laborem. Reversus deinde ad superos qui parum prosperas expertus erat nuptias, perosus omne genus femineum solitudinibus se dedit (v. nr. 76).
“Orpheus, the son of Oeagrus and the Muse Calliope - but as some think, the son of Apollo - had Euridice as his wife. While Aristaeus, the son of Cyrene, a lustful shepherd, chased after her, meaning to defile her, she fled from there, seeking to escape rape, but she could not avoid a snake, and this was the cause of her death. Orpheus, driven by grief for his wife, made an attempt to pacify Dis (Pluto) and Proserpina, having made melodious notes with the sweetness of his cithara, if only he should able to bring back Euridice to the land of the living. He descends, accordingly, to the Underworld, and moved them to pity with his song. Accepting a condition, he recovered Euridice precisely in this manner, in that he may not turn around before he should come up to the land of the living. Thereafter, since constancy is enduring for those in love, Orpheus, fearing there might not be credibility in the promises of Dis, turned around and void was made his labor. Thereafter, having been returned to the living, he, having experienced too little fortune in marriage, weary of the entire race of women, surrendered himself to lonely places (v. see note 76).”
(trans. by the author)
Raschke De Alberico mythologo 86.
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.
