ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 70

OTTO KERN

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


SUMMARY: This testimony begins with a gloomy description of the Underworld as Orpheus enters, and continues with the effect of his music on the inhabitants as he began to sing.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 70.

Publii Vergilii Maronis Georgica IV 469:

ingressus manesque adiit regemque tremendum

nesciaque humanis precibus mansuescere corda.

At cantu commotae Erebi de sedibus imis

umbrae ibant tenues simulacraque luce carentum,

quam multa in foliis avium se milia condunt

vesper ubi aut hibernus agit de montibus imber,

matres atque viri defunctaque corpora vita

magnanimum heroum, pueri innuptaeque puellae

impositique rogis iuvenes ante ora parentum.

“Entered, and faced the Manes and the King

Of terrors, the stone heart no prayer can tame.

Then from the deepest deeps of Erebus,

Wrung by his minstrelsy, the hollow shades

Came trooping, ghostly semblances of forms

Lost to the light, as birds by myriads hie (ed. “go quickly”)

To greenwood boughs for cover, when twilight-hour

Or storms of winter chase them from the hills;

Matrons and men, and great heroic frames

Done with life's service, boys, unwedded girls,

Youths placed on pyre before their fathers’ eyes.”

(trans. J. B. Greenough, 1900)

Publii Vergilii Maronis Georgica IV 481:

Quin ipsae stupuere domus atque intima Leti

tartara caeruleosque implexae crinibus angues

Eumenides, tenuitque inhians tria Cerberus ora

atque Ixionii vento rota constitit orbis.

“Nay, even the deep Tartarean Halls of death

Stood lost in wonderment, and the Eumenides,

Their brows with livid locks of serpents twined;

Even Cerberus held his triple jaws agape,

And, the wind hushed, Ixion's wheel stood still.”

(trans. J. B. Greenough, 1900)

He is imitated by others (including) Orpheus Lucani fr. 3 Hos.:

nunc plenas posuere colos et stamina Parcae, multaque delatis (dilatis Baehrens) haeserunt saecula filis.

“Now the Fates put down their full spindles and threads; and because the threads had fallen down, many generations were left suspended.”

(trans by the author)

G. Ettig Acheruntica Leips. Stud. XIII 1891, 317 n. 6.


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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Pronunciation of Ancient Greek

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Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos

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