ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 78

OTTO KERN

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

ARGONAUTA (Argonaut)

SUMMARY: This testimony first points out a metope from the Delphic treasury of the Sicyonians which shows Orpheus with his lyre amongst the Argonauts; next follows a poem which depicts Orpheus leading the oarsmen of the Argo with his song.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 78.

They say the most ancient witness is a metope of the Delphic treasury of the Sicyonians, in which Orpheus (Ορφας) and Philammon (.EMM? Carl Robert corrected in Griechische Heldensage I 416 n. 6) are standing among the Argonauts with lyres in their hands v. nr. 1.

Πυθιόνικαι Πινδάρου IV1 72 v. nr. 58. Ὑψιπύλη Εὐριπίδου fr. I col. 3 v. 8 (de Arnim Suppl. Euripid. 551):

μέσωι δὲ παρ’ ἱστῶι

Ἀσιὰς ἔλεγον ἰήϊον*

Θρῆισσ᾿ ἐβόα κίθαρις Ὀρφέως 10

μακροπόλων πιτύλων

ἐρέτηισι κελεύσματα μελπομένα,

τότε μὲν ταχύπλοον

τότε δ᾿ εἰλατίνας ἀνάπαυμα πλάτας.

“And at the middle mast, the Thracian lyre of Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς) cried out an Asian Apollonian* song, singing orders to the rowers of long oar-strokes, some now sailing fast, and others at rest from the oars of fir.”

(trans. by the author)

*Translator’s note: This word (ἰήϊον) is usually translated as “mournful” or “sad,” but ἰήιος is also an epithet of Apollo, for ἰὴ refers to the cry associated with the God, as in ‘ἰὴ παιών,’ similar to the Dionysian cry εὐοί εὐαί. Why would Orpheus want to play a sad song to the rowers who are laboring so hard at the oars of the Argo? It seems more likely that he would sing them an uplifting, Apollonian song. And it is interesting too that the poem uses the word ἐβόα, “it cried out,” for ἰὴ is the Apollonian cry. And what is crying out, none other than the lyre which Apollo gave to Orpheus.

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.