ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 80

OTTO KERN

HellenicGods.org

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT

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

SUMMARY: This testimony, from the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius, lists Orpheus first in his catalog of Argonauts. Apollonius says that Orpheus became one of their number at the urging of Cheiron, the Centaur.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 80.

Ἀργοναυτικὰ Ἀπολλωνίου Ῥοδίου I 32:

Ὀρφέα μὲν δὴ τοῖον ἑῶν ἐπαρωγὸν ἀέθλων

Αἰσονίδης Χείρωνος ἐφημοσύνηισι πιθήσας

δέξατο, Πιερίηι Βιστωνίδι κοιρανέοντα.

Orpheus is first in the list of Argonauts:

“Such then was Orpheus whom Aeson's son welcomed to share his toils, in obedience to the behest of Cheiron, Orpheus ruler of Bistonian Pieria.”

(trans. R. C. Seaton, 1912)

(v. see previous nrr. 23 and 51), subsequent writers followed him, Gruppe collected the passages and they are found in Rosch. III 1155; Kern Orpheus 27 and Carl Robert Griechische Heldensage l. l. Concerning Orpheus in the Ὀρφέως Ἀργοναυτικά v. also C. Hoffmann De Pseudo-Orpheus catalog of Argonauts diss. Erlang. 1888, 3 and Kern l. l. 33. Concerning the love of Orpheus for Kálaïs (Κάλαϊς, one of the Argonauts and son of Βορέας) see the poem of Phanocles nr. 77. V. see also nrr. 99. 105.

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.