ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 9

OTTO KERN

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SUMMARY: This testimony is yet another outline of the descent of Homer, which includes Orpheus, according to the historian Charax.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 9.

Χάραξ ἐν τῷ Σοῦδᾳ (Ἡσύχιος ὁ Μιλήσιος) v. Ὅμηρος (FHG III 641 fr. 20; 33, 4 Wilam.):

ἔστι δ’ ἡ τοῦ γένους τάξις κατὰ τὸν ἱστορικὸν Χάρακα αὕτη· Αἰθούσης Θράισσης Λίνος, τοῦ δὲ Πίερος, τοῦ δ’ Οἴαγρος, τοῦ δ’ Ὀρφεύς, τοῦ δὲ Δρής, τοῦ δ’ Εὐκλέης, τοῦ δ’ Ἰδμονίδης, τοῦ δὲ Φιλοτέρπης, τοῦ δ’ Εὔφημος, τοῦ δ’ Ἐπιφράδης, τοῦ δὲ Μελάνωπος, τοῦ δ’ Ἀπελλῆς, τοῦ δὲ Μαίων, ὃς ἦλθεν ἅμα ταῖς Ἀμαζόσιν ἐν Σμύρνηι καὶ γήμας Εὔμητιν τὴν Εὐέπους τοῦ Μνησιγένους ἐποίησεν Ὅμηρον.

The descent of Homer:

“And the order of his descent is as follows, according to the historian Khárax: From Aithousa (Αἰθούσα), a woman of Thrace, came Línos (Λίνος); and from him, Íagros (Οἴαγρος); and from him, Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς); and from him, Drîs; and from him, Efklǽîs (Εὐκλέης); and from him, Idmonídîs (Ἰδμονίδης); and from him, Philotǽrpîs (Φιλοτέρπης); and from him, Éfîmos (Εὔφημος); and from him, Epiphrádîs (Ἐπιφράδης); and from him Mælánôpos (Μελάνωπος); and from him, Apællís (Ἀπελλῆς); and from him, Maiôn (Μαίων), who went at the same time as the Amazons to Smýrna (Σμύρνα), and, having taken to wife Évmîtis (Εὔμητις), the daughter of Evæpís (Εὐεπής) and Mnîsiyǽnîs (Μνησιγένης), he fathered Ómîros (Ὅμηρος, i. e. Homer).”

(trans. by the author)

Compare to Suid. s. Ὀρφεύς nr. 223. Lobeck I 323: Rohde l. l. 386 = Kl. Schr. I 7; Gruppe in Rosch. III 1075; A. de Blumenthal Hellanicea (De Atlantiade), diss. Hal. 1913, 16.


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.

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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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