HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 9

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 9

OTTO KERN

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

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.

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.

SPELLING: HellenicGods.org uses the Reuchlinian method of pronouncing ancient Greek, the system preferred by scholars from Greece itself. An approach was developed to enable the student to easily approximate the Greek words. Consequently, the way we spell words is unique, as this method of transliteration is exclusive to this website. For more information, visit these three pages:

Pronunciation of Ancient Greek

Transliteration of Ancient Greek

Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos

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