HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 90

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 90

OTTO KERN

HellenicGods.org

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT

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

MYSTERIA (The Mysteries)

SUMMARY: This testimony says that Orpheus is the source of the Mysteries.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 90.

Βάτραχοι Ἀριστοφάνους 1032:

Ὀρφεὺς μὲν γὰρ τελετάς θ᾽ ἡμῖν κατέδειξε φόνων τ᾽ ἀπέχεσθαι,

Μουσαῖος δ᾽ ἐξακέσεις τε νόσων καὶ χρησμούς.

“Orpheus taught us the mystic rites and the horrid nature of murder; Musæus, the healing of ailments and the oracles.”

(trans. The Athenian Society [anonymous but possibly Oscar Wilde], 1912)

Herman Diels II³ 166 n. 11.

σχολιαστὴς επὶ βατράχων Ἀριστοφάνους (Diels II³ 180 n. 6):

ὅτι πολλὴ δόξα κατεῖχε περὶ Ὀρφέως, ὡς τελετὰς συντετάχοι. τὸν Μουσαῖον παῖδα Σελήνης καὶ Εὐμόλπου Φιλόχορός (FHG I 416 fr. 200) φησιν. οὗτος δὲ παραλύσεις* (? ni fallor ortum ex Πολιτεία Πλάτωνος II 364 e ἄρα λύσεις τε καὶ καθαρμοὶ . . . ἃς δὴ τελετὰς καλοῦσιν P. II fr. 3) καὶ τελετὰς καὶ καθαρμοὺς συνέθηκεν. ὁ δὲ Σοφοκλῆς (Nauck² fr. 1012) χρησμολόγον αὐτόν φησι.

“Great fame was spreading about Orphéfs, as he had ordained the sacred rites. Philókhoros (Φιλόχορος) [FHG I 416 fr. 200] says that Mousaios was the son of the Moon (Σελήνη) and Évmolpos (Εὔμολπος). And this (mystery) constructed from liberations (παραλύσεις*? if I am not mistaken comes from Πολιτεία Πλάτωνος II 364 e “prayer releases [ἄρα λύσεις] and purifications . . . which they call sacred rites.” P. II fr. 3) and sacred rites and purification. Sophoklís (Nauck² fr. 1012) calls him an expounder of oracles.”

(trans. by the author)

* Translator’s note: Why not simply παρὰ λύσεις? Perhaps a copyist accidentally put the two words together.

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

PHOTO COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The many pages of this website incorporate images, some created by the author, but many obtained from outside sources. To find out more information about these images and why this website can use them, visit this link: Photo Copyright Information

DISCLAIMER: The inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) with the views of HellenicGods.org by the external sources from which they were obtained.

Further, the inclusion of images, quotations, and links from outside sources does not in any way imply agreement (or disagreement), approval (or disapproval) by HellenicGods.org of the contents or views of any external sources from which they were obtained.

For more information: Inquire.hellenicgods@gmail.com

For answers to many questions: Hellenismos FAQ

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT