ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 94

OTTO KERN

HellenicGods.org

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT

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


BACCHI MYSTERIORUM AUCTOR (Progenitor of the Bacchic Mysteries)

SUMMARY: This testimony begins with four quotations which establish Orpheus as the founder of the Mysteries of Dionysus, and then concludes with two quotations which say that the Orphic Mysteries were produced for the fourth Dionysus.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 94.

Ελληνική Ανθολογία VII 9 Δαμάγητος nr. 126:

Ὀρφέα Θρηικίῃσι παρὰ προμολσιν Ὀλύμπου

τύμβος ἔχει, Μούσης υἱέα Καλλιόπης,

ὧι δρύες οὐκ ἀπίθησαν, ὅτωι σὺν ἀμ᾽ ἕσπετο πέτρη

ἄψυχος, θηρῶν θ᾽ ὑλονόμων ἀγέλα,

ὅς ποτε καὶ τελετὰς μυστηρίδας εὕρετο Βάκχου,

καὶ στίγον ἡρώιωι ζευκτὸν ἔτευξε ποδί,

ὃς καὶ ἀμειλίκτοιο βαρὺ Κλυμένοιο νόημα

καὶ τὸν ἀκήλητον θυμὸν ἔθελξε λύραι.

“The tomb on the Thracian skirts of Olympus holds Orpheus, son of the Muse Calliope; whom the trees disobeyed not and the lifeless rocks followed, and the herds of the forest beasts; who discovered the mystic rites of Bacchus, and first linked verse in heroic feet; who charmed with his lyre even the heavy sense of the implacable Lord of Hell, and his unyielding wrath.”

(trans. W. R. Paton, 1916-1918)

Βιβλιοθήκη Ἀπολλοδώρου I 15 (Frazer numbering 1.3.2) nr. 63:

εὗρε δὲ Ὀρφεὺς καὶ τὰ Διονύσου μυστήρια.

“Orpheus also invented the mysteries of Dionysus.”

(trans. Sir James George Frazer, 1921)

σχόλιον Πρόκλου επὶ Πολιτείας Πλάτωνος I 174 William Kroll nr. 119:

ἀλλ’ Ὀρφεὺς μὲν ἅτε τῶν Διονύσου τελετῶν ἡγεμὼν γενόμενος τὰ ὅμοια παθεῖν ὑπὸ τῶν μύθων εἴρηται τῶι σφετέρωι θεῶι (καὶ γὰρ ὁ σπαραγμὸς τῶν Διονυσιακῶν ἕν ἐστιν συνθημάτων)

“But indeed, just as Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς) was the leader of the sacred rites of Diónysos (Διόνυσος), he has been said in the myths to come to suffer a similar ordeal to his own God (for also being torn apart is one of the symbols of the Dionysian Mysteries).”

(trans. by the author)

Hygini De Astronomica II 6 n. 137:

alii Orphea a Thraciis mulieribus interfici, quod viderit Liberi patris initia.

“Others say that Orpheus was slain by the Thracian women, because he understood the sacred rites of Dionysus.”

(trans. by the author)

Marci Tullii Ciceronis De natura deorum III 58 p. 375, 3 Plasb.:

Dionysos multos habemus – quartum Iove et Luna, cui sacra Orphica putantur confici.

“We have many Dionysi – the fourth produced by Jove and the Moon, for whom it is reckoned that the Orphic sacred rites were produced.”

(trans. by the author)

Περὶ τῶν μηνῶν Ἰωάννου Λαυρεντίου τοῦ Λυδοῦ IV 51 p. 107, 10 W.:

τέταρτος ὁ Διὸς καὶ Σεμέλης, ὧι (corr. Creuzer, ὧν X) τὰ Ὀρφέως μυστήρια ἐτελεῖτο, καὶ ὑφ’ οὗ οἶνος ἐκεράσθη.

“The fourth son of Zefs (Ζεύς) and Sæmǽlî (Σεμέλη), to whom the Mysteries of Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς) were fulfilled, and from whom the wine was mixed.”

(trans. by the author)

Walther Hugo Michaelis De origine indicis deorum cognominum. diss. Berolini, Mayer et Mveller 1898, 60.


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

© 2010 by HellenicGods.org. All Rights Reserved.

HOME GLOSSARY RESOURCE ART LOGOS CONTACT