ORPHIC FRAGMENT 6

OTTO KERN

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

SUMMARY: This fragment asserts that there is an ancient doctrine which states that the souls of men, after death, return, and are born again from the dead.

6. Φαίδων Πλάτωνος 70 c:

σκεψώμεθα δὲ αὐτὸ τῆιδέ πηι, εἴ ἄρα ἐν Ἅιδου εἰσὶν αἱ ψυχαὶ τελευτησάντων τῶν ἀνθρώπων εἴτε καὶ οὔ. παλαιὸς μὲν οὖν ἔστι τις λόγος (B] ὀ λόγος οὗτος B²TW Olympiod., λόγος οὗτος Stob.) οὗ μεμνήμεθα, ὡς εἰσὶν ἐνθένδε ἀφικόμεναι ἐκεῖ, καὶ πάλιν γε δεῦρο ἀφικνοῦνται ἐκ τῶν τεθνεώτων.

“Suppose we consider the question whether the souls of men after death are or are not in the world below. There comes into my mind an ancient doctrine which affirms that they go from hence into the other world, and returning hither, are born again from the dead.”

(trans. Benjamin Jowett, 1892)

Olympiodor. interpretatur 60, 9 Norv. Ὀρφικὸς γάρ ἐστι καὶ Πυθαγόρειος.

“Olympiódoros explains that (60, 9) ‘For the Orphic (view) is also Pythagorean.’ ”

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.