PREFACE TO

THE ORPHIC FRAGMENTS

OF OTTO KERN

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

The labor to finally complete a preface, which has attended me for a great many years during the hostilities to my homeland (translator's note: World War I) and secondary matters, would have been a most pleasant affair for me if not for the premature death of my most dear teacher HERMANN DIELS, my most kind advisor and paternal friend. What I had vowed to him in life, I now discharge to the Hands of the greatest man, ὃν οὐδ’ αἰνεῖν τοῖσι κακοῖσι θέμις “whom it is not right for the wicked men to praise” (σχόλιον Ὀλυμπιοδώρου επὶ Γοργῖου Πλάτωνος p. 215 Westerink) as Aristotle will say of himself in these most celebrated words. To him, then, I make thanks before all the others, because some time ago he urged me (to gather) this Orphic collection, which he often requested, and pushed forward, but very kindly, all the way up to the final day of his life.

But there are also other men of immense knowledge, very much connected to me in friendship, who in the long and sometimes difficult path have neither failed to advise me nor ever failed to assist me in any matter. In addition to them, whose names I published in this book with gracious memory of their benefactions, among them, WILHELM KROLL of Breslau stands out, who intrusted me as a colleague, to make use of the copy of Abel’s edition with his notes inserted; these men are from a number of most esteemed friends: FRIEDRICH HILLER VON GAERTRINGEN, who released me most surely from proofreading and a great number of other administrative matters; ULRICH WILCKEN, whose wise counsel in publishing the papyri I have very willingly followed; GEORG WISSOWA, of whose opinion I often inquired, had always assisted me with the greatest prudence and liberality; in addition, (I have greatly benefitted) from a number of most esteemed and learned colleagues from Halle: FRIEDRICH BECHTEL, JOHANNES FICKER, and KARL PRAECHTER. We should not forget the work of WILHELM GOEBER, who, both in ammendments of papers and in the execution of indices, excelled strenuously for me, a young philology student of most worthy hope.

Finally, I give much thanks to ERNEST VOLLERT of the publishing house, who, with the greatest consideration and friendship, both with the association, direction, and auspices of FRIEDRICH SCHMIDT-OTT, their establishments eliminated the German characters, an effort for which I offered to supply most copious funds, so that Orphicorum fragmenta were delivered to print.

Whoever will make use of this book on the Orphics should know that the greater merit should be given to all these men.

Halle, Saxony 1 July, 1922.

Otto Kern

(trans. by the author)

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.

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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