ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 54
OTTO KERN
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SUMMARY: This testimony says that by his skill at singing, Orpheus enchanted the wild beasts, the birds, the trees, and even stones to follow along with him.
ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 54.
Διηγήσεις Κόνωνος f. 45:
Οὕτω δὲ θέλγειν καὶ κατακηλεῖν αὐτὸν ὠιδαῖς εἶναι σοφόν, ὡς καὶ θηρία καὶ οἰωνοὺς καὶ δὴ καὶ ξύλα καὶ λίθους συμπερινοστεῖν ὑφ’ ἡδονῆς.
“And thus he was skilled at enchanting and charming with his songs, such that wild beasts, birds, trees, and even stones followed along with him, by their pleasure.”
(trans. by the author)
Βιβλιοθήκη Ἀπολλοδώρου I 14 (Frazer numbering 1.3.2):
(καὶ Ὀρφεὺς) ὁ ἀσκήσας κιθαρωιδίαν, ὃς ἄιδων ἐκίνει λίθους τε καὶ δένδρα.
“and another son, Orpheus, who practised minstrelsy and by his songs moved stones and trees.”
(trans. Sir James George Frazer, 1921)
Ἑλλάδος Περιήγησις Παυσανίου, Book 6.20.18 Ἦλις:
ἠξίου δὲ οὗτος <ὁ> Αἰγύπτιος (αἰγυπτίουσος L, em. and suppl. Bekk.) εἶναι μὲν Ἀμφίονα, εἶναι δὲ καὶ τὸν Θρᾶικα Ὀρφέα μαγεῦσαι δεινόν (v. nr. 84 ss.), καὶ αὐτοῖς ἐπάιδουσι θηρία τε ἀφικνεῖσθαι τῶι Ὀρφεῖ καὶ Ἀμφίονι ἐς τὰς τοῦ τείχους οἰκοδομίας τὰς πέτρας.
“This Egyptian thought that Amphion and the Thracian Orpheus were clever magicians, and that it was through their enchantments that the beasts came to Orpheus, and the stones came to Amphion for the building of the wall.”
(trans. W. H. S. Jones, 1918)
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.
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Pronunciation of Ancient Greek
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Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos
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