Orphism (religion)
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Orphism (religion) Orphism (more rarely Orphicism) (Ancient
Greek: Ὀρφικά) is the name given to a set [1]
of religious beliefs and practices originating in the ancient Greek and the [2][3][4][5] Hellenistic world, as well as by the [6]
Thracians, associated with literature ascribed to the mythical poet Orpheus, who descended into Hades and returned. Orphics also revered Persephone (who annually descended into Hades for a season and then returned) and Dionysus or Bacchus (who also descended into Hades and returned). Orpheus was said to have invented the Mysteries of Dionysus.
[7]
Poetry containing
distinctly Orphic beliefs has been traced [8] back to the 6th century BC or at least 5th century BC, and graffiti of the 5th century BC apparently refers to "Orphics".
[9]
Classical sources, such as Plato, refer to "Orpheus-initiators" (Ὀρφεοτελεσταί), and associated rites, although how far "Orphic" literature in general related to these rites is not certain.
Orphic mosaics were found in many late-Roman villas [10]
As in the Eleusinian mysteries, initiation into Orphic
mysteries promised advantages in the afterlife.
Peculiarities The main elements of Orphism differed from popular ancient Greek religion in the following ways: • by characteriz characterizing ing human souls souls as divine and and immortal but but doomed to live (for a period) period) in a "grievous circle" circle" of successive bodily lives through metempsychosis or the transmigration of souls. • by prescribing prescribing an ascetic ascetic way of life which, which, together together with secret secret initiation initiation rites, rites, was supposed supposed to guarantee guarantee not only eventual release from the "grievous circle" but also communion with god(s). • by warning warning of postmortem postmortem punishmen punishmentt for certain certain transgress transgressions ions committed committed during during life. life. • by being founded founded upon sacred sacred writings writings about about the origin origin of gods gods and human human beings. beings. Compare with Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Gnosticism.
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Evidence Distinctively Orphic views and practices are attested as early as Herodotus, Euripides, and Plato. The recently published Derveni papyrus allows Orphic mythology to be dated back to the 4th century BCE, and it is probably [11] even older. Other inscriptions found in various parts of the Greek world testify to the early existence of a movement with the same core beliefs that were later associated with the name of Orphism.
Mythology The Orphic theogonies are genealogical works similar to the Theogony of Hesiod, but the details are different. They are possibly influenced by Near Eastern models. The main story is this: Dionysus (in his incarnation as Zagreus) is the son of Zeus and Persephone; Zeus gives his inheritance of the throne to the child, as Zeus is to leave due to Hera's anger over a child being born by another mother; Titans are enraged over the proclamation of attendance and under Hera's instigation decide to murder the child, Dionysus is then tricked with a mirror and children's toys by the Titans who murder and consume him. Athena saves the heart and tells Zeus of the crime who in turn hurls a thunderbolt on the Titans. The resulting soot, from which sinful mankind is born, contain the bodies of the Titans and Dionysus. The soul of man (Dionysus factor) is therefore divine, but the body (Titan factor) holds the soul in bondage. Thus it was declared that the soul returns to a host ten times, bound to the wheel of rebirth. There are two Orphic stories of the rebirth of Dionysus, in one of which it is the heart of Dionysus that is implanted into the thigh of Zeus; the other where he has impregnated the mortal woman Semele resulting in Dionysus's literal rebirth. Many of these details differ from accounts in the classical authors. Firmicus Maternus, a Christian author, gives a different account with the book "On the Error of Profane Religions". He says that Jupiter (Zeus) originally was a (mortal) king of Crete, and Dionysos was his son. Dionysos was murdered, and cannibalized. Only his heart was salvaged by Athena. A statue of gypsum (the same substance the Titans used to disguise themselves) was then made to look like Dionysos and the heart is placed within.
[12]
• The "Protogonos "Protogonos Theogon Theogony", y", lost, compose composed d c. 500 BCE which is known known through the the commentary commentary in the Derveni Derveni papyrus and references in classical authors (Empedocles and Pindar). • The "Eudemia "Eudemian n Theogony", Theogony", lost, lost, composed composed in the 5th 5th century century BCE. It is the product product of a syncret syncretic ic Bacchic-Kouretic cult. • The "Rhapsodi "Rhapsodicc Theogony", Theogony", lost, lost, composed composed in the Hellenistic Hellenistic age, age, incorporating incorporating earlier earlier works. works. It is known through summaries in later neo-Platonist authors. • Orphic hymns. hymns. 87 hexametric hexametric poems poems of a shorter length length composed composed in the late Hellenisti Hellenisticc or early Roman Imperial Imperial age.
Burial rituals and beliefs Surviving written fragments show a number of beliefs about the after life similar to those in the "Orphic" mythology about Dionysus' death and resurrection. Bone tablets found in Olbia (5th century BCE) carry short and enigmatic inscriptions like: "Life. Death. Life. Truth. Dio(nysus). Orphics." The function of these bone tablets is unknown. Gold-leaf tablets found in graves from Thurii, Hipponium, Thessaly and Crete (4th century BCE and after) give instructions to the dead. Although these thin tablets are often highly fragmentary, collectively they present a shared scenario of the passage into the afterlife. When the deceased arrives in the underworld, he is expected to confront obstacles. He must take care not to drink of Lethe ("Forgetfulness"), but of the pool of Mnemosyne ("Memory"). He is provided with formulaic expressions with which to present himself to the guardians of the afterlife. I am a son of Earth and starry sky. I am parched with thirst and am dying; but quickly grant me cold water from the Lake of Memory to drink.
[13]
Other gold leaves offer instructions for addressing the rulers of the underworld:
Orphism (religion)
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Now you have died and now you have come into being, O thrice happy one, on this same day. Tell [14]
Persephone that the Bacchic One himself released you.
Pythagoreanism Orphic views and practices have parallels to elements of Pythagoreanism. There is, however, too little evidence to [15] determine the extent to which one movement may have influenced the other.
References [1] Sexuality in Greek and and Roman Culture (Ancient (Ancient Cultures) by Marilyn B. Skinner,2005,page Skinner,2005,page 135,"... of life, there was no coherent coherent religious movement properly termed "Orphism" (Dodds 1957: 1957: 147-9; West 1983: 2-3). Even if there were, ..." [2] Three Faces of God by David David L. Miller,2005,Back Matter: "... assumed assumed that this was a Christian Christian trinitarian influence on on late Hellenistic Orphism, but it may be that the Old Neoplatonists were closer ..." [3] A History of the Synoptic Synoptic Problem: The Canon, Canon, the Text, the Composition, Composition, and the Interpretation Interpretation of the Gospels (The (The Anchor Bible Reference Library) by David Dungan and David Laird Dungan,1999,Back Matter: "... Neoplatonist Albinus (21-31). 54 Dial. 4.2 (italics added). 55 In Hellenistic Orphism, "an ascetic life featuring specific abstinences, especially vegetarianism," would have ..." [4] History of New Testament Testament Research, Volume 2 (History (History of New Testament Research) by William Baird,2002,page Baird,2002,page 393: "... its religious religious neighbors, Lagrange focuses on a single example of Hellenistic religion, Orphism. This example, he thinks, is particularly appropriate, because Orphism is ... [5] Luther Luther H. Marti Martin,, n,, Hellenistic Religions: Religions: An Introduction Introduction 1987:102: "... ritually participated in an actual mystery ritual. More striking to Hellenistic observers of Orphism than any supposed ritual practices were their ascetic practices ..." [6] History of Humanity: Humanity: From the seventh century century B.C. to the seventh seventh century A.D. Routledge Routledge reference, Siegfried J. de Laet, UNESCO, 1996,ISBN 92-3-102812-X, pp. 182-183. (http:/ / / books. books. google.com/ google.com/ books?id=WGUz01yBumEC&pg=PA183& books?id=WGUz01yBumEC&pg=PA183&dq=orphism+ dq=orphism+thracian& thracian& hl=bg&ei=BC4GTcuGD4j0sgak2Nj7CQ& hl=bg&ei=BC4GTcuGD4j0sgak2Nj7CQ&sa=X& sa=X&oi=book_result& oi=book_result&ct=result& ct=result&resnum=1& resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage& ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=orphism q=orphism thracian&f=false) thracian&f=false) [7] Apollodo Apollodorus rus (Pseudo (Pseudo Apollodoru Apollodorus), s), Library and Epitome www.perseus.tufts. tufts.edu/ edu/ cgi-bin/ cgi-bin/ ptext?lookup=Apollod.+ ptext?lookup=Apollod.+1.3. 1. 3.2). 2). Epitome, 1.3.2 (http:/ / www.perseus. "Orpheus also invented the mysteries of Dionysus, and having been torn in pieces by the Maenads he is buried in Pieria." [8] Backgrounds of of Early Christianity by Everett Everett Ferguson,2003,page Ferguson,2003,page 162,"Orphism 162,"Orphism began in the sixth century B.C" [9] W. K. K. C. Guthri Guthrie, e, The Greeks & Their Gods (Beacon, 1954), p. 322; Kirk, Raven, & Schofield, The Presocratic Philosophers Philosophers (Cambridge, 1983, 2nd edition), pp. 21, 30-31, 33; Parker, "Early Orphism", pp. 485, 497 [10] Parker, Parker, "Early Orphis Orphism", m", pp. 484, 484, 487. [11] Kirk, Raven, Raven, & Schofi Schofield, eld, The Presocratic Philosophers (Cambridge, 1983, 2nd edition), pp. 30-31 [12] [12] Firmic Firmicus us Maternus Maternus,, De errore profanarum profanarum religionum 6.4 [13] Numerous tablets contain contain this essential formula formula with minor variations; variations; for the Greek texts and translations, translations, see Fritz Graf and Sarah Iles Johnston, Ritual Texts for the Afterlife: Afterlife: Orpheus and the Bacchic Gold Tablets Tablets (Routlege, 2007), pp. 4 – 5 (Hipponion, 400 BCE), 6 – 7 (Petelia, 4th century BCE), pp. 16 – 17 17 (Entella, possibly 3rd century BCE), pp. 20 – 25 25 (five tablets from Eleutherna, Crete, 2nd or 1st century BCE), pp. 26 – 27 27 (Mylopotamos, 2nd century BCE), pp. 28 – 29 29 (Rethymnon, 2nd or 1st century BCE), pp. 34 – 35 35 (Pharsalos, Thessaly, 350 – 300 300 BCE), and pp. 40 – 41 41 (Thessaly, mid-4th century BCE) online. (http:/ / books. books. google.com/ google.com/ books?id=_TmiaW0uvAgC&dq=intitle:Ritual+ books?id=_TmiaW0uvAgC&dq=intitle:Ritual+ intitle:Texts+intitle:for+ intitle:Texts+intitle:for+intitle:the+ intitle:the+intitle:Afterlife& intitle:Afterlife&q="I+ q="I+am+ am+parched"#v=snippet& parched"#v=snippet&q="I q="I am parched"&f=false) parched"& f=false) [14] Tablet from Pelinna, late 4th century BCE, in Graf Graf and Johnston, Johnston, Ritual Texts for the Afterlife Afterlife, pp. 36 – 37. 37. [15] Parker, Parker, "Early "Early Orphism" Orphism",, p. 501. 501.
Literature • Albi Albinu nus, s, Lars Lars.. 2000 2000.. The House of Hades. Aarhus. • Alde Alderi rink nk,, Lar Larry ry J. Creation and Salvation in Ancient Orphism. University Park: American Philological Association, 1981. • Athana Athanassa ssakis kis,, Aposto Apostolos los N. Orphic Hymns: Text, Translation, and Notes . Missoula: Society of Biblical Literature, 1977. • Bern Bernab abé, é, Alb Alber ertu tuss (ed. (ed.), ), Orphicorum et Orphicis similium testimonia et fragmenta. Poetae Epici Graeci. Pars II. Fasc. 1. Bibliotheca Teubneriana, München/Leipzig: K.G. Saur, 2004. ISBN 3-598-71707-5 • Bern Bernab abé, é, Albe Albert rto. o. “Some Thoughts about the ‘New’ Gold Tablet from Pherai.” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 166 (2008): 53-58.
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• Bernabé, Bernabé, Alberto Alberto and and Ana Isabel Isabel Jiménez Jiménez San Cristóbal. Cristóbal. 2008. 2008. Instructions for the Netherworld: Netherworld: the Orphic Gold Tablets. Boston: Brill.
• Bete Betegh gh,, Gábo Gábor. r. 2006 2006.. The Derveni Papyrus. Cosmology, Theology and Interpretation . Cambridge. • Bikerman, E. E. “The Orphic Blessing. ” Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes 2 (1938 – 39): 39): 368-74. • Brem Bremme mer, r, Jan Jan. “Orphism, Pythagoras, and the Rise of the Immortal Soul.” The Rise and Fall of the Afterlife: The 1995 Read-Tuckwell Lectures at the University of Bristol. New York: Routledge, 2002. 11-26.
• Brem Bremme mer, r, Jan Jan. “Rationalization and Disenchantment in Ancient Greece: Max Weber among the Pythagoreans and Orphics?” From Myth to Reason: Studies in the Development Development of Greek Thought . Ed. Richard Buxton. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. 71-83. • Burk Burker ert, t, Walt Walter er.. 200 2004. 4. Babylon, Memphis, Persepolis: Eastern Eastern Contexts of Greek Culture Culture . Cambridge, MA. • Burk Burker ert, t, Walt Walter er.. “Craft Versus Sect: The Problem of Orphics and Pythagoreans.” Jewish and Christian Self-Definition: Volume Three - Self-Definition in the Greco-Roman World . Ed. B. Meyer and E. P. Sanders. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1982. • Compar Comparett etti, i, Domen Domenico ico,, and Ceci Cecill Smith. Smith. “The Petelia Gold Tablet. ” The Journal of Hellenic Studies 3 (1882): 111-18. • Edmo Edmond nds, s, Radc Radcli liffe ffe.. Myths of the Underworld Journey: Journey: Plato, Aristophanes, and the 'Orphic' Gold Tablets Tablets. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004. • Edmu Edmund nds, s, Radc Radcli liffe ffe.. “Tearing Apart the Zagreus Myth: A Few Disparaging Remarks on Orphism and Original Sin.” Classical Antiquity 18.1 (1999): 35-73. • Fink Finkel elbe berg rg,, Arye Aryeh. h. “On the Unity of Orphic and Milesian Thought.” The Harvard Theological Review 79 (1986): 321-35. • Graf Graf,, Fri Fritz tz.. 197 1974. 4. Eleusis und die orphische Dichtung Athens Athens. Berlin, New York. • Graf, Fr Fritz. tz. “Dionysian and Orphic Eschatology: New Texts and Old Questions.” Masks of Dionysus. Ed. T. Carpenter and C. Faraone. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1993. 239-58. • Graf, Graf, Fritz, Fritz, and and Sarah Sarah Iles Iles Johnst Johnston on (http: (http:/ / / greekandlatin.osu. greekandlatin.osu.edu/ edu/ people/ people/ person.cfm?ID=81). person.cfm?ID=81). 2007. Ritual texts for the Afterlife: Orpheus and the Bacchic Gold Tablets . Routledge: London, New York. • Guthri Guthrie, e, W. W. K. C. C. 1935, 1935, revis revised ed 1952 1952.. Orpheus and Greek Religion: A Study of the Orphic Movement . London. • Harr Harris ison on,, Jan Janee Ell Ellen en.. Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Greek Religion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1903. • Herrero Herrero de Jáuregui, Jáuregui, Miguel. Miguel. "Orphism "Orphism and Christianity Christianity in Late Late Antiquity". Antiquity". Berlin Berlin / New York: Walter Walter de Gruyter, 2010 • Kern, Otto. to. Orphicorum fragmenta (http:/ / archive.org/ archive.org/ details/ details/ orphicorumfragme00orphuoft), orphicorumfragme00orphuoft), Berolini apud Weidmannos, 1922. • Linf Linfor orth th,, Iva Ivan n M. Arts of Orpheus. New York: Arno Press, 1973. • Nils Nilsso son, n, Mart Martin in.. “Early Orphism and Kindred Religious Movements. ” The Harvard Theological Review 28.3 (1935): 181-230. • Park Parker er,, Robe Robert rt.. “Early Orphism.” The Greek World. Ed. Anton Powell. New York: Routledge, 1995. 483-510. • Puglie Pugliese se Carra Carratel telli, li, Giov Giovann anni. i. 2001. 2001. Le lamine doro orfiche. Milano. • Robe Robert rtso son, n, Noel Noel.. “Orphic Mysteries and Dionysiac Ritual. ” Greek Mysteries: the Archaeology and Ritual of Ancient Greek Secret Cults. Ed. Michael B. Cosmopoulos. New York: Routledge, 2004. 218-40.
• Tierne rney, M. “The Origins of Orphism.” The Irish Theological Quarterly 17 (1922): 112-27. • Wes West, Marti artin n L. L. “Graeco-Oriental Orphism in the 3rd cent. BC.” Assimilation et résistence à la culture culture Gréco-romaine dans le monde ancient: Travaux du VIe Congrès International d Etudes Classiques. Ed. D. M. Pippidi. Paris: Belles Lettres, 1976. 221-26. ’ ’
• West West,, Mar Marti tin n L. L. 198 1983. 3. Orphic Poems. Oxford. • Zunt Zuntz, z, Günt Günthe her. r. Persephone: Three Essays Essays on Religion and Thought in Magna Graecia. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971.
Orphism (religion)
External links • Online Text: Text: The The Orphic Orphic Hymns translated translated by Thomas Thomas Taylor Taylor (http:/ (http:/ / www.theoi.com/ www.theoi.com/ Text/ Text/ OrphicHymns1. OrphicHymns1. html) • The Orphic Hymns translated by Thomas Taylor (http:/ / www.sacred-texts. www.sacred-texts.com/ com/ cla/ cla/ hoo/ hoo/ hoo00.htm) hoo00.htm) alternative version • Alexander Alexander Fol, Orphica Orphica Magica Magica I, Sofia Sofia 2004 2004 (http:/ / www.rock-cut. www.rock-cut.thracians. thracians.org/ org/ pdf/ pdf/ Alexander Alexander Fol - Orphica Magica I.pdf) I.pdf) • Rosicrucian Digest (http:/ / www.rosicrucian. www.rosicrucian.org/ org/ publications/ publications/ digest/ digest/ digest1_2008/ digest1_2008/ online/ online/ table_of_contents. table_of_contents. html) vol. 87 devoted entirely to Orphism • Edmo Edmond nds, s, Radc Radcli liffe ffe.. “Tearing Apart the Zagreus Myth: A Few Disparaging Remarks on Orphism and Original Sin.” (http:/ / www.brynmawr. www.brynmawr.edu/ edu/ classics/ classics/ redmonds/ redmonds/ zagreus.pdf) zagreus.pdf) Classical Antiquity 18.1 (1999): 35-73. • A Genealogy Genealogy of Philoso Philosophic phic Enlight Enlightenmen enmentt in Classical Classical Greece Greece (http:/ (http:/ / web.archive.org/ web.archive.org/ web/ web/ 20091027123337/ http:/ http:/ / www.geocities.com/ www.geocities.com/ easternhistory/ easternhistory/ orphism.html) orphism.html) • Orph Orphic ic Pla Plato toni nism sm (ht (http tp:/ :/ / orphicplatonism.com/ orphicplatonism.com/ )
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Article Sources and Contributors
Article Sources and Contributors Orphism (religion) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=5329 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=532966840 66840 Contributors: 2007 account, AKeckarov, Alma mater (En), Anclation, AnonMoos, B9 hummingbird
hovering, Barticus88, Bejnar, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Catalographer, Charles Matthews, Crisscrossono, Cynwolfe, DNewhall, Davidiad, DerHexer, Dmmacy, Dougweller, Dr5t3v3, EALacey, Enkyklios, EntroDipintaGabbia, Eroica, Esimal, Filceolaire, Flamarande, Fuzzypeg, Gitana7, Haploidavey, Hmains, Ikokki, Isokrates, J04n, Jingiby, John254, Jonathan Tweet, Kaio393, Komitsuki, LoveMonkey, Maestlin, Mathiasrex, Megistias, Mona, NotWith, Odysses, OhadAston, Omnipaedista, Paul Barlow, Pegasus1138, Pgan002, Pigman, Plynn9, Redheylin, Richhoncho, Rjwilmsi, Robert1947, Shanes, Sirmylesnagopaleentheda, Sirmylesnagopaleentheda, TEB728, Ta bu shi da yu, Tawdjay, That Guy, From That Show!, Theranos, Thialfi, Wareh, Wetman, Wikiklrsc, Xinoph, Yworo, 49 anonymous edits
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