Orphic Fragments

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Founder of temples original: "Templorum conditor"; refers to the tradition that Orpheus established early religious sanctuaries. (testimony 108—110) . . . . . 32
Author of agriculture and social customs (test. 111—112) . . 33
Death (test. 113—135) . . . . . . . . . . 33—41
The Lyre placed among the stars (test. 136—137) . . . 41—42
In the underworld after death (test. 138—139) . . . 42
Temples (test. 140) . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Sacred images original: "Simulacra"; refers to statues or likenesses of Orpheus used in ancient worship. (test. 141—146) . . . . . . . . . 43—44
God (test. 147) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Names of men derived from Orpheus (test. 148) . . 45
Christian testimonies original: "Christiana"; early Christian writers frequently commented on Orpheus as a pagan precursor to Christ. (test. 149—159) . . . . . . . . . 45—48
Disciples (test. 160—172) . . . . . . . . . 48—51
Midas (test. 160) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Hercules (test. 160 a) . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Eumolpus (test. 161—162) . . . . . . . . . 49
Thamyris and Linus (test. 163—165) . . . . . 49—50
Musaeus (test. 166—172) . . . . . . . . . 50—51
2. On the Orphics and the Ritual Initiators Orpheotelestae original: "Orpheotelestis"; traveling priests or ritual experts who performed purifications and initiations based on Orphic teachings. (test. 173—219) . . 52—63
The Orphics (test. 173—202) . . . . . . . . . 52—58
Of Italy and Sicily (test. 173—181) . . . . 52—53
Of Greece (test. 182—196) . . . . . . . . 53—56
Fragments of Onomacritus (test. 191—195) . 55—56
Of Thrace (test. 197—199) . . . . . . . . 57
Of the Islands (test. 200) . . . . . . . . . . 57
Of Asia (test. 201) . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Of unknown origin (test. 202) . . . . . . . 58
The Ritual Initiators (test. 203—211) . . . . . . 58—61
The Orphic Way of Life original: "Vita Orphica"; a specific lifestyle involving vegetarianism and ritual purity. (test. 212—219) . . . . . . 61—63
3. On the Orphic writings (test. 220—227) . . . . . 63—69
4. On the ancient writers (test. 228—252) . . . 69—78
Authors who wrote about Orpheus (test. 228—243) . . . . . 69—74
Poets and philosophers who used the books of Orpheus (test. 244—252) . 74—78
Appendix on Orpheus celebrated in poetry (test. 253—257) 78—79
Additions (test. 258—262) . . . . . . . . . . 79

PART TWO: FRAGMENTS OF ORPHIC LITERATURE . . . 80—344

1. Older fragments (fragments 1—46) . . . . . . 80—114
2. Songs on the abduction and return of Proserpina Proserpina is the Latin name for Persephone, daughter of Demeter, whose descent into the underworld is a central myth in Orphic belief. (fr. 47—53) 115—130
I. Sicilian Song (fr. 47) . . . . . . . . 117—118
II. Descent original Greek: Κάθοδος of the Maiden? original Greek: της Κόρης; "Kore" or the Maiden is a common title for Persephone. 1 (fr. 48—49) . . . . 118—125
III. [Descent of the Maiden 2] (fr. 50—53) . . . . 125—130
3. Theogony An account of the origin and genealogy of the gods. of Hieronymus and Hellanicus (fr. 54—59) . . 130—140
4. Sacred Discourses original Greek: Ἱεροὶ λόγοι in 24 Rhapsodies original Greek: ῥαψῳδίαις κδ´; a major epic work attributed to Orpheus, organized into twenty-four books. (fr. 60—235) . . 140—248
5. Bacchic Poems original Greek: Βακχικὰ; relating to the god Bacchus/Dionysus, whose mysteries were closely linked to Orpheus. (fr. 236—244) . . . . . . . . . 248—255