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Episode 23·February 4, 2018·pre-socratic

Miguel Herrero de Jauregui on Ancient 'Orphism'

The elusive 'Orphics' of antiquity continue to present a puzzle to scholars after several centuries of debate and the discovery of amazing new evidence. Dr Miguel Herrero helps us to navigate the fascinating question of ancient 'Orphism'.

Listen on SHWEP7 sources in collection · 7 translated

Primary Sources

Orphic and Homeric Hymns

Orpheus; Homer; Callimachus · 1560 · Greek · 69 pages

This remarkable collection offers an intimate look at the intersection of ancient Greek theology, ritual practice, and poetic tradition. By weaving together the Orphic perspective on cosmogony with the Homeric celebration of divine exploits, the text presents a world where every natural force—from t

Fully translated

The Mystical Initiations; or, Hymns of Orpheus

Thomas Taylor · 1787 · Greek · 258 pages

This volume is an act of defiance against the modern reduction of religion to mere history or folklore. Taylor argues that the Greek theological tradition is a coherent, scientific approach to reality that utilizes polytheism to express the hierarchy of a single, unified source. By translating these

Fully translated

Orphica (Argonautica, Hymni, Lithica)

Gottfried Hermann (ed.) · 1805 · Greek/Latin · 1049 pages

This volume is not just a poem; it is an argument about how we reconstruct the past. Hermann and Gesner treat the Argonautica and the Lithica as damaged artifacts, using rigorous philology to peel away the layers of corruption added by centuries of scribes. They engage with the Orphic texts to uncov

Fully translated

Orphica

Orpheus (ed. Gottfried Hermann) · 1805 · Greek · 1030 pages

Gottfried Hermann does not offer a polished myth but a raw, confrontational look at how we inherit the ancient past. He forces the reader to confront the reality that many famous works were misattributed, patched together, or distorted by centuries of scribal error. The text exposes the vanity of th

Fully translated

Orphica (Abel Edition, with Proclus Hymns & Hymn to Isis)

Orpheus (ed. Eugen Abel) · 1885 · Greek · 340 pages

Eugen Abel reconstructs the Orphic tradition by stripping away centuries of editorial clutter. He aligns fragmented myths and hymns into a logical sequence, transforming obscure lore into a cohesive theological system. The text argues that music, ritual, and language possess the power to move mounta

Fully translated

Orphic Fragments

Otto Kern (ed.) · 1922 · Greek · 434 pages

Otto Kern reconstructs the fragmented legacy of Orpheus to reveal the evolution of Greek religious thought. The text examines the historical validity of Orpheus while documenting his influence on figures like Pythagoras and Plato. It presents a radical theology where the creator Phanes is swallowed

Fully translated

The Hermetic Writings, Volume 1

Walter Scott · 1926 · English · 648 pages

Walter Scott provides a rigorous investigation into the Hermetic writings, treating them as a coherent system of ancient philosophy. He strips away centuries of confusion to reveal a hierarchy where humanity serves as the essential bridge between the material and the divine. You will encounter argum

Fully translated

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