Redefining Ancient Orphism: A Study in Greek ReligionThis book examines the fragmentary and contradictory evidence for Orpheus as the author of rites and poems to redefine Orphism as a label applied polemically to extra-ordinary religious phenomena. Replacing older models of an Orphic religion, this richer and more complex model provides insight into the boundaries of normal and abnormal Greek religion. The study traces the construction of the category of 'Orphic' from its first appearances in the Classical period, through the centuries of philosophical and religious polemics, especially in the formation of early Christianity and again in the debates over the origins of Christianity in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. A paradigm shift in the study of Greek religion, this study provides scholars of classics, early Christianity, ancient religion and philosophy with a new model for understanding the nature of ancient Orphism, including ideas of afterlife, cosmogony, sacred scriptures, rituals of purification and initiation, and exotic mythology. |
Contents
The name of Orpheus | 3 |
A history of scholarship | 11 |
The problem of definition | 71 |
A hubbub of books | 95 |
Sacred texts for the rites | 139 |
The content of Orphic poems | 160 |
Other editions - View all
Redefining Ancient Orphism: A Study in Greek Religion Radcliffe G. Edmonds III No preview available - 2019 |
Common terms and phrases
afterlife allegorical ancient Greek anthropogony antiquity apologists appears Argonautica argues argument Aristophanes associated with Orpheus attributed to Orpheus Bacchic Bernabé body Burkert century Christian claims Clem context cosmogony cult Damascius death Demeter Derveni author Derveni papyrus Dionysiac Dionysos dismemberment of Dionysos divine Edmonds elements Eleusinian Eleusinian Mysteries Empedokles Euripides evidence extra-ordinary first fragments goddess gods gold tablets Greek religion Hades Hesiod Homer honor human hymns idea interpretation Korybantes Kouretes labeled Orphic Linforth modern scholars Mousaios mysteries mythic tradition name of Orpheus Neoplatonic Neoplatonists ofthe Olympiodorus oracle Orphic poems Orphic poetry Orphic Rhapsodies Orphic texts Orphism passage Pausanias performed Persephone pév philosophical Plato Plut Plutarch poets Proclus provides punishment purification purity Pythagoras Pythagorean refers reincarnation rites ritual Socrates soul sources story tale teletai Tfi theogony things Thurii Titanomachy Titans Underworld verses Westerink wisdom Zagreus Zagreus myth Zeus δὲ καὶ