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Orpheus and Orphism: Mystery Religion in Roman Times

Orpheus

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Orpheus and Orphism: Mystery Religion in Roman Times

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    1. Chapter 16 Orpheus and Orphism: Mystery Religion in Roman Times

    2. Orpheus & Eurydice Ovid’s Metamorphoses X and XI Undying love story Cruelty of Fate (or is it Fortune?) Orpheus, a hero for poets Vergil, Georgics IV Largely as in Ovid, but set in context of poem on bee-keeping Aristaeus must atone for his sin

    3. Orpheus elsewhere Appears as one of the Argonauts Musical power allows him to rev up heroes or relax them as necessary Nachleben: Jean Cocteau’s Orpheus trilogy: Blood of a Poet (1930) Orpheus (1949) The Testament of Orpheus (1960) Marcel Camus’ Black Orpheus (1959)

    4. Some questions Why does Orpheus look around? So close, and yet so far… Why is Orpheus killed as he is? Women angry about his men only cult? Bacchae taking revenge for his Apollonian ways? Dionysiac figure who gets harvested? Is Orpheus follower of Apollo, or Dionysus, or some intermediary?

    5. Was there a real Orpheus? Certainly the belief of later antiquity Had a shrine, as do other heroes Likely a missionary of sorts, perhaps preaching some modified worship of Apollo and/or Dionysus, a gentle message, but the mysteries too.

    6. Orphic Bible – some teachings Chronus first, then Aether, Chaos, Erebus From Aether came Phanes, 1st god (aka Eros) From Phanes, Night From Night & Phanes, Gaia, Uranus And Gaia and Uranus produce Titans When Zeus gets to power, swallows Phanes and creates anew

    7. Orphic Bible – some teachings, cont’d Zeus mates with Kore (Persephone) Dionysus (aka Zagreus) born Titans dismember and devour Zagreus Zeus zaps with thunderbolt, saves heart Mortals made of Titan dust Partly evil and mortal, partly pure and divine Consequently, purification of soul, transmigration of soul, apotheosis possible.

    8. Other Mystery Religions Roman expansion – mixing with locals Syncretism – a growing together Romans adopt and adapt Greek mythology Romans adopt and adapt other cultures Mithraism from Persia Dualist belief – Mithras (light) v. dark Very popular with the Roman army Emblematic act – slaying of the bull

    9. Other Mystery Religions, cont’d Dea Syria, from Syria Earth goddess like Cybele or Demeter Connected with Tammuz and Hadad (Semitic thunder god) Worshipped in wild, ecstatic rituals involving flagellation

    10. Other Mystery Religions Isis, from Egypt Mother goddess – has rattle (sistrum) and bottle (situla) shaped like breast Husband, Osiris, killed and scattered Collects pieces, and has son, Horus Worshippers view selves as her children

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